1885 25 Cent... What Grade?

I'd say it is a 20.. just. in the USA aVF30, perhaps 35 send it to PCGS...it will be worth it.
it is a LOW small 5 type, wide date

Charlton # obv 2c rev SBE-4b

I don't think it (the wear pattern) is all that unusual if you look around. A lot of these ended up bulged in the middle on one side or the other. Notice the date is worn at the top but not the bottom and check similar samples.

If the picture is accurate, I think you did really alright on the purchase. It's a good looking coin.

Depending on where you sent it.. But I would say no more than F12 from either Canadian place....I hope I'm wrong

artdio. I compared this coin to every 1885 25 Cent graded by ICCS that The Canadian Numismatic Company has auctioned off. Based on the pictures, it is definitely as good as all of the F15's. It is as good as some of the VF20's, but not all. I suspect it will come back a F15 as well, but have my fingers crossed that it'll come back a 20. Either way, I have to receive the coin first before I need to worry about the actual grade.

Wish I could let everyone know the results; unfortunately the coin hasn't arrived. The seller mistakenly sent me the wrong coin at first, but e-mailed me when he got home and said the coin was still on his desk. He said he mailed this one the next day. I returned the "wrong coin" when I received it, but still have not received this one. Based on his feedback, I really have no reason to believe he is trying to scam me, and he has been helpful during this waiting process.

This had made me wonder: how often do you not receive coins you purchase from sellers who appear to be trustworthy? I seem to have a lot of purchases not get delivered to me. I have not kept track, but I would estimate about 3% of my purchases never arrive. Is this normal? If not, should I contact Canada Post and express my concerns over "missing mail"?

That would make sense. I don't know how the seller mailed this one.

I have noticed, in my experience, that bubble mailers always arrive. However, whenever I send something in a bubble, I almost always send it with insurance. So it could just be that all insured packages arrive (hmm, surprising how Canada Post makes this work).

I recently sent a NGC graded coin to someone in Alberta, and it was well-cushioned in a paper envelope, and the buyer says the envelope got ripped and the coin was not there. (Yet, I had entrapped the coin within paper and stapled it all around, and he claims the staples were still in tact - which is impossible, so I don't believe him.)

Thanks for the input Ugly!