1855 Large Cent For Grading And Issues

Original color, agree oiled, AU-55 - most attractive.

I'm leaning original too, very nice surfaces, would probably look even better after a year in possession with some of the copper EAC experts giving it regular brushings. I myself have not mastered the technique, so I don't mess with any of mine. I have been shown how to brush copper, I'm just not comfortable doing it on my own expensive coins.

Opps- I forgot to post a grade, I'm in at AU53 and could see this being AU55 with some conservation efforts.

AU55

AU-58. I would be afraid that acetone might also take off some of the color if it was recolored. Looks great just the way it is.

AU-58

Agreed it looks better as is, and most copper people probably wouldn't even care or even encourage it and as do it to the "grey spots" as well or whatever you want to call it.

That said I'm actually not sure acetone would do anything to it, do we know for sure it would remove any oil or darkening from oil? I've never tried that just doesn't seem to quite ad up to me when it's been on for long periods of time especially

I've never had a coin change color when dipping or rinsing it in acetone, not to say it couldn't if the coin had been messed with some sort of chemical compund to recolor it.

I would grade this coin at least AU53, and possibly higher upon in-the-copper examination.
It is very difficult (for me) to say whether the coin has been recolored or not. If it has, it was done with great skill. It does appear, however, to have been oiled to enhance its appearance.

It is a very nice coin, overall.

Acetone will most probably not remove recoloring if it was done with a sulphur-based compound. From what I have read, sulphur will react with copper to form
copper sulphide. A chemical compound. Acetone can only remove compounds which have not otherwise interacted with the surface, ie, oils, organic deposits, etc.