I adjusted your photos to sharpen the color contrast and clarity. What appears dark in the posted photos is actually blue-purple toning. I can see what attracted you to this coin. Very nice coin!
I can only see light wear on the top knot, central crown jewels and high points of the top jewels. Only a very light touch of wear exists on the eyebrow and left ribbon end at the neck. What I cannot tell from photos, but you will be able to tell with the coin in hand, is whether the toning is natural and how much luster remains beneath the toning. I see the halo around the portrait and around some of the letters, so I suspect there is a decent amount of luster present. I don't see any concerning contact marks.
Assuming natural toning, I think you are in the AU-50 range here, with a decent shot at AU-53 depending on underlying luster. Anything above EF is hard to find for an 1871. That's a beautiful coin.
I can only see light wear on the top knot, central crown jewels and high points of the top jewels. Only a very light touch of wear exists on the eyebrow and left ribbon end at the neck. What I cannot tell from photos, but you will be able to tell with the coin in hand, is whether the toning is natural and how much luster remains beneath the toning. I see the halo around the portrait and around some of the letters, so I suspect there is a decent amount of luster present. I don't see any concerning contact marks.
Assuming natural toning, I think you are in the AU-50 range here, with a decent shot at AU-53 depending on underlying luster. Anything above EF is hard to find for an 1871. That's a beautiful coin.




















