Author |
Replies: 8 / Views: 382 |
|
Valued Member
United Arab Emirates
83 Posts |
Hello everyone I found a French coin and I've been getting mixed opinions about the condition of the coin. To me it looks brilliant uncirculated, even though I feel like it's been cleaned. I would be grateful if everyone could share their opinion about the grade of the coin.  
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
10693 Posts |
Very hard to grade these owing to lack of fine detail on the coins when struck. I think I detect minimal wear on the highest points of the right-hand leaves on the reverse, so I'd say Good EF (UK grade). A French coin dealer would prtobably market it as 'Superbe'. I can't see any of the telltale parallel scratches that indicate a harsh cleaning, but I can't see any lustre either, so the coin may have been dipped. It's hard to tell as the photos are a bit washed out. In my experience these coins usually have a yellowish toning - here is my 1938 specimen, which I'd grade as EF and which still has quite a but of lustre, especially on the reverse: 
|
Valued Member
United Arab Emirates
83 Posts |
How much did you pay for that coin if you don't mind me asking?
|
Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
10693 Posts |
Quote: How much did you pay for that coin if you don't mind me asking? I homestly can't remember. I bought it from a coin shop in Lille in 1979 when I was teaching English in a French school as part of my University course. I don't think it was more than about 20 or 30 francs (then about $4 to $6). These coins effectively only circulated for two years as they were hoarded when the Germans occupied France in 1940 and within a short time the silver content was worth more than face value.
Edited by NumisRob 06/25/2022 2:19 pm
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2284 Posts |
There is something going on in the right obverse field, in front of liberty's forehead. Could be cleaning, could be something else. Is this a EU or US seller? Do you have return privileges?
|
Valued Member
United Arab Emirates
83 Posts |
I have to check if I have a return policy. The thing is that I've bought coins from multiple regions around the planet and it's only the collectors and numismatists in the US that absolutely abhor cleaning of coins and I understand why. Once a coin gets cleaned not only it gets damaged but it also loses its real identity as a coin, specially if the coin is rare and if high quality. On APMEX I see BU Morgan selling for $60 and then cleaned BU selling for $2-$3 less than the uncleaned ones. Should I really stay away from buying the coin if it is cleaned? If yes, Why?
|
Valued Member
United Arab Emirates
83 Posts |
NumisRob and NumisEd, thank you both so much for taking the time to share your knowledge with me.
|
Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
10693 Posts |
Quote: Should I really stay away from buying the coin if it is cleaned? If yes, Why? I personally can't see any of the obvious parallel scratches that would indicate a harsh cleaning. It could have been dipped at some time to remove an uneven one, or maybe the seller's photos just make it look a bit washed out and unnaturally white. It wouldn't put me off buying it - it's a high grade foreign coin and you never know when another one might come up - it's not something like a 1964 Kennedy half dollar where you know there will always be plenty of others to choose from!
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
24597 Posts |
Hard to tell from the glare in the photos but the coin does appear to have some minor wear.
|
|
Replies: 8 / Views: 382 |
|