1853 Large Cent

VF-35 or 40.

EF40. details

VF35 possibly EF40

Looks like XF. I have just sent two of them off to ANACS that look like yours. But I agree with your color, it's kind of off.
But I think it's just the light playing with us.

Sent them out on 9/4/2013.

On second though I'd say VF35 (although I could see someone trying to call it XF) but the color does seem off. I don't think you should be seeing any red color in a VF/XF coin if it was not cleaned , re-toned etc. It seem like a lot of these later day larger cents have had the color messed with. I personally prefer a solid even brown color.

I don't think you can really get any natural red toning in a circulated coin say below a high AU. Is that right?

My thought are cents (large and small) start red at the mint and then air exposure while circulating slowing tones them brown (with red-brown as an intermediate step.) Much like the assortment of the pennies you see in your pocket today which are copper or copper plated). Usually the 2013 pennies are all red, which the one from the 1970s seem to be brown, with fewer red one. So the truly red coins from the 1850s are quite rare (and seemed to be priced that way).

I'd stay about 25-40 bucks retail for this coins, as a ball park.

EF45 cleaned retoned. Not bad looking.