Guess The Grade Etc.: 1867 2 Cents DDO ANACS'd

F-15?

1. - Right in-between a F15 and a VF20 to me. To go VF25 the coin can't have any green verdigris on it and though I'm seeing some of the "WE" showing, I think the dark surfaces and color will hold the grade back somewhat. If I was submitting this one, it would have gotten a better bath in acetone and verdi-care before sending it off for the slabbing.

2. - It is a Breen #2392, KF-1-DDO Class 1 Rotated Hub Doubling. There are 3 rotations known with this variety 0%, 15% and 180%. There are around 30 or so Uncirculated specimens known to date.

3. - I paid $250 for a VF25 in a PCGS holder a couple of years ago, I think it's worth more today, so I'd put a current FMV on yours at about $200-275. I sold my MS64RB for under $5k and also sold a MS63RB for $3.5K, now I see a MS64RB on ebay offered for just under $10K.

Mine was in a NGC holder and it was 2002 when I sold the MS64 one, so they seem to climb 25-30% in price every decade or so. The seller asking $10K is dreaming IMO. David Lawrence has a nice VF25 PCGS that is almost $500 in auction up now.

I think I have around 10-12 of these now, and most have been cherry picked on ebay or at local shows for common money. One of my favorite and obvious DDO's of the mid 1800's! Not too tough to find in circulated, I still find one or two each year un-attributed, always VF or lower grades. This variety get pretty expensive and hard to find in EF and better. Expect to pay a price over $800 in EF and over $1K in AU.

To me it seems like "WE" is too weak to be a VF, I'd personally grade it in the Fine range. I still love the coin! It's interesting that you post it because one of the pride and joys of my collection is a PCGS AG-03 1867 2 Cent DDO. Of course there are a ton of scratches on the slab right over the obverse

To answer some of your questions, I don't think the scratches on your holder would decrease the value of the coin itself. ANACS reholdering fee is $10, but that wouldn't change the grade of the coin. There is a possibility of them lowering the grade if you actually resubmit the coin but in some ways I doubt it. Regardless that's a great score for $140!

F-15