1850 Large Cent

VF20 details, obverse, ouch, copper-pan-polish shiny. Reverse is maybe F15 but for that business up top (strike issue or struck through, owing to the condition of the denticles?) As to N-5, I don't see the obverse marker (die line south of hair beads) but surfaces are worn. I'm sure one of the EAC experts will be along soon to provide a much better analysis than I can offer.

I'm ok with VF20. Hoping it might be much darker in hand. Compared to the N-5 on NGC Variety Plus, it's very close.

Although I first had my doubts I feel that this is an N-5. As paralyse noted I don's see the engraver's scratch on the bun of the hair or the die scratch on the N in cent as noted by Newcomb, but I think this is a later die state. This coin does have the characteristic two lumps on the leaf below the M of America. Here's an example from heritage that seems to be a dead ringer.
http://coins.ha.com/itm/large-cents.../390-20424.s
Now as far as grade. I'll say the coin has a detail sharpness of EAC 15 or VF-20 market grade. The coin has obviously been harshly cleaned. I'll have to net grade it to EAC 8 for that. Ouch!
This is a sad example of an awesome coin rendered nearly uncollectable by a well meaning individual. I'd almost be tempted to recolor it. Almost.
1850 N-5 R.4 15/8-

This is one of the few Braided Hair varieties I know very well. The scratch from the bun down to the field is only really present on the earlier die states, and the full scratch (two disjointed segments) is really only visible for a short period of time during the dies life (this is die state 'a' in Grellman). As the striking progressed the fields got wavy looking. From the ebay photos I can hardly tell at all what die state this is, but my guess is that it is 'b' where the line from the bun is barely visible (though in truth it is always barely visible if at all). Won't really know for sure though until it is in hand with better photos. The date position looks spot on though. The weakness of the denticles has me leaning towards die state b, so you might not be able to see the line from the bun, but perhaps a part of it close up to the hair. A tougher variety for certain. Maybe a nice sulphur infused envelope treatment is in order?

Here is my example, it is die state 'a'. You can't see the entire line in my image, but you can see the top part of the line down from the bun (this line in actuality extends downward to about even with the bottom of star 11).

VF-20.