1995 D Lincoln Cent With Staining - Help With Grading Please

Definitely not a coin I plan on spending any time soon! Trying to learn what it might grade to see whether worth sending it off or not.

If not MS, then please help me figure out what it would be. But true, probably not worth sending off if not MS as might drop it in value below the general $100 mark for being worth grading.

Yikes - missed that one. But is the T MD then? PCGS has this at $90 in 62 - quite a price differential.

A TPG would Details grade this one for Environmental Damage. That said, as FS-103 it is attributed by the TPG's and carries a substantial premium. PCGS has them into MS66RD. This one might_just be worth a professional conservation attempt.

Thanks for the comments! I have been researching coin restoration/conservation since that came up here. Seems like it doesn't add a bunch of money to the grading fees and could spiffy this one up a bit. Or not. I can't find any Lincolns with a before an after photo. Probably because few Lincolns are valuable enough to worry about such things.

Seems like no one is going MS on this, so I will consider it as AU for my thinking. AU50 seems a bit harsh, but would it stand up maybe for AU-53 as BadThad suggests? I also would rather not end up with a "details" grade but do have to consider that might happen as SsuperDdave notes. And I very much agree with John1 that if looking for one of these this one would not be my first choice, but they don't come up for sale anywhere very often and the MS-64 quality coins have jumped into the $800 range so... For now it is not for sale, and I may never sell it, but I want to know what I can about it and do the best for it as possible.

Thanks for the help! This coin just isn't something I really know quite what to do with yet as a final solution other than having it in a 2x2 for now in my collection. FYI, I just found it two days ago in a roll of Lincoln cents I bought off ebay. Mixed in with a number of wheat rolls (terrible condition) and B/U memorial rolls (nice) was a random roll of just normal Lincolns. It was in there.

Why it is AU and may possibly be even less (XF45) due to the stain on obverse in front of face and on coat plus the reverse rim and carbon spotting. The damage is done there in field, it has progressed to the point of penetrating the copper clad, no good...conservation may not be able to halt the oxidation. The stain and carbon spots could be treated, but beautifying it may be stretching it. It definitely is worth a try, if nothing else, you'll recoup what you spend.

TB, first of all what does MS stand for, and what does that mean? Mint State is the term distinguishing it from a circulated coin. There's a big argument here on whether you can pull an MS coin from a Circulated roll CRH. As a "purist" I say no, many others say yes. You'll have to chose which side you fall in. A MS coin, grades 60-70, means NO circulation evidence is seen on coin. Stains, wear, damage, the amounts of ticks and dings, rubbing on high points, rims all need to be clear. Cumulative problems is what determines the point system. On a per side basis points become deducted then each side becomes averaged together to the total grade. Luster is just one aspect. I can show you some 1963Ps I bought in a quart jar, all apparently came from original bank bags. In the transport/storage the luster is readily present, tick marks all over tho...I grade most of these MS60, tops. Those that have toned or have developed carbon spots are problem coins to me. I take the position f just how many "hands" have touched a coin since leaving the mint. If a coin like mine mentioned above it came in a bag to point one, distribution, in turn storage(more bags or wrapped). Once distributed to banks (from Fed) via Brinks (etc.) to a bank, this enters circulation as OBW original bank wrapped rolls. If unopen, or opened and immediately put into a saving media, then that coin could rate an MS grade. Once leaving bank, tada, it is forever circulated coinage, especially if gathered up and returned for reissue. This could be your coin, see? Now, take the damage, the wear on high points, all adds up and down the grading scale it goes, even if its still "shiny". With your coin being a high $ error, it is well worth trying a conserv on it, won't hurt. Just don't be surprised by a lower grade than expected and the dreaded "details"!