Fake Or Not 1840 Seated Liberty Dollar?

This is a hard one.

The reverse looks like EF details, the obverse looks AU+.

I'm thinking maybe the reverse "wear" is actually due to a weak strike.

I usually don't grade coins when I'm this fuzzy on what grade to assign, but I feel bad that this has been sitting here all day with no input. Maybe this inexpert opinion will "break the ice."

I am considering sending this one into ANACS.

I've lived with the way the coin looks for over 2 years now and I think it looks fine, my problem with it is it's not a proof! It's not a dull coin as the photos portray. In hand, the hairlines are barely visible, though you can see them under magification. Everyone I've shown my 7070 to, still thinks it's a nice piece, you would too if you can live with the fact that it had been cleaned at one time.

I've posted new photos that better represents the condition and color and closer to it's actual "in-hand" appearance rather than the ones the seller had on his ad. Remember it's not a flat dull coin.

I would put the obv at VF-30 and rev at EF-45

Looks real to me.
I think the differences you are seeing has to do with ware. If you check the reverse on the 'fake' notice how crisp 'United states' is as compared to the field.
Your coin shows even ware.
SEND HER OFF!!

I haven't weighed it as of yet. It's an awesome fake if it is one. Live and learn.

This is bothering me a lot, because I like raw Seated coins. I buy well-circulated coins from reputable dealers, so am not as concerned that I am buying fakes. But the quality of the fakes showing up now in Seated coinage is disturbingly good, they've moved beyond just the rare dates, and the $300-600 coin market is an attractive place to operate. I can understand the dealer's hesitance to authenticate. They're aren't that many seated experts, and the non-specialist dealer doesn't want to be stuck with a piece of junk.

Is it just me or does the shield not look the same on all those coins that are known real? Different dies? Really I can't tell if your is fake or not. I hope it is real.

-SWUSC

Sorry Nelrak, I have to vote fake. The face/nose/hair are all wrong and the lettering on the reverse is wrong, check the "D" and "L" in DOL between the genuine examples and your coin. Send her in and see what ANACS says but be prepared for bad news. thg is correct, the level of the new counterfeits is scarey, I very rarely buy anything sight unseen anymore. I now stick to dealing with dealers and collectors I know and trust, that have an open end return policy on coins determined to be fake. It's a shame too, when ebay first started up, it was a great place to buy coins but now the scam artists have moved in and ebay doesn't seem to care how many fakes get sold. Please keep us posted when the coin comes back as to the outcome.