I'm still in shock that you snagged this for $4. Yowza!
Your coin is RPM-001, Stage C (heavy die break through FIVE CENTS). The obverse is VLDS, and the reverse is LMDS.
By the time your coin was struck, both dies had been polished excessively to reduce evidence of the usual clashing.
The LIBERTY / buffalo's right rear leg clash has been overpolished on the obverse and reverse dies. LIBERTY is very weak and the right rear leg lacks detail.
The second feather / buffalo's head clash has been overpolished on the obverse and fairly heavily polished on the reverse. That's the reason for the tip of the second feather and the rachis being weak and nearly incomplete, and the reason for the horn's weakness and loss of hair detail on the buffalo's head.
The Indian's chin / EPU clash has been overpolished on the obverse and less heavily polished on the reverse. Parts of the chin and neck are almost obliterated, and the braid, knot, and ribbons are very weak. The chin line is visible at the top of PLURIBUS, indicating minor die rotation at the time of the clash.
The Indian's hairline / ground level clash has also been overpolished on both the obverse and reverse.
The excessive obverse polishing and obverse die state also suggest that the obverse die clashed heavily with its first reverse die pairing.
On top of the excessive die polishing, this coin has a weak strike. That is evident in the protected areas of the coin, such as the Indian's eye and nostril and the buffalo's eye, neck, and right front leg.
Most of the loss of detail on this coin is due to die state, die polishing, and strike, in that order.
Turning to technical grade, there are a high number of bag marks throughout the coin's fields and design elements. Coupled with some disruption of luster on the Indian's cheek and Buffalo's shoulder, this suggests a slider, rather than weakly detailed Unc. By appearance, this coin is EF, but again, most of that is due to die state, die polishing, and strike weakness. I
tentatively see this coming in as a mid-AU, with at least a half step eye appeal drop-grading for apparent strike weakness. I'm sitting at AU-53 net grade here. That said, I could see ANACS running it a half step or full step higher than PCGS or NGC, i.e. AU-55 or on a good day, AU-58.
Regardless, at $4, you really nailed this one. And yes, it is a
very tough RPM, and the first one I've seen pictured in Stage C, other than the Variety Vista example.
Well done!
Posted 02/02/2020 7:25 pm
Very nice pick-up....
