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 Replies: 16 / Views: 1,448 |
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Valued Member
United States
57 Posts |
A couple weeks ago, I finally caved and purchased a 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent for my collection, shown below. In my opinion it has superb eye appeal (much better in person than PCGS's TrueView shows). As far as wear is concerned, it looks to have AU-58 details, with only a whisper of friction noticeable on Lincoln's jawline and cheekbone. The strike is great, and it also shows nice and consistent woodiness throughout both sides. With that said, PCGS graded it "AU Details --- Cleaned". First, I do not actually mind the "cleaned" designation, since it appears to be minor and does not hinder eye appeal, and I paid an appropriate amount for a problem coin. But what puzzles me is that even under 10 times magnification I cannot discern any tell-tale signs of cleaning. I see no hairlines, abrasions or marks of any kind. The only off thing to my eyes is that it does not have cartwheel luster, so I'm assuming that it got assigned "cleaned" purely because of that. My question to the community is: Does such a coin deserve a "cleaned" designation? If yes, the follow-up question is: Would you care? My personal opinion is that, as is, I would still assign a net grade of AU and treat it as such. This coin is also going to be cracked out to fill the actual hole in my Dansco album --- I'm not letting the slab get in the way of the satisfaction of having every slot in the album filled!  |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
5394 Posts |
Indeed cleaned .
Looks like someone tried
a Verdicare or similar product
on it and PCGS picked up on it .
Still a very decent coin .
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19951 Posts |
The reverse has circular cleaning lines, it may be have been whizzed and retoned. It's still a pleasant example of a rare coin.
AU details
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19158 Posts |
Yes, does have a curious semicircular whirl on the reverse. Interesting doink on Abe's shoulder. All that said, very nice example that I'd want for my Dansco.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
Coins like this are excellent candidates for cracking out of the slab and putting in an album. The eye appeal is good, it's authenticated and you haven't really lost out on the grade by cracking it because it's already details. If you were reselling someday, I wouldn't crack it but for album collecting, it's great.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10547 Posts |
It will make a great album coin!  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5672 Posts |
Perhaps lightly cleaned and recolored, accounting for the circular toning on the reverse. Agree it's an attractive coin and a great candidate for your album!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18665 Posts |
first. congrats on filling one of the most sought after keys. its quite satisfying. I have to agree with PCGS on the grade and the cleaning. whatever was used was not any type of abrasive but the original toning was removed in some areas of both sides. I had mine graded that I purchased in the early 70's not knowing anything about details coins. I'm not even sure that had that designation then. anyways it came back genuine XF details scratched. the scratch is so small and hardly visible to the eye I never expected that. does it both me, ya? At some point I probably will crack it out and put it in its proper hole. I just don't like it in that holder.
i have to agree with you that this coin is going to look 10x better sitting in its assigned hole with the rest of the collection. you're only loss is the grading fee. crack that puppy out!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36745 Posts |
Tough call using TrueView photos.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1502 Posts |
Retoned by wipe - whatever the chems may have been. Swirls on Reverse telltale, also exist across Abe's forehead. Could be lighting but Abe's back shows a dark line that may be unremoved gunk - or whiz buildup. Doink on shoulder may have been a carbon spot that kicked off the retone project.
Nevertheless, excellent eye appeal and great key date. I'd be thrilled to own it.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
74233 Posts |
Definitely cleaned. I still wouldn't mind owning it though.
Errers and Varietys.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Agree these surfaces do not look original.]
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19951 Posts |
Another tell-tale sign, in the deepest recesses of IGWT, EPU and other devices you can see dirt. It's clear out side the devices but the cleaner missed the small device details. It really stinks when some fool decides to clean a key date!
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19951 Posts |
Quote:
Coins like this are excellent candidates for cracking out of the slab and putting in an album. The eye appeal is good, it's authenticated and you haven't really lost out on the grade by cracking it because it's already details. IDEAL! |
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Moderator
United States
15433 Posts |
Yes - agree with cleaned. But a lovely key date and worthy crack out candidate indeed. Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Moderator
United States
188560 Posts |
I agree, it is a good looking example. |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 1,448 |
Posted 09/02/2024 1:07 pm
