Quote:While the reverse seems to be AU, the obverse has a lot of things going on. It is a
VAM variety, just haven't figured out which one yet. The deep gouges on the face and the fields of the obverse along with the Rim Dings detract from its grade. I believe that sometime in the past, this coin might have been cleaned than rubbed down with an old Coin Shop cloth to disguise the dip. The 1878 is heavily encrusted while the majority of the clear and open areas are free of debris. If the date has that much dirt from the years showing, I would expect the whole coin
to have SOME in most crevices. I am going to stick with VF on this coin. The process to determine the number is magic and I don't believe in wizards or witches..
If those minor issues were not there, I would grade this coin at least AU50, but then again, this is my love/hobby so I am probably wrong.....
Very well reasoned, but a bit harsh in my opinion.
I completely agree regarding the toning. It's just *too* thick about the date and right stars, in just the places which would be left by a casual removal. The "blotchy" nature of the returning toning tends to support the idea that it's a recovering coin.
When one sees such a detail disparity between obverse and reverse, the immediate conclusion is die wear. There's no way the obverse could have worn to this point through circulation while the reverse remains near-Mint State. So, when grading you take into account what must have been a thoroughly-whipped obverse die, and consider what remains of the "best" that die was still capable of.
I would not be surprised if this coin has seen no circulation. The obverse marks which Freedom so accurately draws attention to would be faded by circulation; such marks go away faster (especially on the cheek) than detail does when the coin is rubbed in one's hand. How many EF-AU coins have you seen with such shallow, yet heavy, marks? A gouge which survives into EF-level wear is a deep one indeed.
Furthermore, I've always found it difficult to believe that "Almost Uncirculated" coins can be at all common. If it circulated, it
circulated.
Freedom practices a somewhat stricter mathematics of grading than do I, and this must be admitted and respected. I consider either method, and all in between, valid.
But if it hasn't circulated, it must be assigned a Mint State grade to me. MS61, cleaned and retoned.
Posted 05/26/2011 2:55 pm
