Forgive me if I'm too much of a Scandinavian here, but...

MadMuffin

... I found this coin by coincidence:

Expensive Seated Liberty

It's a pretty coin with a nice toning, but looking at the pictures it suddenly struck me that this coin is not even uncirculated - not by Scandinavian standards. The pictures are small in the auction, but in some of the close-ups I believe I see clear traces of rubbing on Liberty's hair, dress and feet. The kind of rubbing that a coin gets if it is pushed across a table once or twice.

In Scandinavia, that would make the coin grade AU. Or is it supposed to look like this? I have never seen such a high grade Seated Liberty in "person" so it's hard for me to tell - but I would never pay more than AU-price for this coin. What's your opinion?

Oh, and sorry for posting a liteside coin here... but I don't have the courage to post it in the right forum. Somebody just might try and kill me for this kind of blasphemy against the US grading system

Marcel

Aethelred

You forget there are closet Lightsiders over here watching every move and reporting back to HQ!

tradedollarnut

Coin looks unc to me. A total AT'd and Hairlined POS, but unc. Other than that, what's not to like?

1jester

I wanted to wait until a real expert chimed in... I couldn't tell from the pictures if all those lines were hairlines or just die polish lines. Although in a few places (like the arm) it appears that the lines run onto the devices, meaning they are hairlines. And I second TDN's assertion that the coin is hairlined to death. AT, yes, probably. But it sure looks good in the smaller pix!

Luvdawgs

at "Somebody just might try and kill me for this kind of blasphemy against the US grading system "

rhound1977

1. The coin is not certified

2. Trends lists $8,500.00 in MS-65

3. I think it is hairlined as well

I will take a GB Crown of the era any day, though I do own 2 trade dollars

AuldFartte

<< <i>I will take a GB Crown of the era any day >>



... and, yeah, I see hairlines, too

Askari

Run -- don't walk -- away from anything offered by "[Ig]noblespirit"! He couldn't grade his way out of a paper bag. He has potential as a grader for ACG, but that's as far as his talent stretches.

coinkat

Marcel:

TDN offered his thoughts on this one and he is about as good as anyone can be when it comes to grading this series and I couldn't agree more with what he wrote.

cosmicdebris

TDN is completely correct.

drjules

OK so please forgive my ingorance, where do hairlines come from? Especially if the coin is UNC?

Dr J

cosmicdebris

Cabinet or flip friction.

I prefer a nice original AU55 like this one. It's a lot cheaper too.

Sylvestius

Someone said it's Artificially Toned (AT). I'm guessing it's been cleaned (that's where hairlines often come from) and they've toned it to hide them.

MSD61

<< <i>Someone said it's Artificially Toned (AT). I'm guessing it's been cleaned (that's where hairlines often come from) and they've toned it to hide them. >>



I agree with you. AT and really cleaned. Shame too it had promise

MadMuffin

Alright, thanks for your opinions. So in the US it would grade UNC even with the scraches? I'm learning every day

Don't get me wrong, I think this is a very nice-looking coin - the toning is great even if it's artificial. I still wouldn't pay more than AU price for it, though. Not even if it was slabbed UNC. Slabbed coins are beginning to emerge on Danish auctions and they are often downgraded by half a grade or even a full grade to fit into our grading system.

That's a shame. Some US coins are quite pretty in high grades, but I probably wouldn't be able to afford those that are truly uncirculated

Marcel

1jester

I don't think any reputable grading service would grade this uncirculated. Most will downgrade a full point or even two for harsh cleaning like this one displays.

Askari

Depending on the service, it would be bodybagged or net graded to AU at best. Nobody in their right mind would pay Unc. for it.

lordmarcovan

I'm terrible at spotting artificial toning, and that all but screamed "AT" to me. And then there are the hairlines.

MadMuffin

It turns out that the bidders agree with you folks. I don't know the catalog value of this coin in AU, but it ended up at $1800 - somewhat less than the $15.000 the seller suggested

Marcel