1920 Maine Comm. -Cleaned or Pollished die?

MASSU2

I bought this Maine commerative at a respected local dealer. He had the 2X2 marked as cleaned with a price of $35. I couldn't believe my eyes, and asked how they knew if it was cleaned and the response was that "they've seen enough cleaned coins to know." Anyways, I talked them down to $33 and walked out with a big smile on my face. After examining the coin close up, there are many hair lines which would leave me to believe why the coin shop said it was cleaned. I did some research on this coin and found out that there is a die clash variety and that the dies were polished to repair the dies. On the obverse you can see the clash mark very easily, Libetry is seen under the Maine ribbon and the wreath is seen underneath the bottom edge of America.

My question to the experts: Is this coin cleaned or the result of die polishing or both? And, what is you stab at a grade?

mmotx

doh

Scrubbed

tcmitssr

If it's both, it really doesn't matter because it would still have been cleaned, which I think it was at some point.

Grade.......AU 53, maybe 55.

mmotx

Perhaps a bit of both, but what you are picturing is mostly die polish.

tincup

Kind of tough for me to tell. It depends on whether the lines are 'raised' or recessed.... some photos look like they are one way, but then another makes it look like they aren't. If they are in fact 'raised' above the surface, then the die was abraded to remove the clash marks... and you may have an unc coin.

I would have to have this one in hand to be able to tell for myself.....

tincup

The overall color and luster would tend to favor it being cleaned.

BaronVonBaugh

both

Connecticoin

Both, plus overdipped. But for $33, you certainly got your money's worth.

If you pocketpiece it for a couple years, you might even increase its value.

mcheath

I think you did well. Its cleaned but would make a great pocket piece or I would at least leave it by the window for a couple months.

TomB

Cleaned with a heavy hand.

pheh

Cleaned AU. Regardless... it is a superb piece for the price. I agree, you did well.

IGWT

-- Cleaned or Pollished die? --

Cleaned coin and polished die.

commoncents05

Cleaned.

-Paul

CertifiedGoldCoins

Two-dimensional photographs don't show a coin's luster very well, so only you can see whether there is a cartwheel effect or not. Polished, or otherwise cleaned, coins lose that. As for the lines, at least some of them cross the fields (which would have been the highest part of the die) and stop at the lettering and devices (which would have been recessed on the die, and protected from die polishing), so some die polishing is evident. Again, since it's a photograph, only you can tell which lines are raised. Those would be due to die polishing, ground into the die. Not raised? Abrasion from cleaning.

rld14

But I agree on pocketing it. Plus, for $33... sheesh!

robkool

Cleaned with die polish lines...AU details.