Gold 1855 Dollar Help Needed

harasha

I am not an expert in US coins, but I came into possession of an 1855 gold dollar.
The slab label of PCGS' main competitor grades it as AU 55.
As I said, I am not an expert in this area, if an expert in any area, but feedback would be welcome.
Due to my use of a macro lens and the coin not being level within the slab, the focus in parts is not the best.

lkeigwin

What sort of help are you looking for?

Grade looks a little generous, perhaps. AU certainly. Color looks a little off but I don't know the series well. I've seen other 1855's that looked more coppery than orange gold so maybe it's fine.

Place a coin under the slab as a shim to make the coin level for shooting pix.
Lance.

TomB

What kind of help are you asking for?

BryceM

I agree the grade seems generous, but type II dollars don't usually come very nice at all. Maybe your lighting is accentuating the hairlines and using higher-angle light might help the look of the photos. I don't think the focus is too bad.

Are you looking for information on value, photography, attributes of this particular piece, or what exactly?

harasha

The help is asking whether the appearance is typical of the type.
The strike is not sharp and there appears to be flow lines on the reverse, but this may be typical.
The color being off may be my attempt to provide better detail.
Bottom line; is anything suspicious?

harasha

Actually, you guys are giving me the feedback I need. I greatly appreciate it.

BryceM

I would say the overall appearance is reasonably typical. The heavy clashing seen on the reverse is not universal, but almost. Strike is often mushy - yours actually seems slightly better than average. The color is a bit on the bright side, but that could be white balance, a dip, or who knows. To me, the most significant feature is the quantity and depth of the many abrasions / hairlines. I wouldn't want to see that on too many of my coins. Maybe they gave this one a pass just based on the relative scarcity of the type II. But, maybe the photos are making it look worse than it really does too.

BryceM

Here's one in PCGS AU58 for comparison. These are reasonably hard to photograph well. This isn't a terribly pretty coin IMO, especially for what they cost, but such is life. The weakness of strike on the date is common.

MikeInFL

Not a bad coin, but perhaps a bit too hairlined and optimistically graded for me to pull the trigger personally.

FWIW, here's my example of the type, also a PCGS AU 58:

mozin

Here is my 1855 G$1 for comparison.

Baley

I had been looking for one of these for my type set for a long time, and finally settled on this one, also happens to be NGC AU55



Both coins have clash marks and the characteristic weakness on the 8 in the date.

s4ny

Oops, I posted the wrong coin. Same year, though.

s4ny

G$1, pictures not as good as the $3.

JJSingleton

I do not know what PCGS competitor holdered your coin but I would grade the coin as imaged as harshly cleaned. With that said, images can be very deceiving and I always give the benefit of the doubt to the TPG as they have seen the coin in hand and I have not.

ambro51

On an average XF gold dollar I'd expect no luster and wear on the high points. AU should look like an UNC in color and luster should improve. I'd give the OP coin an average AU50 with slightly better than average strike. Pictures are funny and I'll bet it looks better in hand . I'd keep it in that holder