1874 Liberty Head - Looking to understand its grade...

Comments

• erwindoc Posts: 5,286 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 21, 2016 10:29AM

  Its difficult to grade from photos, but your coin looks like it has been cleaned before. Look at the shadows around the stars as a hint. I would also say that it is lower grade AU, perhaps 50-53 range based on all the marks on the surfaces but due to the cleaning, it would not likely straight grade.

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• roadrunner Posts: 28,313 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 21, 2016 11:32AM

  I'd grade the coin in the XF 40/45 range. It has too many marks for my tastes to be an AU. The remaining luster is not all that apparent. Could have been cleaned too though I don't so. It's basically more a reflection of its near 1/2 ounce of gold content. The price spread from VF30 to AU55 is fairly small so the grade is really not that big an issue. Approx value of $650-$675 if not cleaned.
  
  
  
  An early $10 like this is not worth much of a premium to its gold content ($615) because there are few collectors building an XF/AU set. If MS60 it would have considerable demand as few of them survived. MS60 coin would have a complete cartwheel luster from the fields radiating over the figures. An AU50 coin might only have 10-50% of its luster remaining. This one might have 20-30% luster left. It has some dirt/crust in and around the devices so that's one indication it wasn't badly cleaned. And seeing as it was given to you 25 years ago, and sat prior to that for X years, it could be ok.

  Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold

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• rhedden Posts: 6,632 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 21, 2016 11:30PM

  I also think it was not cleaned. The copper toning around the stars is an indication to me that it's probably original. I agree with roadrunner's assessment that it's got too many marks for the grade. It has AU50 details but is worth XF40 money due to the hits on the face and in front of the nose. It might grade at PCGS.

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• CaptHenway Posts: 32,716 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 21, 2016 11:37PM

  There is very little actual wear, which by itself puts it in the AU category. Within the category, it has a lot of contact marks, not unusual for 19th century gold. That would put it in the lower end of the AU range, either 50 or 53.
  
  
  
  Coin photography is difficult, and the photograph appears to show a diminished luster. However, this may just be the photograph.
  
  
  
  I suspect that it could be straight graded. As others have pointed out it is not a rare coin, and the certification will not add much value to the coin, but it will make it easier to sell if and when you should need to sell it.
  
  
  
  TD

  Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.

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• OldEastside Posts: 4,602 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 22, 2016 12:32AM

  One thing for sure is that's a GREAT keepsake from your Grandmother and Welcome Aboard
  
  Steve

  Promote the Hobby

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• ambro51 Posts: 13,946 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 22, 2016 1:20AM

  Tough to grade but mildly circulated with normal contact marks. Rotating it under a strong incandescent bulb May show patterns of directional hairlines indicating improper cleaning but under the photos lighting impossible to see. Your overall value here is much tied to the spot price of gold. A Great Coin for you personally the appeal outweughs grade/value. Try not to make it a pocket piece though as polish type wear will occur on the high points.

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