1893 Isabella quarter dollar help please

coinsarefun · September 5, 2007 11:39AM

Can I get your honest opinion on this one please

Baley · September 5, 2007 11:48AM

I like the strike and don't see much wear if any, maybe a touch at the hip and knee?

tough to tell about the fields from the photo but appears to have friction?

the toning appears secondary as if it's been lightened at some point, but acceptable

I'd go AU55 or so from that picture, could be higher if the fields are unmolested. Possibly as high as MS62 but probably not higher.

hows that?

coinsarefun · September 5, 2007 11:54AM

Thank you very much Baley

Mercury10c · September 5, 2007 11:54AM

Nice coin!
I agree, high AU to low MS.
Pics are a bit too bright to give a better opinion.

AUandAG · September 5, 2007 11:54AM

Hmmm, Oh my, I don't see what Baley sees. Old tired eyes maybe but I see a crisp, unmolested example that ought
to grade out 64/65. Fields are mark free and reverse is slightly weaker struck. No evidence of a rub on the obverse
at all. Just a real nice Isabella.
Nice overall coin, how's that?
bob

Bajajim · September 5, 2007 12:00PM

I see ms as well, maybe 63. Nice looking coin

cmerlo1 · September 5, 2007 12:29PM

Proof?

richardshipp · September 5, 2007 12:30PM

The details are definately nicer than my PCGS AU58. I can't tell with these pics though enough about the "look" of the coin. There almost seems to be too abrupt of a color change. A lot of these with the darker rim toning also have almost a halo of darker toning aroung the device on the reverse. Are there different pictures available?

coinsarefun · September 5, 2007 12:30PM

Oh well, lost it at the last second by two bucks

Thanks everyone for your input.

richardshipp · September 5, 2007 12:30PM

curious what did it sell for?

coinsarefun · September 5, 2007 12:34PM

<< <i>curious what did it sell for? >>

Lie to me and say that the winner over paid

Ebay

LeeG · September 5, 2007 12:38PM

Looks cleaned and retoned to me. Too shiny in the fields, may be brightness from the lighting? The brightness is hiding some stuff in my opinion.

GoldenEyeNumismatics · September 5, 2007 12:39PM

if it is problem free, then the winner did good.

cleaned, or otherwise alterred examples of these are very hard to sell.

jmj3esq · September 5, 2007 12:50PM

Im with Lee on this one.

Bajajim · September 5, 2007 1:03PM

I also agree with Lee. If this thing had a chance at a ms rating, the seller would have slabbed it before sale. Odds are you would have bought a problem coin.

coinsarefun · September 5, 2007 1:17PM

I was wondering that myself as the price was starting to go higher and higher

Barndog · September 5, 2007 1:19PM

first impression for me: nice detail, dipped and retoned, wouldn't take a chance on it sight-unseen

ldhair · September 5, 2007 10:37PM

First off, it's a really nice image.
It was tilted to the lens just a bit to catch the best look of the coin.
Straight on it is more than likely to have a lot of stuff going on in the fields.
Some coins need more than one image to understand what it's all about.
I'm thinking it would grade low MS or AU something.

keets · September 5, 2007 11:45PM

most Isabella Quarters had weak/flat luster "as struck" and suffered after release either from poor storage or a dip at sometime in their life. that sad truth can be seen in the weak lustered, dark toned examples which are the norm for this beautiful issue. that's also highlighted by the high prices for MS64 and higher graded coins which have a pleasant look with luster and a minimum of marks/rub from storage. look long and hard if you really want a nice coin at a reasonable price. my below example was bought sight unseen on eBay as an NGC MS62 and crossed to PCGS because that's what it is, an MS62 in all it's weakly struck and nicely toned glory!!

Broadstruck · September 6, 2007 12:15AM

There is a bit of a smoke-n-mirrors angle shot going on with the pics, and they have been juiced. I feel the coin was cleaned at some point with secondary toning. After 20+ years of cert, almost any Isabella being sold that is issue free is in plastic today... if not there's good reason to feel the coin has a problem. A scarce coin if nicely struck, unmolested, and eye appealing.

Barndog · September 6, 2007 12:30AM

<< <i>

There is a bit of a smoke-n-mirrors angle shot going on with the pics, and they have been juiced. I feel the coin was cleaned at some point with secondary toning. After 20+ years of cert, almost any Isabella being sold that is issue free is in plastic today... if not there's good reason to feel the coin has a problem. A scarce coin if nicely struck, unmolested, and eye appealing.

>>

my wife and I purchased an issue-free raw AU from Ed Hipps at the Denver ANA last year as a gift for my father in law. Raw and problem-free coins do exist in nearly every series.

richardshipp · September 6, 2007 12:38AM

I don't get tired of looking at mine although eventually I'd like to upgrade to a MS64/65 version. Its just tough to find one I like better than what I already have in AU58 as there is a fairly big price difference.

ldhair · September 6, 2007 12:42AM

Broadstruck · September 6, 2007 12:47AM

my wife and I purchased an issue-free raw AU from Ed Hipps at the Denver ANA last year as a gift for my father in law. Raw and problem-free coins do exist in nearly every series.

I guess my comment should just be focused mostly at Flea-Bay.

As at a coin shop, or coin show I'm sure you could find a nice problem free example.

I purchased a raw seafoam green Isa at a show in the early 90's as a 65, and it came back 66 from PCGS...

Long gone as I sold my commems in the mid 90's, but the series is in my blood.

I'm still very passionate towards the Isa's, and am very pleased with the one below I own today.

P.S. LeeG's wonderful Commem series history posts on the forum aren't making shaking the series completely any easier!

LeeG · September 6, 2007 8:16PM

<< <i>I don't get tired of looking at mine although eventually I'd like to upgrade to a MS64/65 version. >>

Why? That's a very nice example. The only reason to upgrade it would be to satisfy a Registry urge of some sort?
My Stone Mtn is an AU55 and I have no plans to upgrade.

1893 Isabella quarter dollar help please

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