Please give an opinion of grade for this 1864 25c....

DoubleEagle59 · November 29, 2008 10:29PM

The pics are a touch blurry, but I'm giving this one at least an xf45.

There's quite a few tiny 'hit' marks in the fields (which you can't see in the pictures), so I'm a little skeptical of venturing in the AU range, although, wear-wise, I think it may be an au50.

Any help is appreciated.

Walkerguy21D · November 29, 2008 11:48PM

Hi Tony - looks like AU details to me, but I suspect at one point the coin was heavily toned, and subjected to one or more fairly harsh cleanings or dippings to brighten it, which really killed the luster. This would have to be a net priced kind of coin, probably selling for low XF money (and it may take some work to get this, IMO).

Halfhunter06 · November 29, 2008 11:51PM

Yes AU details, sharp coin no matter what though

DoubleEagle59 · November 29, 2008 11:59PM

picture in a more 'reflective' angle of light. I'm trying to show the hit marks in the field.

I would say it has been dipped, but I don't think it has been cleaned.

tjkillian · November 30, 2008 12:01AM

Easily AU details. How's the luster? Is it dead or does it still have life in regards to luster?

DoubleEagle59 · November 30, 2008 12:06AM

I wouldn't describe the luster as dead. There is some luster on the coin.

I use a fluorescent light when taking pictures as opposed to a light bulb or natural light. This always has a tendency to mute the luster of a coin.

coinkat · November 30, 2008 2:03AM

45 seems right-all things considered

roadrunner · November 30, 2008 2:32AM

The surfaces don't look overly abused in those photos, nor are the marks severe or numerous. It certainly looks worthy of AU money imo based on the luster peaking through. The details are easily AU-50 or better. If you feel the surfaces are not overly cleaned, then the coin is worthy of AU value. XF45 must be underselling the coin by quite a bit. Worth looking into further.

roadrunner

Coxe · November 30, 2008 2:39AM

Cleaned. I was initially inclined to AU55, but think AU53 is more appropriate.

pursuitofliberty · November 30, 2008 2:40AM

I agree with RR on this one ... unless this coin has been noticably cleaned, it is probably worthy
of a low AU grade (50 or 53) even with what appears to be somewhat muted luster

DIMEMAN · November 30, 2008 2:42AM

As stated, this coin has the details of an au. Maybe it is the pics, but I don't like the surfaces. Looks cleaned pitted or pourus(sp). Is this a tuff date like the civil war P-date dimes? If so, you had better crab it and get a better one later IF one shows up.

JMHO

Coxe · November 30, 2008 2:45AM

The box around the date is what says "cleaned" to me. Seen that many times and close inspection always seems to reveal a cleaning.

DIMEMAN · November 30, 2008 2:53AM

coxe is right. I like the area around the date better than the rest. That would be a super coin if it were original and had some nice lite toning.

roadrunner · November 30, 2008 3:07AM

This is the general look of what is typically encapsulated in top tier TPG holders. If a former cleaning, regardless of extent, is now the standard I would then reject 90-95% of all slabbed circ bust coinage, 70-80% of all circ better date seated coinage, and 70-80% of all circ better date Barber coinage. Hence why when never tampered with better dated material shows up, it brings exorbitant premiums. In undamaged/uncleaned condition I'd bet the 1864 circ quarter drops from 250-500 extant specimens down to something like less than 25-50 pcs to choose from.

roadrunner

rhedden · December 1, 2008 8:18AM

As one of the few people on this forum who collects Seated 25c by date, I have to say you are a tough crowd. Everyone here should listen to roadrunner, who hit it on the head (and he has been collecting these since the 1970s). Fully original, better date Seated quarters in XF+ grades are practically non-existant. Even those pretty toned BU pieces you all seem to love, usually acquired their beautiful toning after a good dip. They still slab because total originality is a near impossibility for many dates in this series.

In addition, this is indeed a better date (as are most Seated 25c dates). Right now, there is exactly one 1864 business strike quarter for sale on ebay out of hundreds of items (actually, it's a Live Auction item from Heritage). Dick Osburn is offering a PCGS XF45 for $575, more than 2X the PCGS price guide, and it has lightly hairlined fields, according to Dick's description. Remember the excellent set of Bust & Seated 25c I was showing off last month, which contained numerous coins in the $1,000-$10,000 range? The 1864 was a scratched VG-F.

To put money where my mouth is, I bought this quarter from DoubleEagle59, and paid him full AU money to boot. If it's a cleaned, hairlined POS when I get it, you'll hear it here first.

Of course, I had access to additional pictures that you didn't see.

lordmarcovan · December 1, 2008 8:20AM

That's AU all day long. Sure, it has a little chatter, but otherwise nice eye appeal, as far as I am concerned.

I would say 53-ish.

Please give an opinion of grade for this 1864 25c....

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