1892 Columbian Half.... estimate the possible grade please.

[Chris1976]

This is the coin to which I made my avatar from. I purchased this coin last summer at a coin expo here in Dalton GA for $12 or $14 (if I remember correctly), either way it was under $20. The obverse and reverse have the same color as the obverse picture below even though the picture of the reverse looks much lighter.

 

 

 

[e1cnr]

whenever I see toning changes around the letters / devices and field I think I need to look very close with loupe because coin is probably cleaned.

 

The sails on the reverse look either weakly struck or lightly worn / rub

 

The rim / edge look very good, like no wear so BU?

 

UNC with light cleaning / polish

[Chris1976]

I didnt see any signs of polishing, but it is possible I suppose. Here are two more pictures under different lights. These pictures let you see that both sides have the same depth of darkness

 

 

[BillJones]

I'd grade it as a cleaned AU-55. The net grade would be in the EF range.

 

Here is a nicely toned piece that PCGS graded MS-63 some years ago.

 

[Chris1976]

couple of closeup pictures.

 

The sails look better in hand then they do in the pictures.

 

 

And I cant see any indications that the coin had been cleaned or polished when looking closer at it

 

[jgrinz]

EF

[physics-fan3.14]

I'm actually going to go a different route with this one - I think this was a circulated prooflike coin. When new, it probably had nice reflective surfaces. The circulation has worn and impeded them, leaving traces of shininess that is easy to mistake for polishing. I don't see any overt signs of polishing on this one, though. PL's are relatively common on Columbia's.

[Bruceswar]

I grade the coin $23.00 EF / AU coin with possible cleaning.

[Chris1976]

Thank you everyone for the grade estimates, This coin is not one that I intend to submit since just about every grade of this coin is cheap and easy to locate already in a slab. I am just glad to hear that I located a decent raw example to join my other raw commems.