1849 Godless Florin...good deal or death slab waiting to happen?

[Jester]

Good Evening/Morning Ladies and Gents,

After conversation with @shortstack68 about a reasonable entry into British coins (thank you for your wise counsel Sir), I'm interested in beginning my journey with a 1849 Godless Florin.  I found one for sale and while it looks like a nice coin, it's ungraded and I have concerns that it may have been cleaned.  I tried to educate myself as much as possible to pick up on the signs of a cleaned coin.  The most succinct explanation I found is, "Old silver coins will look grey in color with darker patination around the devices, such as the lettering, date, and main design elements."  I'd really like your opinion.  It's a nice looking coin (with the WW partially obliterated).  The seller states it's in EF condition and is asking $575 which seems a bit high (CCGB has an EF example around $230).  So without further gilding the lily and with no more ado, I give you the coin...

UPDATE: I just found this very coin sold at auction on March 5 for $179 and the auction had it listed in GVF (see screenshot).  Something's rotten in Denmark...

[ThoseBackPages]

Great detective work!  Some people are too greedy indeed

[daz]

it might be overpriced but its still a cracking coin .

[daz]

yep i think the design of Victoria side is stunning . 

better than this abomination anyday ( but what isnt ?)

 

[daz]

think we might have our wires crossed i wasnt commenting on the quality of the coin posted being cracking , but the design . when you said it was awful i thought you was commenting on the design as well .

may be im wrong and you do actually think its awful so want to sell me yours ? 

[daz]

so you dont want to sell then ? 

[sovereignsteve]

2 hours ago, shortstack68 said:

IMO it's been cleaned

 

What kind of cleaning do you think it's had? It doesn't look like it's polish rubbed but due to the lack of toning/patina, maybe dipped at some stage?

[sovereignsteve]

Makes sense.

[sixgun]

There are quite a number of these coins going through at what to my mind are good prices. i know this is only 2 shillings but i think these will have continued investor-collector potential.

[Jester]

Here's another example I found on Heritage Auctions that sold the Fall (or Autumn depending on where you live) of 2016 and Heritage did have it identified as being cleaned...I think @shortstack68 is bang on in his assessment.  The two look almost identical...