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Tuesday

Coins. Coins. And more coins. We looked at a LOT of coins today. A little bit of everything. Today I saw the best $1 Gold I have ever seen. A Type III if I remember correctly. It was graded MS-67 and was almost spotless. The luster was so amazing it looked like it was minted yesterday. Plus it had very impressive clash marks - obverse and reverse. On the reverse the clash was so good you could read most of LIBERTY (in reverse). (Matt said it had been dipped. He always finds something to critique about a coin.)

Our exercizes are to look at a set of slabbed coins (with the grades hidden) and record our grade and any comments for each (e.g., Full Bands, strike through, cleaned, etc.) Then everyone's grade is recorded on a chart to show the spread of grades and how usually the TPG's grade is around the consensus of the class.

Next we split into groups of 6 or 7 and graded more coins. This time we were rushed along so we have a minute or less per coin. They are trying to get us to go with our first impressions instead of minutely studying the coins. Next an instructor polls the group for our grades and then goes over each coin with us. It is really enlightening to watch and listen to how the instructor approaches each coin. After the instructor give his (or her) grade the TPG's grade is revealed. Today I was much better on gold but sometimes far off the mark on heavily circulated coins.

I was embarassed to have missed a Proof Mercury dime today. Yes, I saw the mirrored fields and first thought Proof but I talked myself out of Proof when I didn't see the detail I expected in Liberty's hair. So I graded it MS. Turns out Liberty's hair does not have the details I was looking for. (Only 1 guy in my group graded it Proof so I was not alone.) Not to make excuses but I am not familiar with the characteristics of Mercury Proofs and we were being rushed along. I'll know better next time. This is all part of the learning process.

As I mentioned in the ANA Bash thread, the new Executive Director visited our class. He told us about some of the many changes that are being implemented at ANA and some of the plans for the future. He also spoke to us about grading Early Commems; this is one of his specialites and an area I am interested in so I got a lot out of that. He also brought his collection of James Watt coins. All I can say is WOW!!!

Ken Bressett is a roving instructor and dropped in for a while. He sat at our table for a bit.

So far so good. I feel like I have made progress and I am much more confident in my grading skills. Two more days and several hundred more coins to go.