Grading a weak strike.

davidh · 07-28-2008, 11:04 PM

Is it possible for a weakly struck coin, missing some detail, to grade higher that about MS 60-62, or so?

It's my understanding that part of the grade given to a coin is related to the details of the design. For instance, if an otherwise pristine, unmarked, uncirculated and untouched coin such as a 1921 Peace Dollar was missing hair and feather details and the lettering blended into the field, could it be given a top rating?

**GDJMSP** · 07-28-2008, 11:18 PM

That depends on what you call a top rating. But coins with weak strikes are often graded MS65. Higher than that can happen, but not real often.

rzage · 07-28-2008, 11:18 PM

Definateley , though it would prevent it from some of the better grades , my guess would be that it couldn't be a MS-65 or higher but I could be wrong .
rzage

rlm's cents · 07-28-2008, 11:19 PM

Absolutely possible. Just look at the 1922 Lincolns. Particularly the weak reverses that may not even have wheat lines visible, but they will grade as high as 64.

Bonedigger · 07-28-2008, 11:22 PM

So a 'Strong Strike' of the dies to the planchet would theoretically (all other factors were the same) result in a higher graded coin?

Take Care
Ben

rzage · 07-28-2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonedigger

So a 'Strong Strike' of the dies to the planchet would theoretically (all other factors were the same) result in a higher graded coin?

Take Care
Ben

I think it's posible on a weak struck series like SLQs to raise the grade ' so theoretically it could happen on any set .
rzage

**GDJMSP** · 07-28-2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonedigger

So a 'Strong Strike' of the dies to the planchet would theoretically (all other factors were the same) result in a higher graded coin?

Take Care
Ben

In some cases yes. But there are those cases where it might still be the same grade, even if it did have stronger strike. There's no hard fast rule for this.

For example, and I'm talking of the '21 Peace here since it was brought up, you could have 2 coins where marks, luster, eye appeal etc were equal but one had a slightly better strike than the other. But both coins had too many marks or the luster wasn;t quite good enough to make 66 - both coins would grade 65.

However, if you take 2 other coins, one with a good strike and one with a weak strike, and the one with the weak strike had the qualifications in all criteria except strike to make 66 - then it would be graded 65. And if the quality of strike on the other one was good enough to make 66 then it would be graded 66 because it did have a good enough strike.

rzage · 07-28-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GDJMSP

In some cases yes. But there are those cases where it might still be the same grade, even if it did have stronger strike. There's no hard fast rule for this.

For example, and I'm talking of the '21 Peace here since it was brought up, you could have 2 coins where marks, luster, eye appeal etc were equal but one had a slightly better strike than the other. But both coins had too many marks or the luster wasn;t quite good enough to make 66 - both coins would grade 65.

However, if you take 2 other coins, one with a good strike and one with a weak strike, and the one with the weak strike had the qualifications in all criteria except strike to make 66 - then it would be graded 65. And if the quality of strike on the other one was good enough to make 66 then it would be graded 66 because it did have a good enough strike.

So it's not the strike raising the grade , but a poor strike preventing a grade ?
rzage

**GDJMSP** · 07-28-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rzage

So it's not the strike raising the grade , but a poor strike preventing a grade ?
rzage

In the one case yes and in the other case no. For any coin to be given any grade all of the criteria for that grade have to met by the coin. If only one of the criteria is missing, say quality of strike, - the coin will not get that grade.

Bonedigger · 07-28-2008, 11:38 PM

When the OP said "MS-62ish" on a weakly struck coin I automatically figured all the factors were ideal for perfection or near prefection -- MS-68/69/70, since, well you know, MS-65...

Naturally, a coin struck properly with the same foundation would score higher right?

**GDJMSP** · 07-28-2008, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonedigger

When the OP said "MS-62ish" on a weakly struck coin I automatically figured all the factors were ideal for perfection or near prefection -- MS-68/69/70, since, well you know, MS-65...

What ??? How do you jump from 62ish to 68-69 ? I'm confused. What the OP said was -

" Is it possible for a weakly struck coin, missing some detail, to grade higher that about MS 60-62, or so? "

Quote:

Naturally, a coin struck properly with the same foundation would score higher right?

I just answered that.

rzage · 07-29-2008, 05:49 PM

Aweak strike is a loss of detail , does it really matter if it's from worn dies , not enough pressure , etc. it's still a weak strike .
rzage

**GDJMSP** · 07-29-2008, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rzage

Aweak strike is a loss of detail , does it really matter if it's from worn dies , not enough pressure , etc. it's still a weak strike .
rzage

Think of it this way - with error coins you have a lot of different types of errors, yes ? You have off-centers, brockages, capped die, strike throughs - lots of them. But what would an error collector say if you said - Why all the different names ? They are all just errors, so just call them errors.

Now the difference between a weakly struck coin and a coin struck with worn out dies is not exactly the same as that, but the point is there is a difference. And to a lot of people that difference is important. Think how much time and research went into determining all of the different die marriages for many coins. Some people spend their entire lives trying to figure these things out and then they share their knowledge with us.

Well, there are several reasons that a coin can have a lack of detail - weak strike and worn dies are only two of the reasons. And for weak strike alone there can be 3 different reasons I can think of right off, dies spaced incorrectly, low striking pressure, and design flaw which is where there is not enough metal in the planchet to fill all of the high points on the coin.

Now, sometimes the reason for the weak strike itself can have a bearing on the value of the coin. So sometimes knowing this information is important. But perhaps more than anything else what is really important to someone like say me, is learning all of this information that you can so that you can better understand the hobby and know your coins. Because if you don't know your coins, you're liable to one day end up paying way too much for one - or selling one way too cheaply.

Anyway, that's why you don't just call them all weak strikes.

Leadfoot · 07-29-2008, 06:53 PM

Here we go again.

**Speedy** · 07-29-2008, 07:05 PM

yep---

You can lead a horse to water.....but you can't make him drink.

In a way it's fun!! While some people would rather talk about the next state quarter, we talk about things that really matter to the hobby.

Speedy

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