Question about Scratches/Rim damaged coins

The question is how bad does the rim need to be scratched of damaged for it to be non-gradable?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

As GDJMSP said, it's a judgment call. But here are some observations:

- Scratches that appear to be intentional will usually prevent a coin from grading cleanly. Even for very early coins, which usually get a little slack.

- Scratches that are not severe and appear to be due to circulation are usually forgiven. They obviously affect the grade.

- The older the scratch the more forgivable.

So, how does the TPG determine if a scratch is intentional? Common sense, mostly. Scratch lines that cross are deemed intentional, e.g. Letters or images are intentional.

With rims it is not a matter of intent but rather severity. There is no hard rule.
Lance.

 

that's good to know. i have a few coins that might be a problem.

 

Would it be fair to say that a well circulated coin, say a vg or fine, would grade cleanly with a scratch or rim bruise while an unc wou get bagged? Seems to me that a worn Morgan would have been dropped a time or two during it's circulating days.

 

I don't think so. As I mentioned earlier it depends on whether the grader felt the scratch was intentional or not. And, of course, its severity. Also, it does affect grade.

Here's an example of a 1917 Lincoln PCGS graded MS66RD. The scratch was deemed accidental and so it graded cleanly. However, it is so severe it should not have received MS66. It should have dropped at least a couple of grades, IMO.

I sent it back to PCGS, asking for a spot review, which is how you get them to consider the grade guarantee. They got back to me and said they agreed it was a mistake and offered a fair price for the coin (which I accepted...I didn't want the coin back and a check for the difference in value between the old grade and the new one; that's the other option).

I was surprised to see they regraded it MS64+! Only 2-3% of PCGS's grades earn a plus and usually the coins are pretty special. (I don't think that makes sense but let's not debate that now.) The scratched Lincoln had a lot going for it...color and luster was spectacular. But that scratch was just unacceptable and few experienced collectors would tolerate it, I think.
Lance.

 

Here's another interesting example. The below large cent has a few prominent scratches.

Large cents were pure copper, a soft metal, and were heavy and large (almost half dollar size!). They also were made from marginal quality copper during the early years using crude presses. (There's some fun history to this you can read about.) Many have pitting and porosity, corrosion, bumps and bruises, along with the more acceptable die cracks, cuds, etc.

The scratch nearest the top, from above star 8 across the top of Liberty's head, is not post-mint damage. You can tell this from its thick, jagged shape. It is from a poor planchet.

But the scratches across Liberty's face, under her chin to below her ear, through B in LIBERTY, as well as those fainter ones (near star 2 and left of the date, e.g.) are from circulation.

So the TPG forgave these scratches, as well as the porous surface, and graded it cleanly, VG10. It got a pass because of the typical quality planchet back then, the soft metal and heavy weight, its circulation, and the unintentional post mint damage.

Damage like this was less and less forgiven in later years. But don't be surprised by "genuine" holders for many of these early Mint coins. The TPG's do draw a line, and if the corrosion or damage is severe enough the will "bag" it.
Lance.

 

I have my opinions too. I was just passing along how the TPG's handle it.
Lance.

 

Lance, wow thanks!

 

I don't want to debate with you, Doug. I am merely saying that an accidental scratch, as opposed to graffiti, can be acceptable, as is obvious by certified coins with scratches. Graffiti is never acceptable. There is a difference and graders give their opinions. They're not 100% consistent, I agree.

PCGS graded that scratched Lincoln, and then under its spot review process gave it hard consideration. A payout was at stake. It wasn't your typical 10 second grading decision. They paid the claim and downgraded the coin. Should it have BB'd? Perhaps. Would another TPG have BB'd it? Maybe. If I had cracked it and sent it to PCGS would they have BB'd it? I wouldn't be surprised.

You can find exceptions for almost anything, from color to damage. All we are getting is opinions when we submit coins for grading. I have resubmitted coins I believed in many times and have had them grade cleanly in the end. No one is surprised to hear that.

When we look at a coin and wonder why it was graded as it was, we take educated guesses. We guess about luster and toning, spots and bag hits, as we try to understand why a professional grader with enormous experience assigned the grade he did. Everyone has an opinion. But it is only the TPG's that we pay a lot of money for.
Lance.

 

Seems very arbitrary and somewhat spiteful to me. This is an aspect of US grading I just hate, differentiation of WHY a coin is lower grade. WHY will the TPG grade a coin obviously damaged from circulation, (wear), but not grade a coin with other damage, (scratch). Why wouldn't they just downgrade it to reflect the scratch?

I just shake my head when it comes to US grading sometimes. The importance is not WHY the coin is damaged, its the EXTENT versus a pristine coin. For all of the talk of market grading, they still do stupid things like this. They will detail grade a coin like this, but then turn around and give a BU grade to a soft, mushy strike peice of garbage, (that in ancients would have been graded a F the day it left the mint).

It just confirms why I left US collecting. I have to admit, though, I bought a really nice high end XF bust half yesterday for only $100. I was really surprised how soft that market is.

Chris

 

Sometimes the grader is just in a bad mood I guess. This dime was slabbed as damaged. A tiny hit in his hair

 

Well it is damaged man, look at all of that ugly color!

 

Oh yeah, I didn't even notice that!

 

You got a point, coins get scratched when they get circulated and should be graded not rejected. Bag marks happen and scratches happen.

 

They are much less forgiving on small coins like dime.

 

I'm new to this (my first post, too) - but in my first few months of learning about this the whole grading and slabbing thing it looks like a bunch of BS to me. I can see it for proof coins and similar - but I actually find I dislike the slabs - it's like their stored away where you can't get the real sense of the history and art of the thing - and arbitrary! Wow! I find I prefer raw coins, and best is even high quality circulated ones. They cost less and for me are more fun to own - maybe not as good a value in the long run, I don't know - but it sure looks to me like this slabbing thing is way out of hand.