I found this coin on a website that sells collectibles. I understand the grading of paper money but when it comes to grading coins, a grade like this doesn't make sense to me. Description in the ad: I don't call many coins " hyper PQ ", but this is one of them. An MS66 obverse teamed up with a gleaming MS64 obverse. Both sides immaculately toned and very fresh. A coin that could easily be value graded as gem by either NGC or PCGS. Any way you look at it ; it is one of the nicest 1940 quarters that I have ever seen. Worth a very strong premium. Nicer than coins that I have viewed in MS65 holders. What I see: The word "gleaming" is used but I don't see much of anything gleaming. What I see is a coin almost turned black and certainly doesn't look fresh to me. Also, I am trying to understand why toning, to the point of almost being black, is considered a good quality. Once again, I don't have the experience to properly grade any coin, just looking for comments from others to better understand the grading process.
I am with you, I don't like the blotchiness of the obverse toning, nor the darkness of the reverse. Think about it, if the dealer really thought it would slab 65 or 66 why doesn't he get is certified then? Sounds like a lot of "used car salesman" puffery. Chris
Hmmm - some people like dark toning. To me it hides the luster in pictures and if too bad it hides it in hand. Just my opinion. As to the coin I really cannot say since I don't collect canadian coins - not really sure where the high points are, but it certainly to me it looks like wear across the ear. Just a quick comment.
Toning on a coin doesn't keep it out of mint state....wear does. I can almost guarantee the coin isn't as dark and unattractive as it appears in the images, the seller just doesn't know how to image toned coins. There is also no way to judge the luster or lack there of based on these photos.....so in a nutshell we don't know what the coin looks like in hand so you have to use your best judgement in a situation like this lol
If he wants to sell it at a grade get it graded this is the old mine is better than yours sales pitch.
The coin looks to be certified by International Coin Certification Service (ICCS). In my experience, this grading company is consistent in their grading. It is a standard for Canadian coins for many years. I suspect the photos do not depict the coin's actual appearance in hand. If you want the coin & the seller offers a return policy, then go for it. BTW, ICCS would have considered the toning (good/+ or bad/-) when they assigned the final grade. There should not be any circulation wear on the coin if it is acurately graded MS64.
I completely concur with Krytonitecomic, there is no way to tell by these photos, it could be brilliantly rainbow toned with spinning cartwheels of luster, who knows?
Lol, I just love the salesman's pitch: "I don't call many coins hyper PQ...." Premium quality isn't enough to denote the coin is superior in your eye to an average coin in that grade? You are simply forced into the adjective "hyper"? Chris
Uh, it IS certified, and I believe it is certified by ICCS (Looks like an ICCS 2 holder) and they are as far as I know still considered the premier grader of Canadian coins. And ICCS only thinks it grades MS-64. I would bet that it is pretty flashy in hand through the toning. Personally though I don't care for the blotchy toning on the obverse.
Um, ok, neither the OP nor the dealer ad ever mentioned the certification, so how was I supposed to know that? The low tech typing on the "certificate" simply looked like dealer inventory listings. I simply do not care enough to be familiar with every TPG slab appearance. Chris
A vast majority of Canada's uncirculated coins exhibit "proof like" surfaces and this was normal. I collect a lot of Canadian dollars and halves, so I'm used to the grading standards.
The coin may be perfect is as far as wear is concerned, I was just questioning the dark toning and how it effects grading. I referred to the Sheldon grading scale online to help me better understand grading coins and here is their description of an AU58 coin. AU-58 (Choice About Uncirculated) - Virtually uncirculated, except for minor wear marks on high points. Nearly all mint luster must be present, and must have outstanding eye appeal. This coin is graded MS condition but looks as though it has little or no luster if the meaning of luster is brilliance or brightness. I also found this description of a MS coin on about.com (MS-60) Mint State Basal - Strictly uncirculated but that's all; ugly coin with no luster, obvious contact marks, etc. Sounds harsh, but is it common to grade an ugly coin with no luster be considered MS? Thanks for your input
