Okay, it will never pass for finest known. But in the absence of a Fr2+ grade, does anyone else think this coin has a shot at AG3 if resubmitted? The date and mint mark are so clear and unimpaired that Fr2 just seems a wee bit low... http://us.ebid.net/for-sale/1916d-n...-bargain-check-my-other-auctions-74631046.htm
Ya it seems this one has wear on places that normally are in better shape, and less wear on places that usually are harder to see. The date and MM are fine, but the wear on the top left on the obverse as well as the whole right side of the reverse is a lot. You can't even see the L or I on LIBERTY and the rims are totally gone. I don't think it goes any higher.
You're probably right. And yet, who looks at anything but the date and mint mark on a 1916-d at first? If you want to see the design elements, kind of makes sense to inspect an MS67 specimen from the 1940s that can be had for less than $100. That is, if a collector were going for a complete set and had some sort of budget to adhere to, getting a 1916-d with a clear date and mint mark would would seem to be more desirable than even a G4 example with wear into the date.
It would be a fine coin to have like you said clear date and mintmark, the question was will it upgrade. Nope. It probably has a better Mintmark than my PCGS AG 3 cac but the rims and letters are rather worn for sure.
Take the chance and send it in. Ive seen many others pick up a higher grade when it was cracked out. You have just as much of a chance as they and at times i think its worthless to send them anything. You can on certain days see the gradeing on coins are a money thing and nothing more so send it.
Actually not my coin; -just saw it on the internet and was somewhat surprised by the full date and decent mint mark on a coin that far down the Sheldon scale.
The Liberty on the obverse and United States of America blend into the nonexistant rim, so 2 is a fair grade. A 4, by most people standards, needs a defined rim, and a 3 needs a pretty close rim. It doesn't really matter much though because the spread per recent auctions between a 2 and 3 is only $100. So its pointless to send in even for an upgrade.
