Does this same coin come back any percentage of the time as 'Genuine - Scratched'? That's a pretty heavy hit on the obverse starting from the 'N' in 'In' all the way through the eye, no? And a similar one just below it. Or am I just missing something..? I've been making more of an effort to look at the coin not the holder, but this one..I guess I just don't see it. So, I thought I'd defer to you all and your experience.. Am I right or am I wrong to question the grade? http://www.ebay.com/itm/1909-S-VDB-1c-PCGS-MS65-RB-Key-Date-Lincoln-Cent-/181097233692?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item2a2a3c7d1c
I'm also new, but I believe it may be because it has a wood-grain patina... So it may not be a scratch but instead part of the patina...
Like Peter said. that is not a scratch. It is a woody. The alloy was not properly mixed in the planchet and the different compositions tone differently. Here is another or you can look at more here http://www.cointalk.com/t65353/;
Gotcha. I see it more in the picture you posted in this thread than I do on the EBayer's photos. I've seen(and sheepishly, owned) wheats that have that presentation but I've often thought it was because of an old cleaning that has just toned differently in spots that were cleaned more harshly than other. The More You Know.
You are pointing out a toning streak or what is also commonly called woodgrain toning. It is not a scratch.
