Sometimes I just don't get NGC grading. I am sure it applies to PCGS also to some extent. But when I send in a coin that looks nice that has a scratch that is barely perceptible unless you use a loop or something and it comes back UNC Details, OBV Scratch, I just go ballistic because I see plenty of graded coins (I am speaking of Morgans and Peace dollars here) that have bag nicks, marks, scratches, etc and they get graded MS63, MS64, whatever. I don't understand why NGC can't give the coin a grade looking at its overall beauty, etc and then note on the little insert that it has an obverse scratch or something if it's that important to them. I think they do this more to the small collector than the big dealers that send in hundreds or thousands of coins at a time when the ASEs come out or some other big money generator and generate thousands and thousands of dollars at a time in grading fees. Now I was told at one time that the dealers who send in large quantities of coins pay more than us little guys who might send in 5, 10 or 15 at a time but I really wonder if that's true. Anyhow, I just wanted to vent my displeasure with the way NGC does their grading. I don't think a hardly noticeable or maybe unnoticeable scratch that you might need a magnifying instrument to see should ruin the grade of your lovely coin!!!!!!!!!!
My understanding is that as the coins go across the graders table...they have no idea if the coin comes from a large submission or a single coin submission. That being said, if you could post a photo of the coin we could access and give you an opinion.
Here's one of them but they are already slabbed so it doesn't make much difference now other than so what if it has a small scratch on it? It's hard to see the scratches because they are not like a big gouge. There is one in the hair that you can't see unless you use a loop.
What I am saying is why is that any different than a bag mark or scratch? You can look at any number of graded coins that have those on them and they are graded normally and not with the stigma. So what's wrong with a grade and a notation instead of the catch-all unc details? Nuff said!!
Comparing your example to others, I have to agree with you. There are many more scratches on MS63s than yours has. And some of the examples have large and deeper scratches than yours does in lower field areas. The only reason I think they gave you the grade they did was because the neck is a prominent area.
Bag marks are small nicks caused by coins bumping into each other in a coin bag. They are considered a normal part of a coin's life. Because they coins are all the same hardness...the damage is minimal. A scratch is this is caused by something harder than the coin going across the surface of the coin making a large gouge. They are different...they are caused by different things and look different. One is considered a normal part of a coin's life and the other is considered damage. IMHO, this coin is graded correctly and I believe PCGS would have said the same thing.
Well, I am no expert, but here is what I think the people here will tell you: A bag mark is a natural occurrence that happens as a result of normal handling at the mint, and in transportation of the coins. Most all coins have some bag marks, some have a lot (MS62) and some have very few (MS67+). A scratch happens post-mint, and is considered Post Mint Damage, or just plain damage. A scratch is something that happens due to poor handling or storage by a person. Not all coins will be damaged this way. Certainly you would agree that a numeric grade for your coin is not enough, considering there a plenty of other coins in the same grade without that nasty scratch? Would you want to buy a coin with a half-inch scratch without the seller or TPG noting it?
Why do you care so much what a third party grades your coin? If you aren't happy with their results then use your own standards. Just don't expect others to follow suit. Guy
A scratched coin is considered to be a damaged coin. And damaged coins have been considered to be ungradeable for as long as we have had grading. And we had grading for 40 years before the TPGs even opened their doors. Damage can be caused by many different things, not just scratches, and it comes many different forms. But bag marks are NOT damage, and they never have been. You want to know what makes me mad keemao ? It makes me mad when the TPGs are lenient and let one form of damage or another go, and slab the coin anyway. Now that, that is a real disservice to the entire hobby, let alone the owner of the coin.
I'm done with NGC. My last batch of coins had two 1873 "doubled liberty" S-1 DDOs and they did not attribute either of them. They both graded good 6, so you cannot see the liberty in the headdress, but the doubling in the eye, under the nose and on the last S in states is readily visible on both coins. I called to see why they were not attributed, only to find out the have to see at least 2 letters in "liberty" to attribute them. I referenced they had graded and attributed 5 in the grade good. They kept the attribution fees. Pcgs will be getting them soon.
I completely agree with this statement and I think many people fail to see this point. Doug you are 100% correct.
It's not the neck scratch that doomed this coin. It's a long pin scratch that begins above the forehead and goes straight down above the ear. You can't see it in the OP's pic but it's obvious in the pic NGC has on their site. No loop needed. There's no way any TPG would have let that slide. In my opinion of course.