Bought Slab, Not Coin, Your Thoughts?

I bought this 1921 P Mercury dime and really wanted one graded better than G or VG. I jumped on this one graded by PCGS as F12 without really looking at the coin, I just wanted the grade. After I got it, I wasn't as happy. I compared the grade (especially the reverse condition) to the Q. David Bowers book, Grading Coins by Photographs. He says the reverse should have full rims. Mine does not. It is also missing pretty much all the vertical sticks on the reverse. I also bought a 1921 D graded F15 and it blows this one away, and seems more close to the grade.

Any thoughts on this assigned grade? Luckily I only paid about $65 for this, so I don't feel too bad.

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Heres the pucs

 

Was uploading pics when you responded

 

Looks more VG-8 to me.........

 

How much was it?

Sorry, I see it now, you didn't do too badly. Coin looks nice to me.

http://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/138538/1921-Mercury-Dime-PCGS-F-12

 

Your link you posted is the one to it. Didn't remember paying that much, but I did.

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So, around $90 with shipping? I guess you could be questioning it. What would a nicer F12 go for?

 

Maybe around there or a little more than that

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The G-VG grades are pretty common, so any higher than that start to raise the price

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She is indeed overgraded just enough to be a disappointment. A beautiful piece, but cannot go higher than VG to me.

 

I wonder if this grade is more of an average of the two sides - the obverse is a solid F or even an F+/VF-, but the reverse is most definitely in the G range. I wonder if the grader just gave the coin the benefit of the doubt. It's unfortunate, because someone like you buys this coin sight unseen and is disappointed. It's a tough situation, because the coin will likely continue to be sold as a F12 so the unhappy buyer can recoup as much of his investment as possible. It ought to be regraded or broken out and sold raw, but I don't see either of those happening.

 

By Photograde, obverse looks slightly short of Fine and reverse looks slightly more than Good.

 

I agree completely. I bought an ungraded Peace dollar once without looking at both sides and learned my lesson. I either buy in person now, buy OGP online, or perfect 70s online. And I only buy graded gold now, no need to grade silver. I really buy graded gold online to avoid counterfeit issues. I will buy OGP gold in person if I know the seller received it direct.

 

Look at how Very Fine Buffalo nickels no longer need full horns to pass for the grade!

 

Yes it is overgraded, but that isn't unusual for the keys and semi-keys even from the major TPG's. Worst I've seen was a 16-D Merc graded VF that didn't have full rims.
I'd call that coin a G-6 Obv is a VG-8 and rev is a G-4.