AU58 or MS61/2... is the only difference these days eye appeal?

Here's one, in all its PCGS MS-62 glory. What kind of a mint state coin has that kind of luster?!? The luster is confined to the lettering, which implies that the coin grades no better than AU. There is hardly any luster on the face, and the coin is nowhere near attractive enough to merit a bump up. Also, the coin may have been cleaned and has since retoned.
Another beauty, which displays a horrifying lack of luster in the fields, even for a semi-prooflike coin. There is obvious friction on Isabella's cheek and other areas.
These aren't even close to what I saw in that shop. The Isabella is actually quite attractive. It's just not MS.

 

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Well, until you do, I'll remain skeptical.

Chris

 

No offense, but I too would really like to see a few indisputable examples of this.

 

@frostyluster

These are both PCGS slabs, but you mentioned NGC slabs. Despite that, neither coin is anywhere close to the EF-40 you claimed. Also, since neither of these coins are yours, how can you make any claims about luster when you don't know what sort of photography and lighting systems were used?

Chris

 

I say 55 , but I can see it getting a 58 at a tpg .

 

you beat me to it.

detail grade

 

I said it in the previous post, "These aren't even close to what I saw in that shop."
I just did a quick search and pulled up the worst ones. My point was not that NGC was bad, it was that TPGs in general sometimes did that. And about the lighting, if the luster is there in quantity, it will show as an uninterrupted cartwheel from the center to the rim. It may be stronger on some coins than others, but it is there on a true MS specimen. I am aware that there is market acceptance for the light cleaning in MS-62, but that should not be the case. Any other coin would get a details slab. Take a Morgan dollar, for example.

 

That obverse looks like it has some slide friction on the high points to me. I don't see anything on the reverse except a little weakness of strike or wear (can't tell from the pic). It does have some neat die cracks on both sides though! Depending how the luster was in hand, I might jump at a chance to acquire a piece like this at an AU58 price.

 

I've seen some real 'woofers' in '62 and some real 'gems' in '58.

 

The trick is to acquire those gem 58's for regular 58 money.

 

Quite so Bro......

 

You didn't say "TPG's in general." You mentioned NGC, specifically. Why don't you just admit that you made a mistake?

Chris

 

The obverse of the 1861 Half Dime has the look of a coin struck from a rusted die but I'll agree that it was messed with in some way.

 

All the coins struck with rusted dies that I've seen had pointed raised pointed dots , this coin doesn't and It doesn't have enough wear IMHO to have leveled them out . Though I'd really like to see this coin in hand to see if the rough area on Miss Liberty extends a tiny bit off of her into the fields like someone tried to apply something to give it a cameo effect . Which would make sense to me if the fields are the least bit PL .

 

Talk is cheap. I seriously doubt the truth of this statement without photographic evidence.

 

Buy the coin, not the slab.

 

Just got word. This one went in with a regular service order. Graded MS62 FH. I'm surprised!

 

I have to agree