The obverse of this 1955 doubled-die Lincoln cent appears to have a small gouge on the cheek. How much, in your opinion would this detract from the value of the coin? (sorry, I can't provide a higher resolution picture)
dreamer: Not that much. It appears to be very minor, but depending upon the buyer, it may discount the piece one grade. PS: Nice coin
When the gouge is in a focal point of the coin it will detract from its value a bit. I agree that it would reduce the grade one point. That is still a great coin you've got there. I wish I had one again. Bruce
Thanks to both of you. This coin is certified (NGC MS63 BN). Can I assume that the mark has already been taken into account in the grading?
dreamer, Since the gouge could nor occur once the coin has been holdered, then yes, the grade took into account the gouge on the cheeck! When comparing values of the coin compared to other NGC MS-63 BN graded 1955-P Doubled Die Cents, the gouge would definitely effect the value! What I am trying to say is, if this coin was up for auction at the same time as another NGC MS-63 BN graded 1955-P Doubled Die Cent, then it would be likely that this coin would sell for a somewhat lower price than one that does not have a distracting gouge on the cheek. Frank
Wouldn't that be a double wammy then? I mean since the coin was already degraded and that slash taken into account when it was slabbed, shouldn't the price be comparable to another MS-63? It would be a better coin since it was probably a MS-64 or MS65 before the gouge was taken into consideration.
Nope on the second question! The eye appeal of the coin would make the coin less valuable to most Collectors due to the gouge than another one graded the same. Frank
Perhaps another way to look at this is that this coin has the details of an MS64 but has the gouge. This could be viewed as an even tradeoff or in favor of one or the other depending on your perspective.
Does the holder point out that the coin is scratched or damaged or whatever? If not, i would think the coin has the value of an ms-63.
Hopefully you realize that even if you take 10 coins all graded as MS63 and by the same TPG and sell them, that you will get 10 different prices and that those prices will vary by as much as $1200 - $1500. For example, 1 may sell for $2500 while another will sell for $3700. Yet all of the coins were graded as MS63. And this not only common, it is expected. That's because not all coins graded as MS63 are equal.
dreamer (Frank), It would be nice if the Coin Collecting world worked this way! However, in my experience, most Dealers and Collectors would pay less or expect to pay less for the coin due to the gouge and probably would not ever consider that the coin has the details of a MS-64. Eye appeal matters much in the real world of coin buying, selling and collecting and just like you said, "Buy the coin, not the slab" pretty much says it all! Frank
The plot thickens! I came across another 1955 DDO that has a gouge mark in exactly the same spot and same orientation. It's graded the same (MS63 BN) but by PCGS rather than NGC. You can tell from other marks and the reverses that they are not the same coin. Is this just coincidence or is a cheek gouge a "variety" of 1955 DDO?
dreamer, The gouges look close but it appears that the gouge on the second (lower pic) coin is a about one and a half millimeters to the Northeast compared to the gouge on the first (upper pic) coin! Just coincidence that they would have gouges that close and I am as close to 100% certain as possible, that the gouges are Post Mint damage and have nothing to do with the Dies themselves. Frank
