Post your NGC STARs - and a little history

I understand your comments, but I for one like the NGC "*" designation. It helps me in a couple of ways:

1. I get a chance to see what others (specifically NGC) believe are coins with exceptional eye appeal. I don't always agree with NGC's decision, but I use it as a learning tool.
2. Also, as was mentioned by a few others, I get to compare coins that are either close to PL, DPL or Cameo with those that actually receive the designation.
3. I can sort by the designation on eBay or HA and view those quickly.

 

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1901 MS65 Star by jpcienkus posted Apr 22, 2018 at 1:23 PM

1901 MS65 Star reverse by jpcienkus posted Apr 22, 2018 at 1:23 PM

1881 MS66 star by jpcienkus posted Apr 22, 2018 at 1:23 PM

1881 MS66 star reverse by jpcienkus posted Apr 22, 2018 at 1:23 PM

 

I've had a few, but in most cases didn't photograph the slab. I'm sure Lehigh remembers this one.

 

OK, point taken, & I don't mean to say that some might find it useful. However, for the most part, in dealing with the highly, highly subjective area of grading, whether by TPG's or individuals in the raw (the coins, not the individuals), adding another level which is not yet universally accepted (not every TPG uses the "*") just seems to make things even more confusing for those who can't or won't grade for themselves.

It's like an "MS 65+" or "MS 65.5" is not sufficient. And the addition of a CAC bean is not sufficient. The Department of Redundancy Department wants to create a system where they can take, say an entire mintage of 5,000,000 coins and grade them in 5,000,000 sequential grades from "best" to "worst". We don't need that kind of finite, minutia.

In the days before computers, you had to virtually see a coin in hand to evaluate it for your own. And auction catalogs were still just pictures. Now, too many people (or collectors) are trying to make definitive "on-screen" determinations of minute differences in coins. (And notice how none of this really pertains to the ancients!)

The irony (for me) is that somewhere in my collection I have slabs with stars but I didn't acquire them because they had a funny symbol after the grade. I got them because I liked them.

 

The NGC "*" is not a grade. It's just them saying the coin has exceptional eye appeal.

In general, I agree with many of your assertions. I'm not a fan of "+" grades, I don't only buy CAC coins, nor do I buy every NGC "*" coin I see. I don't care whether it's in a PCGS Secure holder. I judge the coin based on my criteria for eye appeal, grade and condition.

I think that bullion grading is taking things to a new level of hair splitting with all the label designations, signatures, First Stike, etc.

 

You’re right it’s not a grade but it is part of it. I’ve mentioned before but my biggest issue is that it just flat out means to many different things and they aren’t really consistent with it. I like the idea but toning and almost pl ect should have different destinations and they should never promise submissions every coin will get it

 

I agree that is purely subjective when it comes to toning. I have one coin I submitted to them asking for the "*", but they said "nope". I think it looks better some of the toned coins I've seen with the "*".

In the big scheme of things, I tried, it didn't happen, but I'm still very happy to have the coin in my collection. No big deal.

 

Agreed I don’t get it with their toning ones. I’d never not like a coin cus it didn’t get a star. I kinda ignore the star a bit in all honesty cus of their inconsistently with it

 

I don't feel more compelled to buy a coin because it has a "*" or a CAC sticker. However, I do like viewing the "*" coins to see if something jumps off the page at me. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.

 

I won’t buy anything I don’t like, that said CAC holds MUCH more weight for me than some *

 

Understand. I've looked at coins with a "*" I've liked a lot, same goes for ones with CAC stickers. I've also looked at many with either of them that I didn't like. I guess I still use them as more of a guide and trust my own eyes.

 

Here's a world coin with a star:

1959 Ireland Farthing, NGC MS-66RD*



This is one case where the star designation is definitely deserved (in my opinion). The coin looks even better in hand. Difficult to capture the luster and color in a photograph.

 

I bought these from Skyman around 7 years ago. Initially I was really liking the obverse toned coin, but Sy wouldn't let one go without the other.

 

1885 O MS65 star by JPeace$ posted Jan 16, 2018 at 9:41 PM

1881 S MS64 star by JPeace$ posted Jan 16, 2018 at 9:41 PM

 

1907 MS65 by JPeace$ posted Jan 16, 2018 at 5:51 AM

1907 MS65 reverse by JPeace$ posted Jan 16, 2018 at 5:52 AM

 

I thought exactly the same thing when I first got it. But I took it to a FUN show a few years ago and showed it to several specialists in 19th century proofs, and they universally agreed that this is not a proof. In hand, the edges are rounded (that doesn't show up well in these pictures).

 

Bump.

The current star or no star vote thread is for all those incredible toners. But mine is for exceptional cameo/DMPL.







I can find noway to take a picture of the mirrors. The reverse is the same.

Brad

 

How is that not designated pl