Guess the Grade

I bought this 1852 $20 gold coin several years ago slabbed by NGC. What is the grade? I'll post the grade around 5:00 pm Eastern Time. Good luck .

 

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50 or 53

 

53

 

AU-50

 

I'm more in the XF range (technical grade).
Gold is often tough to grade because it marks up so easily.
I think the TPG's give them a bit of a break because of that, so AU is possible.

 

I was thinking AU
At first the scratches looked like cleaning, at second thought the scratch lines don't because the lines don't follow a pattern.

 

XF45-AU50

 

AU55

 

XF40

 

Xf 45

 

XF 40 or 45

 

My personal thanks to everyone who was bold enough to Guess the Grade. I've been a serious coin collector for 50 years & in the 1980s had a business in Rochester, NY. I'd like to make a few points before showing the slab. No one can seriously grade a coin by looking at a photo, but you can get a good idea if the photo is accurate. Having the coin in your hand is the only way to grade a coin. Type I & type II double eagles have always been graded on a "softer scale" than type III coins; why I don't know. The reverse on this coin is better than the obverse as is usually the case with all double eagles. We do have one CT member who hit the nail on the head; Dynoking, congratulations !!!

 

For comparison here is a PCGS type II $20 gold, 1868-S, AU55, CAC.

 

Beautiful coin but I really like gold

 

No offense to anyone, but I believe both examples were overgraded/given leniency based on PCGS’ standards. I expect a lot more luster at the AU-55 level.

 

Type 1s grade a lot differently than Type 3s...they are baggy, lackluster, and barely even exist at higher levels. They are a whole series within themselves.

 

Chascat, Thanks for your accurate comments. The illustrations posted by TypeCoin971793 are all Type III double eagles which are graded differently by all the TPG services.

 

I am no expert when it comes to grading these that is why I didn't hazard a guess, but it does tell me something that all but 1 graded it lower. Some much lower.

 

Randy, Your comments are right on & worthy of further examination. Many collectors who guess a grade do not want to be accused of "over grading", while "under grading" seems less offensive. You'll also notice that no one guessed a grade higher than what appeared on the slab . Another factor that makes some collectors hesitant to guess a grade is "gradeflation" that began in the late 1980s. Coins are graded differently today than they were 20 or 30 years ago. I personally know many dealers & collectors who have broken old slabs & sent in coins that were MS65 that came back MS67 ! Coin grading is as much an art as it is a science & opinions will always vary.