How did this Flying Eagle ever straight grade, much less CAC?

What am I missing here? Look at that scratch on the obverse...

Did they give it a pass because it's "not that big of a scratch"?

https://coins.ha.com/itm/p/1296-86024.s

 

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I think they were overwhelmed by that die crack.

 

Can't be certain, but from the pic, I can't see any obvious displaced metal. If there isn't any displaced metal along the scratch it could be a strike through.

Not saying I agree, but that could be a possible explanation

 

An understandable position. Zooming in makes me think scratch.

 

Given that it has been graded MS-63, I think that scratch is okay for the grade. The question though is there more luster than what is showing in the photo? If not, then it should not have gotten the sticker.

 

Do you mind me asking why you feel the scratch is okay? It seems very large and the coin is listed as MS, so my inclination would be otherwise.

 

I don't see it as huge, and I don't see it as fresh so that it screams out at you. It is long, but it only looks big when you blow it up to many times its size on a computer screen. The MS-63 grade does allow for some marks. Even and MS-65 piece will show something, although it should be minor.

If it were bigger and deeper, that would be another issue.

You might disagree, but this is graded MS-65.

 

This goes back to the question that @JCro57 had a thread on not too long ago - condition vs. grade. This coin grades MS63, but it's condition is scratched.

 

It seems we have this discussion non stop on this forum. Yes, the coin is scratched. But that by itself does not make it a problem coin. It is the severity of the scratch that makes the difference. When I first viewed the photos, I didn't see anything that would make the assigned grade seem out of place. Once I blew the photos up, the scratch became readily evident.

I really don't have a problem with this coin being straight graded or the assigned grade of MS63. That said, I would not want this coin with that scratch in my collection. The scratch would bother me and it would severely decrease the coins liquidity when it came time to sell.

 

Well said. I missed it too and had to see what the reason was before finding it, which supports @johnmilton ’s explanation (thank you for that).

 

The scratch is there for all to see. It was seen and evaluated by the grading team. It is why the coin only received a 63 grade instead of 65.

 

If this is true, that would put the CAC sticker into question because liquidity is supposed to be one of the reasons for buying material which has received their approval.

 

Don't forget impaired luster. That brings the grade down too, and this coin does look dull.

 

Okay. Fine. But a very-noticeable scratch that is over half the diameter of the coin? That’s really pushing my suspense of disbelief.

Apparently consistency is way too much to ask...

 

I could see a straight grade on the coin, but if they are downgrading it for the scratch I think 62 would be more believable.

 

I've seen coins and thought the same thing. I had a 1892 Barber Quarter that has a nice scratch across the face. It was in a older PCGS holder and was graded MS60, likely for the scratch. I sold the coin and the person cracked it out for their Dansco but ended up sending it back to PCGS for grading, where it’s now graded a MS63.

I was worried about cracking it and having it come back details, but looking personally at this coin and other coins I've seen in problem free holders- even some with CAC's- I don't think they're as big of a problem as we believe them to be. If it's deep and lots of metal is showing, then sure but if it's lightly across the surface with no metal showing, they will holder it. I think it was 2016 when I owned the quarter.

 

Could just be me but I find many heritage photos really hard to judge luster on. Even blazing high-end Morgans look dull.

 

Not just you.

 

While I agree that one of the goals of the CAC certification is to provide liquidity, it does so by determining that the coin is solid for the ASSIGNED grade. As @okbustchaser pointed out, the surfaces of this coin are that of a gem grade coin and the assigned grade of MS63 is most certainly a net grade for both the scratch and what appears to be muted luster, as you have pointed out in your previous posts.

So while CAC has determined that this coin is a solid MS63, my trepidation is related more to my personal experience with selling coins like this with minor problems on E-Bay. That said, try to sell this coin, with that scratch, WITHOUT A CAC STICKER and I submit that you will then appreciate that the CAC sticker has increased this coin's liquidity.