What grade for this 1899 $2?

Discussion in 'Paper Money' started by MorganDollarGuy, Sep 11, 2019.

  1. I bought this 1899 $2 on eBay that was listed as XF by the seller. I received the note but I believe it is VF. The paper is crisp. If I send this to PMG, what numeric grade will it likely get? I'm not actually sending to PMG, I want to know if I paid too much for this note. I bought this at a VF price. I'm deciding if I should return.

    Attached are closed up photos of the note taken on an iphone.

    IMG_3587(Edited).jpg IMG_3588(Edited).jpg
     
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  3. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    I'm not a paper money guy (stumbled in here from a link on the sidebar menu).

    Pretty note, though.
     
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  4. almostgem

    almostgem Junior Member

    Actually looks pretty nice. It doesn't appear that it's been trimmed, but has some healthy fold lines. Were it mine, I'd probably hold onto it. Not sure if it's worth sending in for certification, expecting to get a better grade than VF, but from the standpoint of preservation, that's another story.
     
  5. James Shields

    James Shields Active Member

    It’s virtually impossible to accurately grade notes from flat images. Side lighting would help but not detect pinholes and other potential problems. If you’re unable to view the note in person, or have doubts about your grading skills, I highly recommend you buy graded notes, especially when it comes to large-sized notes.
     
  6. Coin buyer

    Coin buyer Member

    A very nice note in condition as described IMO
    This of course only with viewing here on C T so anything is possible. Anyway if the price was okay with you, you like the note, then be happy with it and add to your collection. I doubt you’ll be sorry!
     
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  7. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    It should make VF but what actual numeric grade is too difficult to say. Even though it was listed as XF you paid VF and that is the condition into opinion. A very nice looking note so if no tears, stains or ink marks I'd keep it.
     
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  8. Thank you everyone! I appreciate your help in grading :)

    I'm trying to learn more about grading now.
    The note has one hard vertical fold in the center, 2 light vertical folds on both sides, 1 visible horizontal fold, small folds on the bottom left. I did not see any pin holes. Paper is crisp.

    Can this technically be a XF note? Or can this be VF35? IMG_3590.jpeg

    Attached is a photo that I put light under the banknote.
     
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  9. James Shields

    James Shields Active Member

    Both photos are the same note.
    The upper photo uses side lighting.
    The lower photo uses typical top lighting.




    F79397EA-7970-4797-A8BD-B0C044283A7A.jpeg 859E2CB1-6F36-4ADE-AF4B-34376F75EF88.jpeg
     
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  10. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    In my opinion it's VF, not good enough to be XF.
     
  11. mpcusa

    mpcusa "Official C.T. TROLL SWEEPER"

    In reviewing your photos ,i would say this note would grade VF-35 by PMG
    If you were to send it in, which i would strongly discourage, by the way your
    Talking you paid an Extra Fine price, if you were expecting something better
    The VF-35 i would just return it.
     
  12. mpcusa

    mpcusa "Official C.T. TROLL SWEEPER"

    Pin holes, markings, rips etc, would be more indicative of the paper
    Quality PPQ or EPQ
     
  13. Thank you for your grading opinion! I bought this expecting it is a VF35 based on the photo of the listing. I would only want to return if someone say this is a VF20 or 25. I'm happy if this will grade VF30 and very excited if this is a VF35. I paid $340 for this including shipping. I'm hoping this is a VF30-35 quality note, but not a VF20-25 note.
     
  14. This is interesting. I will try to take photos using side lighting.

    I'm just hoping this note is a VF30-35 quality note and not a VF20-25.
     
  15. To summarize: The listing says it is an XF note. I disagreed when I saw the listing photo and I bid assuming this is a VF30-35 quality note. I will only return if this is below VF30 (say 20-25). I'm not planning to send it in for grading unless I found some discounts for grading (I saw it cost $25 to grade a note + return shipping). I have never sent paper money for grading. I have only sent coins for grading to ANACS.
     
  16. mpcusa

    mpcusa "Official C.T. TROLL SWEEPER"

    I think the lighting example, is an extreme one ! notes are graded under standard
    Lighting conditions with no trick photography...LOL , i think your in a comfortable
    Range in VF-35 , no more no less.
     
  17. HaleiwaHI

    HaleiwaHI Active Member

    I agree with almostgem at this point. Personally, I'd have this graded, not so much because I cared what the grade is but depending on the humidity and weather where you live or how this note might be handled by others, the note could be easily damaged. Aside from the center fold, this is no doubt somewhere between an XF and a VF favoring the XF side. Depending on how much you spent, you probably got a great deal.
     

  18. I tried to use side lighting. The white light source is from a phone.
    IMG_3600.JPEG IMG_3601.JPEG IMG_3602.JPEG IMG_3603.JPEG
     
  19. I paid $340 for this. I think it is not a bad price. After reading your comments and others' comments, I think I will actually send this to PMG in order to protect the note.
     
  20. Thank you everyone!

    I think I will actually send this to PMG in order to protect the note. I have other notes I want to send to grade too. These are not modern notes. I also have some 1950-era Chinese notes that I want to protect/grade.

    What is the cheapest way to get them (US+Chinese older notes) graded? I have ANA membership, so I have NGC membership, can I make use of it? How can I save in return shipping?

    Any best practices to send notes to PMG?
     
  21. HaleiwaHI

    HaleiwaHI Active Member

    I would. It's a paper collection. As you get older, you will forget things about this note. The note might even fade in value, but once it's graded and weather protected, you'll have locked in the condition forever. Few would ever challenge it after that.
     
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