The Official CoinTalk Grading Experiment 28

I said 67 after a 15-20 second analysis....I really don't know this coin very well (OK...AT ALL !! ). But I didn't see many marks in the fields and wear/rub seemed minimal.

 

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On a Mint State Coin, wear should be non-existent! If it has wear, it’s an AU at best.

 

What about bag marks/friction ?

 

I usually don't comment much before the grade is posted, but I have to here.

"Bag Marks" are indistinguishable from "contact marks". You'll here them described in various ways based on their severity: "tick marks" "whispy marks" "lines in the fields" "hits"... etc. Any mark, gouge, hit, ding, tick, etc..... they will detract from the grade, but will not turn an MS coin into a circulated coin.

"Wear" is visible removal of metal from the high points or open fields. This most often comes from circulation (fingers rubbing against it, riding in a pocket, sliding on a counter, etc), but could also come from rubbing against a velvet pad in a coin cabinet. The most common sign of "wear" or a "rub" will be a disturbance in the luster. The luster will seem to "break" over the rubbed/worn spot.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "friction." Most types of friction will produce wear, and will make a coin circulated. However, one coin rubbing against another may produce shiny spots due to metal movement, but not actually appear as wear. This would be akin to contact marks between one coin and another.

If a coin displays wear, it is circulated and tops out at AU-58. If it displays contact marks (from handling, from hitting other coins in the disposal chute at the mint, etc), then it is technically uncirculated but will drop in grade.

 

I'm always curious when I see posts with titles like this what makes them "Official"?

 

It’s called branding.

 

Branding what?

 

The threads, we are in the 30s at this point.

 

You should start an Unofficial series, Jack, where we grade your collection of counterfeits!

 

66

 

I voted MS-66 for what is on the slab, but my personal grade would be MS-65 because of the left obverse field. The tiny disturbances there might be emphasized by the photo.

 

I'm up for it if you are C-B-D!

 

Do it!!!

 

That would be very challenging.
Bring it on !!!

 

Looks like my 1909 RD certified by NGC some time ago.

 

I was going to go 66 but the nick on the cheek and nicks on the date lowered it to 65. Otherwise, an outstanding IHC.

 

I voted 65. Personally, I think the hits on the left obverse field would knock it down from that, but PCGS probably called it a 65 or 66.

 

Haha, nothing really makes them "official." As described in the original post, I'm running a bit of an experiment, and so the "official" guess the grade threads are my attempt at a standardized normal. This is in contrast to all the other guess the grade threads which may have differing parameters.

I'll post the grade reveal tomorrow, to give everyone a chance to participate. There has been low turnout for this group, because of Christmas.

 

66

 

66