So, I've been looking for atwenty cent piece for my type set, so I'm trying to learn more about them. I came across this: http://cgi.ebay.com/1875-S-20-cent-PCGS-AU50_W0QQitemZ280369805783QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCoins_US_Individual?hash=item414757b9d7&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 How did this coin make PCGS AU-50? It has very little details, doesn't appear to have luster, and has weird unnatural looking surfaces imo. The funny thing is the seller seems fair in most of his presentations, and he says this coin has a "fairly sharp strike." Maybe the photography was lacking, but the coin looks terrible to me for the grade, even in the closeups. Was it just a really weak strike, or did PCGS goof?
You could request better photos, but I doubt that will help. I think it's a combination of weak strike, cleaning leaving dead luster, and overgrading. Pass. One thing to know... on a 20c, the letters in LIBERTY are ABOVE the shield / ribbon . On other Seated Libbie designs, the letters are incuse. That means the word LIBERTY wears off much faster, and the rules for "how much LIBERTY" for any given grade is very different.
thanks. that's good to know. I certainly will not purchase this coin, even if the price was slashed in half. I was just trying to figure out how it got past PCGS as a 50.
Even if someone wants to make a case for the coin deserving an AU grade, the botton line is that you can do much better than that.
That coin looks SO bad that I'd suspect that the slab was opened and the coin switched. I know the Chinese are making fake slabs, but at least the coin they put in them closely approximates the grade. I wonder if PCGS would like to get a closer look at that slab.
I doubt that the coin has been switched - I could see it getting an AU50, even though I don't like it as such.
Does this mean that 20-cent coins have a grading standard all their own that belies a more general standard for SL coins? As a group were they softly struck across the board? If so, it makes me feel a LOT better about mine.
And that is only 5 points higher than that AU50 shown above? WOW! I say overgrade by PCGS :goof: Johnny, good thing you are sitting out on bidding on this coin! Can't wait to see which one you pick up!
I don't think it's a matter of a different grading standard. It's just that many, if not most Twenty Cent Pieces display areas of striking weakness, such as on Liberty's head, the top pf the eagle's right wing (to viewer's left), etc. Yours looks quite nice to me. I would have guessed AU53-55 from the images.
Wow, here's mine which is an NGC AU58. I'm sure I've seen XF examples that look much nicer than that AU50, but I'll keep my eye out now to be sure as I really haven't looked at very many of these. However, for the relatively small price difference in an AU50 vs. AU58, I'm feeling really good about my AU58.
I love it illini! She is a beauty! I guess this listing is another example of why you should buy the coin, and not the plastic.
VERY nice coin. The head actually has some detail to it. And with those surfaces it really comes alive. And your photo work is well done.
That's a really nice looking 58! Kanga's coin has a great, original look too. I'll have to dig mine out and image it, but I don't think it's the equal of those.
Johnny- on the original coin in question, it looks dead as a door nail. Lifeless :-( Pass and collect $200. Maybe illini will sell you his. Yeah right huh?
thanks for the nice comments. unfortunately, I actually sold that AU58 earlier this year for less money than the AU50 is priced at on eBay. I bought it relatively cheap though too, so no huge loss. Decided to part with most of my type set to fund a few 1909 purchases for my mint set project.
sigh...if only I had known you then. It's funny though, because the seller of this listing actually has a lot of decent coins at high but not outrageous prices. I browse his listings frequently. This coins seems to be an exception though.
Yeah, just wanted a quick sale at a show, so I took less than I probably should of, but also saved me the hassle of trying to sell myself. I've bought several coins from Jerry at Type Coin Company, both off eBay and at the Long Beach shows which he regularly attends. I agree that the prices are very strong retail prices, but if you find a great one in his inventory, it's likely worth the price. I bought several coins from him when eBay had the MSN 25-35% cashback going for Buy It Now auctions!! That was fun!!!!!!
