The coin depicted here, was graded MS64-RD by PCGS. There appears to be a partial fingerprint on the obverse, behind Lincoln's head, above the word "Liberty". My questions are: 1. Does this affect the grade? 2. Is the fingerprint already factored in to the grade this coin was assigned; would this coin grade higher without it? 3. For a given grade, how does the fingerprint affect the value?
I don't know that that is a fingerprint, but it might be. But to answer your questions - Yes. Yes, and yes. How much it affects the grade depends on the severity, location and obtrusiveness of the fingerprint. It makes the value go down proportionally.
The location, number and how well prints blend in (for example with toning and/or design features of the coin) can make a difference. However, I don't think that finger prints negatively impact grades nearly as often as they should. On numerous occasions, I have seen prints on very valuable coins graded as high as MS68 or PR68.
I do not know this for a fact, but I strongly suspect it is true for most slabbed coins with fingerprints. The coin did not display a fingerprint when it was slabbed. QUESTION: Do I recall correctly that one or more of the TPGs are now photographing ALL the coins they grade? If so, it would be interesting to see if that modifies their guarantee at all.
Doubtful. You do realize I hope that there have been numerous reports of coins that had no fingerprints on them when submitted being returned with fingerprints on them. And this has even happened with Proof coins. But with a Proof, any fingerprint is visible from the moment it is made - it does not take time for the print to show up. And while I cannot prove it, I suspect that prints on business strikes are visible immediately as well. However, it is possible to photograph a coin and not have a fresh print visible in the pic as they have to be viewed at just the right angle under a good light to see them. So I don't think it's going to matter.
I don't know about Proof's, but I do know that new prints on business strikes are not necessarily immediately apparent.
.......to see a print on ANY coin is, to me, certainly disappointing. but to see one on a coin that came back from a grading service with a print that wasn't there before it was sent in is disgusting!
I agree Mark, but, I think that if you look at the right angle, under a good light, and use 10x or higher magnification - you should be able to see them.
And it very well might be. The thing that made me even wonder is the spacing of the ridge marks, if that's what they are. They seem to be awfully far apart to be fingerprint. And since pics can be misleading - it just made me wonder.
I've mishandled coins before and the fingerprint didn't show until much later. So I think it's possible that the damage was done before the coin was mailed, but didn't become visible until after it was in the slab.
.......yes. but wouldn't you expect someone like a grading company would guard against this happening at all costs? i mean they are the "umpires" we respect. i think it's very sloppy and should NEVER happen! they should train their rookies against this poor handling. it would be quite a coincidence for this to happen AFTER it returned from the tpg. unless they were the perpetrators. jmo.
Actually, it wouldn't be much of a coincidence at all if the prints became apparent some time after a submitter prepared his/her coin for submission and before he/she received it back from the grading company. That time period can be days, weeks or even months. And I would bet that in many cases, a submitter might miss prints that he or she is responsible for.
