If the king says so...

XF-40??? Yeah, right. This is one of the most undergraded PCGS coins I've seen in the series. Full mint luster absolutely glows out from under the toning. It's at least AU-50 if not higher.




The 1817-105A nearly always comes with a mushy obverse due to the stress of using a broken die. (In fact, this example is actually much better than normal.) It should probably be graded chiefly by the reverse.

By the same token, the grade on the holder got me the coin for about a third of what it would have cost if properly graded

 

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Methinks XF45 because of the heavy wear.

 

Maybe try to get a CAC bean?

 

Me thinks whatevs on the grade that PCGS assigned. Particularly so because the toning is spectacular, especially the reverse. I'd pay AU money for that "XF" coin all day long.

 

I agree with OP, and with @Matthew Kruse - I even think it might gold bean.

 

Lovely coin. I'm a little surprised at a 40 grade since it's in a fairly new holder. I would expect a 45 with maybe a bump to 50 for the luster and attractive toning.

I would expect the potential of a Gold CAC if submitted as is. The question is: Which would be of more value, a Green or Gold Bean on the current grade of 40, or an upgrade to 45 or 50? Probably the latter.

 

Indeed. I have an 1819 that graded AU50/PCGS about 12 years ago with nearly identical toning/colors, luster and wear. Of course, 12 years is 12 years...heck, 1 day is 1 day with grading...you could try a regrade or crossover to NGC and see what happens before doing anything else if you think it's worth it.

 

If CAC doesn't like the strike it doesn't matter if it's au50 in an xf40 holder. The weak obverse alone could condemn it. But with that truview and that look that coin is fabulous no matter what. Especially if you got a discount on it.
Also, I like your king reference. I always think to myself I'll send these to God for judgement.

 

I think, based on the heavy wear that it is an XF coin. It is a very attractive XF coin, but in my opinion, too much wear for AU. I would send it to CAC for the bean, for being high in grade, and eye appeal. It might get a gold bean.

 

That's just it...there IS no "heavy wear". It came out of the press with those unstruck areas. The broken die just couldn't supply enough pressure to fully strike the coin.

Here's an example that shows the "normal" obverse for this die marriage. Compare the VG to F obverse to the VF reverse. Once again, this die marriage needs to be graded based on the reverse rather than the usual obverse.

 

Beg to differ, but I have circled the areas that I see circulation wear. Yes, the strike is mushy. However, I have done my usual “red circle” thing in the areas that I see wear at the high points of the coin. Based on those areas, and there are far more on the obverse, I agree with PCGS’ grade. Perhaps, it was slightly harsh; the coin could have graded as an XF 45 tops. I never said that it was not a beautiful coin—it is. However, I just do not see it as AU, based on the areas of obvious wear that I circled. Does it have eye appeal? Absolutely. But, sorry to say, I agree with an XF grade. It is high in grade, but accurately graded as XF.

 

There is a little wear but with that toning and everything else it should grade mid AU from the photos. A beautiful coin.

 

I agree and would personally grade it AU50. I think the mix of weak strike and wear on the obv can be misleading. Looking at typical high points such as Liberty’s curls below LIB and the eagle’s talons, the coin clearly has AU details. I’d cross it over to the “second best” TPG asap :-D

 

Bustchaser, the question for me is how much field luster is there? On bust halves you often have luster all around the stars and letters even down to VF, but on AU there should really be some in those open areas, which typically don't show up well in photos of toned coins (which I continually undergrade on GTG threads!). You have the coin, what do you see?

 

The toning causes the wear on the high points to be rather well-delineated. I'd say 45 as a first impression because of that. Without the contrast, an AU50 grade may become more likely.

 

AU55 or 53

 

It is AU50. PCGS fails this variety every single time, along with the 1814 E/A Overton 108 and 108a. I frequently see those XF coins in VF holders. And btw, in my experience CAC typically only green stickers them. John Albanese and company do not give out gold stickers like candy.

 

The obverse counts more than the reverse when it comes to consigning a grade. In this case, the obverse has an EF look to it.

While the toning is pretty, I think that it is secondary toning that formed after a dip. An AU-50 might be in this coin's future, but don't be surprised if you don't get any more than EF-45.

 

Ok, being completely objective. It is a beautiful coin. I would have bought it, for sure. But compare it to the PCGS Photograde pictures. They got it right, as an XF coin.

 

You cannot compare other dates and varieties to the OP coin IMO. It is struck differently. These were all minted on a screw press.