Grading these is one area where I can't help but disagree with the TPGs more often than not. Frankly I think they overgrade them. But not so much because of the amount of wear, but because of the hits and marks that they allow. Based on the amount of wear or loss of detail, however you wish to describe it, I could agree sometimes with the high XF or AU grades assigned by the TPGs. But when it comes to detracting marks in focal areas - points are supposed to be taken away when grading - and they don't.
This one doesn't have the eye appeal that the last one had...it also shows more pitting or whatever than the last one... AU50....at best.... Speedy
I give this on an XF also... I did not like the other as an AU, and like this one less as an AU. don't mistake me I LOVE the coins, I just would not pay AU money as they have a number of characteristics and signs of wear that to me would put them at XF value. Now if they were mine, and I was selling them, I'd support that AU until the ends of the earth... but as a purely scientific study in grading, I would not go AU.
I'm with Speedy on this one. AU50, sort of a "net" grade because, to paraphrase GDJMSP's words, it'd be XF if it were a Barber Quarter.
This coin graded AU 55 -- just like the first one. This one is graded way too high in my eyes -- XF 45 to AU 50 at best. Unfortuately, for every one you find like the first coin, you find four like this. That's not to say this is a bad coin, because it isn't, but it is, as a good friend of mine calls them, a "happy" coin. Happy it got into that holder and secure in knowing it will unlikely get cracked out again (little does it know what I have in store for it ). It just goes to show that grading is a crapshoot, even for one of the top three TPGs, and it pays to judge a coin on its own merit and adjust your offer accordingly...Mike
EF-45/AU-50. Reverse seems week on wreath and obverse shows weakness on the highpoints of the hair. The small rim ding will come into factor.
Okay - I have to ask. (1) Why would you want to crack it out of the holder? (2) Your scans are so good could it possibly be enhancing the flaws on the coin? Just curious because when reading in my ANA grading book and comparing to the scan I thought it would be AU-50. Been trying to decide what to start collecting next and was looking at some large cents. I seem to really like these. And your scans are better than what you see on auction sites. Also I have searched through all the local coin shops and their large cents are not of the quality you posted.
1) I crack them out because I keep them in a DANSCO holder for Large Cents. 2) Absolutely. The flaws are magnified. Surface dings you can't even see with the naked eye (at least my naked eye) are rendered huge in these photos. The difference between an AU 50 and XF 45, generally, is not so much wear, but rather the presence of mint luster. Without luster, or with very little luster, the borderline coin will get a 45. With it it will get a 50. This is all IMHO. I have lots of large cents, some much better than others. It is nice of you to comment on how nice they are -- I take great pride in my large cent collection. You may view it in its entirety here. Take care...Mike
I must admit I like your collection. Maybe one day I will get off this antique computer, get energetic and set up something like that. I would have thought the holder would provide more protection than the Dansco holder, but I have never really looked at them. I think I will get one for what few large cents I have. I think I will keep them in raw condition and see what I can feel in in the next few years.
