Hey guys, just got back a 1919-d Mercury dime back from NCS/NGC. Was quite underwhelmed with the grade, MS 62. I was happy with the work that NCS did on it as it had a brown hazy toning that made the strike look weaker than it was, and the luster look worse than it was. Unfortunately, the toning was hiding a few marks too. Not sure if I had an expectation that 100 year old coins weren't graded as strictly as new coins or what. Anyway, just wondering what you all thought about the grade. May someday resubmit for a regrade. Also.. from a strategy standpoint.. Do you believe that paying the extra $50 for express service or the price you "value" the coin at on the form has any effect on the grade? (benefit of doubt = good, cutting in line just creates stress for graders = bad, etc..) I valued this at $3000 (MS-65 level which made NCS happy, I'm sure) instead of the $400 MS 62 level. Don't think I got a benefit of the doubt. If you want to see the coin pre-NCS, I have it on this message: http://www.cointalk.com/t176601/ Thanks, Scott
To be honest I think they were quite generous with the grade as I believe the coin should be graded AU58 due to the light wear on the hair.
Well, I suppose it could be wear. The NERCG flip said it came from an original roll, so I believed the hair to be due to the notoriously crummy dies used by Denver in the late teens. Maybe NGC couldn't tell and split the difference.
It's not uncommon for them to grade nice 58s as 61 or 62. If you think about it that makes sense with this coin because there no where near enough marks on the coin to justify a 62. So about the only reason there could be is light wear.
Perhaps getting it conserved hurt the grade too as it makes marks and the weak spot on the hair show more. Just saw this PCGS MS64 on ebay with the same hair. If I try a regrade, maybe I'll go PCGS and see what they think.
I need to let my depression settle before I decide to try at PCGS or send to CAC. The good news is that I really like the job NCS did on it. I was afraid it would come back with weak luster.
No I don't think it does because the graders probably have no idea what service level you paid for. They just finish a box and request the next one. Someone else somewhere keeps track of which box is next for moving the express boxes up in line. Likewise I'm sure they don't know what value you put on the coin. The graders just see an anonymous coin in a flip with a barcode stuck on the flip. Pull the flip out of the box, scan the barcode, take the coin out of the flip, grade it, put it back in the flip, type in your grade, stick it in the done box. Repeat with the next coin.
This remark is exactly why I have told this board toning used to devalue a coin. Toning can always hide marks, and therefor a deduction to the grade was done to account for that possibility. I agree with Doug that the hair could be worn. No way of knowing without seeing the coin in hand though. I still like it much better than before NCS and think they turned it into a nice collectible coin for your collection.
