Here's another one I just received in the mail today. Please guess the grade, and feel free to comment (positive and negative) on the coin. HINT: It is graded by ANACS. BONUS: Attribute it.
Here you go posting one of them dark coins. My guess would 1842 large date and small letters - yet looking at my red book this combination is not listed. I would put it an EF45 or AU50, but thats because I do not like the dark color. Time to learn more. So how would you know mint lustre for this kind of coin?
I'm going to say ANACS put VF35 for this coin....is this in a NEW ANACS slab?...if so I can see it at EF Speedy
I just saw an 1856 on Ebay graded AU55 by NGC that doesn't look as good as this one . Based on that I'm going to change my opinion to AU55 as well. I didn't think it would grade near that but as usual I'm probably wrong. I always hope you get the higher grade. The item number on Ebay is 8404674833 and ends in a few hours.
When using a slabbed coin as a comparison, never base an opinion on a single coin. ALL of the grading companies overgrade & undergrade from time to time. You need to look at lots of them, not 1 and not 2 or 3 - lots ! Then form an opinion based on the average condition of all the coins within that grade.
ANACS graded this coin VF 35. My thoughts on the coin are as follows: The coin exhibits a nice dark chocolate brown color and even wear on the high points. The strike is fairly good, given the middle to late die state (most visible in the weak dentils. There is actually just a touch of luster left in the hidden areas of the obverse and to a lesser extent the reverse. As is to be expected in a VF large cent, there are circulation marks and light dings in the fields and on the devices devices, but none are overly distracting. ANACS nailed the grade on this coin. It is in one of the new ANACS holders, and I am of the opinion that their grading for large cents has recently taken a turn for the better. I found the coin, of all places, on Teletrade and paid $90 for it. I'm happy with the transaction, and the coin will remain in my collection (once it's broken out of the holder). Thanks to everyone who responded, I appreciate the comments and kind words. Take care...Mike p.s. it is a 1842 N-6 Large Date. The diagnostic humps in the field in front of Liberty's lips and behind her hair are barely visible on the coin, and not visible on the photograph. It was a tough one to attribute given the size of the photos.
Well , I was right the first time and wrong the second. I thought I was fairly close the first time until I looked at the coin on Ebay graded AU55 by NGC. If you look at the NGC coin ( item 8404674833 ) you will see what I mean. To me the coin does not look like an AU55 at all but that's the grade NGC gave it. It just shows you the inconsistant grading done by TPG'S.