Hello all, How do you grade a coin that fits the grade requirements (as far as wear) for AU-55 but, has "ok" sufaces as far as the mint luster. Around the edges on the obverse there is "faint" luster remaining and 2/3 of the fields on the reverse has some "faint" luster remaining. Overall I would describe the luster as a "dull satiny finish". The coin is from the Philadelphia mint if that matters..and to be exact the coin is a Barber Quater 1896.
Based on your description it sounds like the coin has been over-dipped - thus the lack of luster. Luster is very important to the grade of a coin - it is perhaps the single most important criteria. And a lack of luster in the higher circ grades, regardless of detail quality, means the coin doesn't make the grade. In other words - if a coin would be graded as AU55 but doesn't have the luster that an AU55 coin should have - then it's not AU55. It may not even make XF.
' the coin has been over-dipped - thus the lack of luster" ...I was thinking that however, there is an even amount of toning on the coin (not real heavy) that if it was over dipped at one time it had to be at least a while back?
It could very easily be so. It could also be that the coin has been artificially re-toned. Can ya post a pic ?
Sorry, can't post a picture yet. But when i get the right equipment.... I will -if I don't get sell the coin in the meantime- I think I'm just a little harsh on this coin because my S mint Barber, D mint Barber, and O mint Barber have such great luster and all of them are either AU-55 or AU-58. Thanks for the reponses though!
