A Fools Game!! Thanks for the invite to play the "Fools Game", where regardless of what I would post, because virtually all coins wear differently, the canned response is "they're not the same", "it's a different date", etc.. In a similar recent post the discussion was argued that both breasts must be complete on a Fine graded Walking Liberty coin, where regardless of what I posted, the Fools would say that isn't the same. I eventually had to post a PCGS AU "Market Graded?" certified coin with NO complete breasts, before the Fools would discontinue rebuttals. You can find that thread if you'd like to play the "Fools Game". The point is: For numerous reasons, the OP posted coin meets G4 to G6 details grade. We could have a futile discussion, as current TPG "market grading" seemingly has allowed what I consider ridiculous, varying significantly from original published written A.N.A. grading standards. The posted coin technically doesn't meet VG grade because it has letters/date blending into the rim on both sides, nor F because it has the legend/date blended on at least one side. However it is common for "top tier" TPG to assign a VG or F grade to Mercury dimes with this "blending". If you have an interest, you will find more than one "top tier" TPG certified VF grade Mercury dime, currently offered on eBay, having the afore-described "blending" wear condition. :thumb:
No offense, imrich, but you just don't get grading. This coin is an AG3, it might grade G4 in an NGC slab. There is no way in heck it's a VG. If it is, NGC should be embarassed. Put your money, and your reputation, where your mouth is. I'll bet you $100 this coin is not a VG.
It's clearly a g4, no way an ag3, take a look at pcgs photograde. http://www.pcgs.com/photograde/#/Mercury/Grades
It's somewhere right in between both, imho. That's a situation where I'm conservative and grade down.
We're In Agreement!! I believe you should probably improve your reading/digestive skills, as I stated: "It is from my experience with "Top Tier" TPG a G4 or better" (i.e. actual grade). It would be "foolhardy" to accept your challenge as I further elaborated in a secondary post: "For numerous reasons, the OP posted coin meets G4 to G6 details grade", thus agreeing with your observation. I personally would also technically grade the coin G4, but I've seen comparable coins graded G6 because of numerous factors, and today might even garner a "plus" G4 grade. The thread logically seems to infer something unusual about the grade, and since I've respect for NGC, I wouldn't expect a grade lower than the details G4 grade. I wasn't given a choice of G6 or G4 "plus", so my logical choice would be the next higher grade allowed by the OP, namely VG8. I went through an elaborate explanation to detail why it shouldn't be a grade greater than G6, but offered that there are current postings of VF coins to which I'd take exception to being even graded F, so unreasonable grades are seemingly possible/allowed. I apologize for misunderstandings, and trust that this elaboration clarifies my personal grade choice(s). :bow:
I'm not good at grading but, base on pcgs photograde I would have to say G04. Saying that though, the obverse seems more AG03 looking at the rim and the reverse looks G04. Based on the rarity of the coin will stay with G04
MercCrazy, I hope you and imrich shook on your bet! Because you just WON $100!!!! Anyway, here's the slab: And guys, no, it was not cleaned, the slab is actually very scratched and that in combination with the flash makes it look cleaned. What do you guys think? CC
Well, I guess I had the obverse correct at least... I thought the reverse is G04 but I guess the obverse won out..
I'd crack it out and send it to PCGS. They might give you a bump up for rarity. Another coin might not matter, but the difference in a key date could bump the value enough to pay for the regrade.
I see nothing that makes me think cleaned. There was never a bet. imrich did not agree to it. I feel his point was that some coins get a bump if rare.
I wonder if the tpgs have ever given a star or a plus for such a low grade coin? I would bet that you could get a green cac sticker on it.
It's an AG03 coin, but there are many slabbed examples out there with just as much wear in G04 holders. I don't think it's worth cracking out and resubmitting. I think your coin will already get a slight premium as is since it's a nice looking high end example of AG03. After you pay the grading fees and shipping (and assuming you're lucky and get the upgrade), I'm not so sure there is that much profit potential when it's a lower-end G04. Cool coin though!
I agree. However, like it or not, they do give bump-ups for key dates. Going from a $400 price point to $600 with a one point bump isn't bad.
Sure, it's not bad, if you knew with 100% certainty that you'd get the upgrade, but isn't definitely not 100% in this case. Plus it'll cost around $50 to get it regraded (shipping both ways plus the grading fees). If it doesn't upgrade, you're out that $50.