The date is only visible under a magnifying lense however...I do not have a clue about grading.. any thoughts?
I agree with the AG-3 grade on the coin, but I have a question? How dark is the coin? Is it brown, or is it darker from environmental exposure? The pic makes it a little hard to tell, but it looks as if it may be brown. Chocolate brown cents and half cents tend to bring much more money (even in low grade) than coins showing signs of corrosion or environmental damage. Nice pick up though!!
I was looking at my grading book and found the following: G-4 Outline of bust of Liberty clear, no details, date readable. Reverse lettering is incomplete. After taking a second look it MAY grade G-4 IMO 1795 Plain Edge-no POLE (i'm guessing) in G-4 retails at $375 in red book.
Date readable doesn't mean readable by using magnification - it means being able to read the date with the naked eye.
I don't think that I have ever seen a determintation that a Date, Legend or Motto has to be readable only with the naked eye to determine the grade (condition)! You may have noticed that almost every Coin Dealer you will ever meet and most Coin Grading Service Representatives at Coin Shows, will use a loupe, magnified visor and maybe even a microscope when examining a coin to give a grade. Although very weak, it appears that the Date can be seen in the pics. Considering the other details on the coin and if the Date can be determined clearly enough, then I believe that the coin would receive a G-4 grade. Frank
You're right Frank, it's not spelled out. Nonetheless that is what the terminology means. Check any grading book for the pictures of coins in the G4 or AG3 grades - in all cases the date is plainly visible with the naked eye. Check any slabbed coin - the same is true. I guess you could say this is one of those unwritten rules - it is merely understood and accepted. Also, if you read any of the vast number of articles written by the foremost graders in the business they will all tell you that you grade coins with your eyes - not a magnifying glass. But don't misunderstand me, yes a glass or loupe is used in the grading process. But with circulated coins they are only used to find imperfections or possible problems that are hidden to the naked eye and to help establish authenticity. They are not used to see if traces of a date or legends are visible or readable according the criteria for a given grade. In the higher MS grades magnification is used in grading to see fine hairlines or small imperfections. This is really the only time that magnification is used to grade coins.
Here's a question for you: Is the edge plain or lettered (AKA thin planchet and thick planchet)? And is the date punctuated 1,795 or is it just 1795? It's impossible to see details with the pictures at hand. Knowing that could help narrow down the list of varities it could be. Fish
