The hardest coin to grade

Hello Cointalk Im curious as to which type of coin you think is hardest to grade from these metals , Gold, Silver, Copper, and if possible one series from that metal that you think is most difficult to assign a grade to. My choice would be the Indian series gold coins because I have always had trouble grading gold and especially the incuse design makes it tough for me.*

 

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Peace dollars are very tough.

 

For silver Bust halves give me the most problems . There are so many poorly struck coins ,one might have no clasp and hardly any hair detail and still be MS . Though after seeing enough of them they get easier like any coin . Though I agree the incuse gold can be hard , lucky I just have one 1/4 and one 1/2 eagle .

 

As are Buffalo Nickels.

 

+1, most definitely!

I also find statehood quarters difficult because they are all different (reverse).

 

Bingo!

Incuse gold is very tough. Thus the coin boiler rooms love them because they can call AU58s (at best), MS64!

 

I think Ike dollars are tough to grade. Many differences exist between years, MS versus proof, silver versus clad, and varieties. TC

 

circulated (and some MS ) Lincoln cents!

 

SLQ's are tough for me.

 

+1
I don't know why, but this series gives me the most trouble too.
Peace dollars usually have weak strike issues, but assigning strike quality and wear can be done. And it's the same with Busties, especially the ones that look VF, but reside in AU holders. High grade Buffs are very rough when they have toning, but for me it's the SLQ.

 

Peace and the incused Indian gold coins.

 

I find any gold coin difficult to grade because I do not get much practice.

 

nickels. i hate trying to figure out wich 1941 nickle looks better.

 

SLQ's are easy peasy for me.

 

I find slq's and 2 cent pieces hard to grade.

 

I find them all easy to grade if I have them in hand, but giving an accurate grade from an image for coins like early Washington quarters and Indian gold is difficult. Grading a proof from an image (aside from the difference between a PR-69 and PR-70) is nearly imposable. Any grade that I give for a proof from an image is more or less an educated guess. Also, I find matte proofs particularly tough to grade even in hand.

 

Hilarious!!!

I'm sorry, but I just know there must be SLQ collectors/afficianodos with their eyes rolled back, after reading your declaration. It provided me with the best laughter I've enjoyed in some time.

The TPG have little consistency in grading this series of coins which has such great variations in strike. I've loved collecting this coin through the high "Gem" grades where I can show TPG extreme variations in grading of even the same date/mint. TPG graded MS67 coins without one complete character in the date, very poor detail, no luster, improper FH designation, etc.. This is a coin design that can easily start grading arguments.

I'd really enjoy reading your grading standards, as I've yet to locate exacting TPG standards, and know that the A.N.A. technical standards haven't been applied. I'd appreciate your "easy peasy" grading system, as it may equal that used by the "Pros".

 

OK - whatever. This is my experience

2 1/2 incluse Indian eagles - Try that one

Washington Quarters - The design sucks so badly and has such lousey definition, going back to the very begining, both obverse and reverse. i can't even tell if there are any wear on them. The Washington Quarter is the single ugliest coin the US ever minted. Who can know what they are in and about AU

Franklin Halves - not enough to grade..

 

I think the 1921 Peace Dollar is very hard to grade. First off, Peace Dollars in general are tough but the 1921 is a different design that was plagued with poor strikes...so you have all the qualities that make 1922-35 Peace Dollars hard, plus the differences in design and poor strike.

I also think the Indian Quarter and Half Eagles are really hard.

 

Ikes are tough to grade until you learn them. At least you can put two of them together and say this one is better than that one with a high degree of certainty, unlike other coin designs.