Suppose the fingerprint wasn't visible when it was graded - that the print and the milk spotting developed after it was slabbed. Also, 71-P issues are notorious for weak strikes, so they get a bit of a pass for that. It wasn't so much worn dies as weak presses. The Denver strikes are much stronger as a rule.
Yeah. I changed it to maybe a weak strike before your post. lol I don't know, if it's the best you can find at a decent price, so be it. Otherwise, I'd keep looking. So, is what looks like rub on the hair to the left of the ear due to the weak strike?
Oh, I don't intend to buy it. I'm just wondering what the opinions might be. A lot of the weak strikes look like wear on these coins. This one is actually graded by PCGS in the MS range. If you had to pick an MS number, what would it be?
Bingo! It is silly. I've got a dozen 71-Ps that look much better than this, and the top pop is 67, so I'm mulling the idea of submitting them.
I'd grade it a 4 as is. I"d guess it's (over) graded 6. I'll bet it was much more attractive when graded and has since hazed up. That's my guess, and I'm sticking to it.
Be careful, you can't judge your coins against these crappy hazed POS coins. If you were to crack that coin and send it in, I think it would come back in a 4 or lower holder (and maybe a bodybag). PCGS doesn't like haze like that. It needs to be redipped and it might hit the grade if the luster's all there -- the coin looks very clean hit-wise -- but remember with a coin like this if redipped there is a good chance it will retone ugly again. Please post a photo of your potential 67s... but beware PCGS is very stingy with this grade on the early Kennedys, and 67 is the top-pop for the 71-P and like a $1k+ coin. That said, it's worth a shot! It would be a nice jackpot.
I think you're being generous. I have 64s in PCGS slabs that look better. I was giving it a 2. There's a helluva lot of chatter on that thing.
I'd be ok with a nice 66 for my registry set, but my camera batteries died and I'm out, so I'll get to it tomorrow.
