This question was asked on another venue. I edited it slightly to correct an error by the OP. How significant are problems/damage to the edge of a coin (generally referred to as the Third Side)? For now I'm thinking in terms of grading by a TPG. At what point is half a grade deducted? A whole grade? More? I've never seen ANY sort of standard applied to this.
I have an 1857-O quarter I purchased as an AU-50 and it definitely has the details for that grade. It has a very nice original patina. It was in a cardboard 2x2. I took it out of the 2x2 and put it in a Dansco type set album and when I decided to liquidate the coins in that album I sent this quarter to PCGS for grading to add it to my Liberty Seated type set. It came back XF details due to edge damage. I'm thinking what damage? I cracked it out and the edge is all buggered up. It looks like someone just pounded the edge around the entire coin but, to look at the coin you would not see anything amiss with the edge. Unfortunately I don't recall who I bought the quarter from as it was acquired at a coin show two years ago. If this does not answer your question at least you will know what PCGS did in this instance.
TPG's are more forgiving of large dollars, like the Draped Bust coins of the 1700's and early 1800's. Most of them have significant rim bruising, if not dings, yet still fetch a problem-free grade.
As a related question, I've always wondered which TPG is more lenient in this regard, NGC or PCGS. Is it just me, or is NGC more likely to slab coins with bruises, rim dings and other damage?
My opinion only - is NGC. At least that is what I think from looking at coins I collect. Again just my opinion.
