How on Earth...

did this grade a 64?!? Is it because of the collection it was in? If I submitted this it'd be in a UNC PF details Scratch holder.

 

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Very true. Notice it didn't get a cac sticker like the majority of the collection

 

That's terrible. Why would the TPG make such a mistake? Did they think the pedigree would help this heinous error?

 

Maybe it was a strike thru (wire)? then it would be part of the minting process and not damage?!

 

I'm thinking the scratch (dent) is why it's only a 64, the rest of the coin looks fairly clean (from what I can see). MS64 designation allows for a surprisingly large amount of bag marks. While I've not seen the reverse, the grade seems reasonable to me.

 

I have seen other pedigree collections that appear to get a bump from NGC. The worst I have personally seen was the Jules Reiver large cent collection, particularly the late dates.

 

I see what you're saying but this is a proof though, so it wasn't bagged and therefore it's not a bag mark but a scratch. And it's in a very critical area. Maybe it looks lighter in person, I don't know. I'm guessing it's one of those dreaded staple scratches that can result in a details grade

 

Proof coins from back in the day were a whole other beast than proofs today. These old proofs were often housed in coin drawers, hence the reason so many older proofs are oddly toned due to the wood used in the coin drawer, and tend to show wear patterns not seen on modern proofs. Nevertheless, your point is valid and a modern proof may well detail but both PCGS and NCG seemingly use a different standard on these older proofs (or at least it would seem they do)

 

NGC is often lenient with coins that can be given a pedigree. Just look at the Stack's W 57th St Hoard, especially the copper-nickel cents and the 3 cent silvers.

While some of them are nice and eye appealing, especially the Morgans, many of the CuNi cents and 3 cent silvers should have never made it into problem free slabs. There are a few nice ones though.

(BTW am I the only one who likes light black toning on silver? It signifies a coin in original skin, very nice to see on a 19th C issue. Much nicer to look at than a typical overdipped 19th C silver coin. By this, I mean a coin like @Mainebill 's 1864-S half dollar. Here's a picture: )

 

If I submitted something like this I'd be laughed out of town.........What do you guys think caused that scratch? It doesn't look like any run of the mill (ordinary) scratch to me. Stops and starts again.......intriguing.

 

If it was an actual scratch, it would have displaced metal. It's hard to tell with this pic if it does. I don't believe it's a strike through because it skips over the low spot. Since it's on a proof, I don't know.

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You're not the only one. I love that color on the coin as well and appreciate the originality. What a coin!

 

Newman got some major grade breaks on his stuff when he went to liquidate. NGC clearly market-graded it. I can't tell you the number of circulated coins I've seen in MS holders with the Newman pedigree over the last couple years.

 

Yes outside of the scratch this would probably be a 66, but that scratch covers the entire face.

I'm just saying if it was mine it'd never be in a 64 holder. Should be interesting to see if they sell it for 64 money.

 

Looks like they messed up.

 

Just for the record, here's the whole coin from Heritage images in the original Newman auction:





Aside the ugly scratch, it's essentially flawless - a tic below the O in OF between the feathers, a tic in front of the necklace, and a small tic in the shield. With no scratch, it's a Condition Census coin and the scratch cost it at least two and likely three grades. With this in mind, I think the only relevant question is whether it should have straight-graded at all; if they chose to grade it straight, the grade is probably appropriate.

 

Now having seen the reverse, I'm convinced a 64 is an appropriate grade. While it's very temping to second guess NGC or PCGS, more often than not, they're usually spot on with their grading.

 

And I've had no luck getting a straight grade on this one a little too black. Came back twice as environment damage