I just read that the NGC star is for eye appeal and has nothing to do with the grade. Is this accurate?? Would that then mean a CAC on a * coin would be redundant?
Yep, it's accurate. For as long as it has existed that's the only thing the star has meant. No, because the only thing CAC is saying is that the coin is good for the grade on the slab. And since the grade has nothing to do with the star, CAC's sticker doesn't have anything to do with the star either.
You can request to have either side showing when you submit your coins for grading. It was done this way because the obverse more than likely does not have the color toning that the reverse shows. This particular coin would likely command a premium price for the toning, so the submitter wanted this displayed more prominently in the slab.
On most modern proof issues, the * designation means the coin displays cameo qualities on the obverse, but not on the reverse, unless designated with * cameo which means a very attractive coin on both obv. and rev. Coins with a * designation are much more exclusive in their grade than non* coins.
The coin was slabbed that way because the "*" was given to the reverse toning. You'll see this in PCGS slabs. As stated, the "*" has nothing to do with the grade. It's all based on eye appeal. Whether that's near PL/DPL, near cameo or eye appealing toning.
Or have mad luster. Have a Jefferson nickel that I bought sight unseen that was a MS66*. I thought it would have nice toning but it was just a liquid luster.
@physics-fan3.14 The coin shown is just a file photo as an example of an NGC coin with both the CAC green bean AND the *. The discussion of the OP is about eye appeal relating ONLY to the star*. If we go by Jason Poe's book, we could very well argue that eye appeal does indeed affect the grade. (Chapter 10) Thanks.
NGC puts a star on coins with “exceptional eye appeal” or other enhancing characteristics such as an MS-65 proof cameo half “not necessarily close to the PF 66 grade” but almost an ultra cameo one.
If I understand you correctly, you are asserting that the photo shown is not an actual photo of the coin in the holder. You are stating that you believe the reverse photo of the coin has been edited onto the picture of the slab for display purposes. If this is indeed what you are saying, you are incorrect. They do slab coins with the reverse showing for the reasons mentioned above upon request.
All that needs to be done is go to the NGC website and type in the slab number in the NGC verification tool and it will show a picture of both sides of the slab.
Sorry, I will attempt to clarify again...the OP is about the star * designation on any NGC slab and what it means. It HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PARTICULAR COIN. I understand the confusion and should have posted only the top of the slab.
Nobody is claiming that eye appeal does not affect the grade of a coin. So if you are thinking that's what I was telling you, you are not understanding me correctly. Eye appeal is absolutely one of the criteria involved when grading a coin. As a matter of fact eye appeal is arguably the second most important of all the grading criteria, with luster being the most important of all grading criteria. Well, for MS coins anyway. But what I said in my first post is true, the NGC * has nothing to do with the numerical grade assigned to the coin. Another way of saying that would be that the * is not a grade enhancement, it does not increase the grade in any way. To put that into perspective a + after the grade is a grade enhancement. For example an MS64+ is a higher grade than an MS64. But a MS62* is not a higher grade than an MS62. Understand the difference now ?
No, I don't...you are contradicting your previous reply above..."Yep, it's accurate. For as long as it has existed that's the only thing (eye appeal) the star has meant." So, if, as you say "Eye appeal is absolutely one of the criteria involved when grading a coin", and the CAC is "awarded" as meeting the standard for strict quality within its grade...then QED, both the * and the CAC enhance the grade of the coin.
So, a graded coin could very well have the CAC AND have great eye appeal and NOT have a star * assigned...and visa versa.
I'm not sure exactly what you're getting at, but after rereading my post, I think I needed to add that Morgans with toning only on the reverse are often slabbed to show the toning on the "front" of the slab. Now back to the original question, the "*" designation is for those coins NGC deems to have exceptional eye appeal. Yes, I can agree that there is a link between grading and eye appeal. It's my understanding that CAC approval is for the grade the coin is given. Nothing else.