A New German Acquisition

I saw this the other day, and knew that it needed to be mine. Guess the grade! (the haziness in the top right quadrant of the obverse is on the slab, not the coin)

 

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I'm not a World Coin guy, so I know next to nothing about them. But from the frostiness of the devices, I would be thinking it's a Proof specimen. I would be inclined to guess PF-65.

 

MS64PL? That or PF64. I suck with US coins, let alone foreign. Anything in particular that pulls you to German coins?

 

Early 20th century German coins are an area I have unduly ignored, though not purposefully. Examples of the above are why I should rethink such a notion!

 

I don't actually collect German coins. I collect prooflike coins (mainly US type). It just so happens that many of the German mints produced coins of exceptional quality, and they have a good number of prooflike coinage. I've been adding some foreign PL's when they are attractive and well priced, just for the heck of it. I now have PL specimens from 9 countries (and multiples of some common ones).

Which, I suppose, gives away the fact that this is not actually a proof, but a PL business strike....

 

I had a feeling... But went with my first gut instinct. My numerical grade will stand but strike designation will change to MS-65, not sure if it's marked PL or not, but it should be.

 

Out of curiosity, could you explain how you arrived at the 65 grade? (or, sealittle, the 64 grade?) How are you interpreting the images, in light of the primary grade factors, to get this grade? (just curious)

 

Thanks for the info. I'm moving to Germany soon so I'm always checking to see who else collects German coins in case I need some assistance.

 

Hey Jason, As I said, I most certainly could be wrong. I think it's just a feeling I am getting from the fields. It just looks like wide spread very light chatter, but it certainly could be just the luster within a very reflective proof like surface. If that's the case, then I'm upping it to MS-67 as there are no hit's that I can see. I am unfamiliar with this coin and it's size. So it's a shot in the dark for me.

 

Oh and I really like it!!

 

I always, always grade conservatively and I'm truthfully out of my element on MS coins, I usually just go on eye appeal and gut. Also, these points were distracting to me.

 

The size is about the same as a US nickel.

No worries, I just like when people explain their thoughts when they guess a grade.

 

I also see potential hits around "1/2"

 

Very astute!

The fields to the right of the crown/ribbon have a patch of die polish, which shows up as vertical banding. Between the eagle's wing and the ribbon, on the left, is a very light die gouge (not a mark). The area behind the eagle's head is a bit of shadowing from my lighting technique.

The other areas are legitimate concerns.

 

I'll go 66.

 

I'd say MS66PL although those coins are available in 67... very nice contrast between the fields and the details.


Edit: you bought it, so it must be a 67PL ;-)

 

Who is the photographer? I have to compliment the sharp images. I am not an expert on the series so I would guess MS-66. Dark spots on eagle keep it from a 67.

 

65PL. Super nice.

 

I'd grade it MS66PL IF the green spots on the eagle's head and body were taken care of.

The surfaces are pristine, with a bit of typical die polish/die repair coming through.

 

I am the photographer. Thanks!

The coin is currently in a 67PL holder. I agree that the spots are distracting. I would probably grade this one 66+PL, personally.