Prethen, nice pair of 3CNs. Bet they took some looking to find. I like 2-centers also. I have a complete business strike set in XF or better except the 1864 small date with is a VF-25. Bought a very nice looking raw AU/BU 1871. It came back body bagged (cleaned.) I can't see it which probably means it was dipped. I can generally find abrasive cleaning. It's in an ANACS holder now as "AU-50 DETAILS" and will go on the block soon. Already have its replacement. OPINION: Are the TPGs getting "soft" on grading 2-centers? Compared to the ANA Guide description, the TPGs seem to be grading coins with weak "WE"s higher than expected.
Kanga: An XF 1872 2¢!!! That's very rare. I have a nice VF (originally a F12 by old school standards - LOL) and I've been looking for a better one for years now. No luck on the bourse floor. It has to have a full WE. Most AU's don't even have a full WE. My Fine actually shows a weak WE but it's all there. Now, you have to go after 3CN. There's a fun challenge!
Not sure they're getting "soft" but certainly not going by ANA standards. I think people have come to realize that the WE criteria really does downgrade a lot of coins. I actually saw an MS64RB 1867 in an NGC slab with no WE. It was a nice coin but WE was basically non existent. That's why I pick up that date with full strikes whenever possible. My number one set is AU/BU. I feel hey are all unc but won't know for sure until I slab them. My best 1872's grade XF45 (slabbed by PCI and properly I believe), a raw AU and my final will go either AU58 or MS61-62 (RB I hope). I feel it's unc but a weak strke. PCGS will give me an opinion someday. So here's my small motto guys. Think you might like it. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x275/clembo1872/scan0006.jpg http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x275/clembo1872/scan0007.jpg
Clembo, That is one nice coin!:thumb: I have a few 2 cent coins but none that nice. I,m always torn between quantity and quality. I know it's smarter to save for the higher grade coins, But before I get enough saved for a good coin, several coins in the F and VF range beg me to buy them. (You got to watch for those talking coins too!!" buy me, buy me"):goofer:
I can relate all too well. My set was originally going to be a VF-XF set then I picked up a nice, "talking" uncirculated 1865 cheap. It made the other coins look bad soooooooo.....I ended up spending a ton more money over the course of a few years to get a high grade set. We could be spending money on a lot worse things though couldn't we.