The Official CoinTalk Grading Experiment 1

ANA standards don't cover photographs of uncirculated coins very well.

 

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The objective here is to guess what grade the coin was given.
Even though your grade might be lower, it is still about the grade on the slab right or wrong.

 

I'm fine with that. I may be a point under on most of the newly graded ones. We'll see.


Edit: newly graded=last 7-8years. (At least)

 

And more than enough for me to disqualify this coin if I sought to buy a '37D GWQ

 

64...I have a couple of other satins that are 64s which resemble this one.

 

AU 58

 

It's a standard Washington MS65 for PCGS. A single fairly noticeable hit in prime focal areas doesn't seem to bother PCGS as long as the rest of the coin is clean.

 

64. Nick on the cheek.

 

I am usually a point low in my evaluation of grades in the choice to gem uncirculated range versus the modern TPG grades. This GTG was no exception (MS 64). This might classify me as a conservative grader or a purist. Accordingly, I choose to not purchase market priced TPG coins exceeding my evaluation of grade. Many (certainly not all) of my purchases are old so-called lower tier slabs at very reasonable prices.
Edit: As of now, 50 guessed MS 64 or lower, 10 guessed MS 65 or higher. Apparently the vast majority of us are poor graders.

 

This right here is what made me guess 64. I could get basically no read on the luster from this photo. It would be much easier if there were 2 photos: one with diffuse light to show the surfaces and color, and another with axial lighting to show the luster. Other than a video, I think having these 2 types of photos is about as close to the "in hand" experience as you can get over the internet.

 

My problem with Heritage photos is that they wash out the luster even on coins that have great luster, making it nearly impossible to tell when a coin actually has subdued luster. To me, the whitish appearance of the coin indicates a milky patina that almost always results in a satin luster profile.

Heritage photographs hundreds of coins per day and they have to use a cookie cutter photography method that provides efficiency and productivity. As such they use bright diffused lights that accurately show surfaces but don’t always flatter coins with exceptional luster, color, or eye appeal. You really need to have experience on how to interpret them.

 

Indeed you do, and I think we'll find that people will develop that experience as the experiment runs its course, although not perfectly.

 

Agreed, but people who have purchased coins from Heritage have a huge advantage, even though this particular example was a tough one.

 

If that coin is a 65 I have rolls and rolls of 70s. I wouldn't even put that coin in a Whitman trifold folder much less pay to have it slabbed. Junk. What is silver melt?

 

Wow, why don't you tell us what you really think about that coin.

 

I don't understand how folks can be so passionate about their opinion when we are working from a single set of lack-luster photos...

 

Or is it an accurate photo of a luckluster coin?

 

Have to hand it to their method in how honest it is- the hairline in the left obverse field that limits the grade on this coin is clearly visible in their photo:




At the same time, the coin has gem luster and great eye appeal but you’d never know it from the HA images.

 

MS 64

 

I see that there is no way to withdraw one's vote, but as I received an NGC graded Peace Dollar that is what I voted for on this coin, I have to say that I would have to go with the 7.9% who voted AU58 for this one.