The Official Coin Talk Grading Experiment 2

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by physics-fan3.14, Aug 3, 2019.

?

What does the Barber Half grade?

  1. AU-55

    3 vote(s)
    5.9%
  2. AU-58

    6 vote(s)
    11.8%
  3. MS-60

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  4. MS-61

    1 vote(s)
    2.0%
  5. MS-62

    7 vote(s)
    13.7%
  6. MS-63

    7 vote(s)
    13.7%
  7. MS-64

    21 vote(s)
    41.2%
  8. MS-65

    5 vote(s)
    9.8%
  9. MS-66

    1 vote(s)
    2.0%
  10. MS-67

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. CircCam

    CircCam Victory

    I’m torn between 64 and 65 on this one, the portrait looks really nice and I bet the coin looks great in-hand. Luster looks just a hair subdued and then there’s the marks in the right obverse field.. I’ll vote 64.
     
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. chascat

    chascat Well-Known Member

  4. Evan8

    Evan8 A Little Off Center

    64 from me.
     
  5. ddddd

    ddddd Member

    First thought was MS 64 as it looked fairly mark free (outside of the fields to the right). However the longer I looked the more I was convinced that it showed some wear and so I went with AU 58.

    Maybe I should have stuck with my first impression (as they say, think long think wrong :D).
     
  6. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    I'm at 64 on this one. Attractive coin, "original skin," no big marks on Liberty's face, but some strike weakness on the reverse, and the right obverse field is a little messy. I'd also get that spot and the greenish patch on the reverse looked at.
     
  7. Lehigh96

    Lehigh96 Toning Enthusiast

    So much for starting us off easy Jason. This coin is extremely hard to grade from photos. My initial impression from the top of the eagles wings and the hair is that there is just the slightest touch of high point friction and that the coin is AU58. But I looked and didn’t see any area of the fields that appears to have friction which is what the TPGs require for AU grades. There is a dark area to the right of the portrait but that looks like a shadow, not friction. There is a dark area to the left between the hair ribbon and cap but that creeps up on the devices and looks like a stain. The flatness of the talon holding the arrows is strike weakness, and like the obverse, I see no friction in the reverse fields.

    So after concluding that my gut instinct is wrong, then I have to assign an mint state grade. The coin is pretty clean and has near gem surfaces, but the coin has also been dipped at some point and Heritage’s photos do nothing to show us the luster profile of the coin. If the luster is impaired by the dip, the coin could net grade MS62. If the luster is full, it would grade MS64. And if my first instinct was right, it is an AU64.

    Since these are just examples chosen and price paid isn’t an issue, im saying that the shadows are indicators of good luster and the coin grades MS64.
     
  8. Kasia

    Kasia Got my learning hat on

    Probably not graded AU58 but I feel maybe there is the slightest wear, obverse.
     
    Stevearino likes this.
  9. micbraun

    micbraun coindiccted

    I am on the fence between AU58 and MS62. It appears to be weakly struck on the reverse. Luster and eye-appeal aren’t great either and there are a couple of hits. I will vote MS62 because I think that’s what PCGS probably would call it. It sure doesn’t look like a 64 or 65 to me.
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2019
  10. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    Hahaha, this made me chuckle. Thanks for the analysis.
     
    Paul M. likes this.
  11. NYandW

    NYandW Makes Cents!

    Interesting as the responses are from 58-66. This is not a disparagement, but observation as follows: The folks here are highly knowledgeable and experienced in many facets, yet the differing opinions surely would be translated to a great difference in the value of this coin, or any other, for that matter. How to reconcile this in light of determining a coin posted question for worth/value (every day)? It seems to be a art, rather then science, an opinion drives the vehicle. But, in the end the buyer sure can be confused, perhaps, as to the grade/price...
     
  12. jgrinz

    jgrinz Senior Member

    Au58
    Reverse left/right claw creases are gone from wear
    Leg feather wear looks extreme with a lot of chatter for a MS coin.
    Obverse is pretty clean - some hits and some minor wear ...
     
    Murphy45p and Stevearino like this.
  13. Kasia

    Kasia Got my learning hat on

    This one may be a good example of a slider.
     
  14. joeinslw

    joeinslw New Member

    Hard to see with a photo, I agree with others who wrote the same problem, however I graded at a 61 because I think I see some wear on the edge of the shield on the reverse side, and on the obverse I see scratches on the face and what looks like blotches on the back of the head, & more scratches in front of the coin.
     
  15. gronnh20

    gronnh20 Well-Known Member

    MS63 Weak strike coupled with a so-so planchet prep. The planchet may even be a little underweight. This is another coin series where it is best to shop around for well struck coins. They are out there.

    Heritage should hire a real photographer.
     
  16. Lehigh96

    Lehigh96 Toning Enthusiast

    I talked myself out of a slider grade into an MS64 and you did the opposite. I think one of us is gonna have egg on our face because IMO, AU58 and MS64 are the two most likely grades for this coin.
     
    Morgandude11, ddddd and Stevearino like this.
  17. joeinslw

    joeinslw New Member

    I must have been to close for comfort, they deleted my MS61 vote, that was the message I received........Nice....joeinslw
     
  18. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    At thousands of coins per week, a single real photographer isn't going to do the trick. They have to produce assembly line, yet consistent photos. A real photographer would be able to adjust and fine-tune the assembly line, but it still has to run quickly. They do spend more time with more expensive coins, but the slab shots end up giving a better overall picture. I've noticed that they also now import NGC photos into their auctions, which is a break from their policy of only having in-house photos.
     
    Lehigh96 likes this.
  19. Lehigh96

    Lehigh96 Toning Enthusiast

    I’ve tried to explain this several times. I was unaware that they started using NGC photos. Personally I wish they would contract with someone really good for their beauty shots. Often times, they look totally different from the slab photo, and that shouldn’t happen.
     
  20. gronnh20

    gronnh20 Well-Known Member

    I didn't really mean it in the sense of one photog. Well, one quality person to manage the photography department might help. Heritage should up their game on the photography end, is all I meant. Scanners just don't cut it for on-line sales of coins. When most of coin sales are done on-line, quality pictures sell that coin. A high end coin auctioneer like Heritage should treat every coin as high end. Leave the crappy picture taking to eBay sellers or people like myself with no photography skills.

    Right now the majority grade the Barber half MS64. That puts it at $1100 in the PCGS price guide. Poll: which MS64 grader wants to put in the first bid? Don't forget there is a buyer's fee. For handling the coin, like photography, cataloging, shipping/receiving... I would think, as a business, they would want the best of the best to sell product. With the poll, there are a lot of people passing on this coin on any grade above MS63. Of course, there is those few that would get a bargain at MS64. If I was Heritage I would try harder.
     
  21. kSigSteve

    kSigSteve Active Member

    I went 64 here. Eager to see how this one turns out.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page