I was reading in a NGC grading book tonight and ran across a small section where it talked about the star that's given to the best eye appeal coins. To me, it seems like they're getting really subjective with that but I still think it's kind of neat. They must not give too many out because I only found around 30 on ebay. Decided to do a search because I've never seen one that had received a star.
I have seen a handful of Stars in my grading classes and at coin shows. I think NGC's rationale is a coin with a star technically cannot grade higher (e.g., because of too many marks in the prime focal area for a 65) but otherwise has great eye appeal for the grade. The Stars that I have seen have all been superior for their grade.
It appears that they give a lot of nicely toned Morgans stars. But of course the coin also has to be in superb shape. It says in the book that because of being the top grade, MS-70s/PF-70s will never be given a star. I read on their website that all graders have to vote unanimously to give a coin the star rating. If one says no, it doesn't get the star.
I had a boatload of *65 and *66 Morgans from the battlecreek hoard, I turned them into Lincolns about a year ago........ I keep trying for a 66* toner Lincoln, but I balk at the prices when it really gets down to it because no coin has caught my fancy yet. I will spring when one does, just hasnt happened yet.
I know these are bad pic's. But this is a * coin.....PF66*. It's a really nice coin but I plan on upgrading it to PF66CAM. On the Ovb. there is a spot that really kicks down the eye appeal for me, and the REV. would just loook soo much better if it was CAM!! Speedy
I have 3 Morgan stars - my understanding is the star is given unanimously for eye exceptional appeal as well as they feel the MS coin could possibly be proof. So it's not 'a 65 that could be a 66' but a 'MS65 with exceptional eye appeal that could almost be a PL'. I'm not sure if I've ever had a chance to test whether I agree or not - I usually see the star first - it'd be fun sometime to hold the coins in hand and see if I'd give the star independently.
Could possibly be a proof? That does not enter into the Star designation equation. It is for exceptional eye appeal only.
Sorry but I must disagree. The star signifies an exceptional coin for the grade. The TPG should not be in business if their graders cannot distinguish between a Business Strike and a Proof coin.
Ok, I blurred some of the explanation - here's the cut/paste from NGC website. The reason I confused the leap from MS to PL is because the stars I have are MS coins/grades but the reverse appears near PL. Synopsis The NGC Star Designation identifies coins with exceptional eye appeal or characteristics that distinguish them from other coins of the same technical grade. This does not mean that they just miss the next grade, but it can mean that they verge on the next designation. For example, an untoned PF 65 Cameo coin is not necessarily close to the PF 66 grade, but may be close to an Ultra Cameo designation.
I'm surprised that someone hasn't taken a regular NGC slab and put a star on it via some external way and took a photograph of it. In b4 shenanigans.
Here's my star Here's the one NGC graded coin I have with a star. It's an 1886 Morgan with nice rainbow toning. I got it mostly just to say I had one. :smile Thanks to Teletrade for the use of the picture.
tcore: That's a nice one! It's funny how there can be other ones toned somewhat similarly and they don't get a star. Does anybody know why they tone on one side like that and not the other? Is there some known metal they come in contact with that causes this toning?
We kind of talked about the toning when I bought this coin. It was the conclusion of most that the circular pattern was almost certainly caused by another S$1 sitting on top of this coin (notice the circle's almost perfectly the same size where a coin could have sat). As for the toning on one side, because of the kind of bags these were stored in, just one side of the coin could have been exposed to the bag (to the elements per say). As for similarly toned coins, like was said before, it one person doesn't think it deserves it, it doesn't get the star.
