Similar to my other thread, I would like to see what everyone thought this graded at and why you think such. Some may have already seen it but I'm sure most have not.
@NewbietoCoins Did you mean to post the full slab with the grade? BTW, that's pretty close to what I would have guessed.
Apparently I missed the accidental slab shot, so I'm coming to this fresh: Strike: For a first year issue, this coin seems to be missing details. I'm going to say this is from a later die state rather than a true weak strike, but the overall "softness" is going to hurt the grade. Luster: I really don't see any luster, in either set of pics. This is *really* going to hurt the grade. Eye Appeal: It appears to have attractive, original patina. The coin is BN, but in a nice way. Contact Marks/Wear: My first reaction to this coin was AU, mostly due to the lackluster appearance. However, I really don't see any flattening of the high points. I don't actually think there is wear. I don't see major contact marks, but I do see quite a few smaller marks. There's some weird marks across CENT. All this is driving me to... 62BN? I could see this being a point off plus or minus, but I think 62 feels like the right grade.
The thing I'm struck with for the 09-S VDB.... It is a famous key date. It is wildly popular. But it is also incredibly available. There are 10,000 of them graded at NGC alone. I'm also struck by how incredibly flat the values are. It is an expensive coin in any grade, but from VF at $1000 to MS-64 at $2000 is less than $1000 price difference. Buying an EF or AU seems silly if you can have a 62/63 for just a tiny bit more.
I cannot disagree with the availability in comparison to other coins. I am very pleased with a 1909-S VDB that is PCGS MS62 BN. That said, I am probably more excited about my 1914-D that is PCGS XF45 just due to the fact it is a rarity at all grades. Not to say am I not ecstatic about this 1909-S VDB though!
Yes, the 1914D has a lower surviving population (roughly 6,000 graded by NGC). It had a higher initial mintage, but because of the widespread publicity of the 1909 as the first year of issue, more of them were saved. They are more available in higher grades as a result. The 1914D wasn't recognized as a key date until many years later. The other key, 1931S, has even fewer graded than the 1914D. However, by this time, speculators were starting to get savvy to the mint's production and collector response. Few 1931S were released for circulation, but when dealers were able to get ahold of bags or rolls of 31S cents, they preserved them in high grades. Circulated 31S cents are scarce compared to UNC examples, which is unusual.
