Guess the grade--PCGS 1941-S Walking Liberty Half

I'll say AU-58 , PCGS MS-60
rzage

 

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OK, OK. There are only a few hours left in the poll anyway. I consider this coin part of my numismatic education. It was one of the first raw coins that I ever purchased on E-Bay. I paid MS63 money for it because I believed it was uncirculated and the photos were not nearly as good as the ones I am showing you. I received the coin and without even really examining it, rushed it off to PCGS. When it came back I was surprised, but immediately noticed why the coin was graded AU. Years later, I have a different feeling about this coin. Personally, I don't think the obverse qualifies as AU58. PCGS defines the AU grades as follows:

AU53: Full detail with friction over 1/2 or more of the surface, very slight flatness on the high points.

AU55: Full detail with friction on less than 1/2 of the surface, mainly on the high points.

AU58: Full detail with only slight friction on the high points.

The remaining luster on the coin is outstanding, but the wear on the obverse is rather obvious and not solely restricted to the high points. I would grade this coin AU55/58. PCGS was generous with this one.

 

I think that they were that generous because the coin is so mark free.

 

Geez, I got one right? After reading everyone elses' reasons for their grade I do indeed believe PCGS was being very generous with the grading.
Stuck my neck out at the beginning.....wasn't influenced by anyone elses' post....that's how I like to play these threads....that's the way I learn. Just so happened I was right (LOL).

 

maybe ms67

hi, my name is john i would like to join the forum.
:bow:

 

i am new at coin collecting i may alot of questions.

 

Definitely one of the "AU-64" coins! Better looking than some MS.

Jim

 

Looks like you have! Welcome to Coin Talk. Might I suggest you also introduce yourself and tell us a little about what your coin interests are by visiting this part of the forum:

http://www.cointalk.org/forumdisplay.php?f=29

No problem. You will find lots of fellow collectors here with answers and a few strange people (me excluded, spock included ).

 

as usual he got it backwards still needs his meds

 

Trying to steal my signature ??

I will share Everyone should have meds for coins or is it the reverse

Jim

 

Wow, AU-58. I just don't see that coin as that high a grade. PCGS made a mistake imho. There is too much wear on the obverse of that coin for AU-58.

 

1st impressions are the way to go :thumb:
rzage

 

Welcome to CT , questions are a great way to learn , someone usually has the answer .
rzage

 

Right on....dating myself again.:goofer:

 

The polls reflect that most people think that the coin was AU, but are split pretty evenly between the AU grades. I personally thought that the coin was a little overgraded due to the wear on the obverse being a little more pronounced than I am used to for a slider. However, I don't think that it can drop all the way to AU53 because of PCGS's definition of the AU53 grade. Per PCGS, the coin most show friction on over 50% of the coin's surface which this coin does not. Whenever I think the TPG has overgraded a coin, I examine other coins of the same grade to get an idea of what the TPG's opinion of the grade is. After examining random AU53 and AU55 examples from Heritage's inventory, I think I have determined why this coin was graded AU58. Below I will show two photos of each AU grade for Walking Liberty Halves. The first AU58 will be my coin and the second will be the AU64 slider that we have already discussed. For the AU53 & AU55, I simply clicked on two of the most recent sold by Heritage.

1921-S PCGS AU53
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1934-D PCGS AU53
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1917-D PCGS AU55
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1941-S PCGS AU55
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1941-S PCGS AU58
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1921-D PCGS AU58
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As you can see, the key difference between the grades is overall friction and its impact on the coin's luster. Both AU53 coins have friction over most of the coin even though the actual wear on the high points of the 1934-D is less severe than every other coin than the 1921-D AU58. The AU55 coins exhibit less wear than the 53's but the definitely show significant friction in the fields and other devices besides the high points of the coin. The common characteristic in both AU58's is that the wear is limited to the high points. There is no obvious friction in the fields and the luster on both coins in uninterrupted other than the high points of the coin.

 

AU55 IMHO. Nice coin. It is difficult to determine whether there is wear or if it's a bum strike

 

WOW!!! Nice 21-D Lehigh!!!!

 

Thanks, but it is not mine. I just used random Heritage coins to make a point.