GTG: 1926 Sesquicentennial $2 1/2 Gold

I wasn't, I nailed it !!!

I gave a secret code: MS65.....the MS stands for "Mint State" and you can't spell those words without the letter "A"....so that tells you the coin is AU.

Then I said "65".....if you take the number 65 and subract 6 you get 59. But then you have 1 number left, the 5. So you subract 1. 59 - 1 = 58.

Ergo, AU58. Nailed it !!

Where's my prize ?

 

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You got the perfect AU64 slider!

(Here's a thread on the subject for those interested: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-secret-to-collecting-key-dates-the-elusive-au64-slider.41621/)

 

I demand a recount.

 

I would not have been pleased at all with that grade.

Then again, there are things that are obvious under a loupe that aren't obvious in a photo.

 

That's an unusual grade for this coin. As far as I know, these didn't circulate.

In hand, can you find the wear? Do you agree with this grade?

 

John M. —

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Why are they disliked?

 

I think that they are slow sellers because the 11 piece small early commemorative gold set is an expensive undertaking. Most collectors don’t limit themselves to one or two of those coins; they go for them all.

The Philadelphia Sesquicentennial $2.50 gold is also in low relief, and many collectors don’t find it attractive.

 

Nice. I was at 63

 

I did notice the "gray area" (rub) running down Ms. Liberty's body, but I discounted it because I thought that it might be the photo or the strike. As it turned out, it was wear and the TPG down graded the coin to AU-58 for it.

 

Would it be much easier to tell if it was wear if you had the coin in hand ?

Sometimes it's tough to tell circulated wear from lots of "bag dings and bag rub."

 

Absolutely. That's the standard disclaimer when grading from photos - being able to turn it under the light and see how the luster behaves is essential for accurately and consistently grading coins.

 

If anything, you can argue the luster is a bit lacking in hand. But it was strictly graded for sure.

 

They are a hard coin to grade. I have one my grandfather brought home from the Mercantile Safe Deposit and Trust Company in Baltimore where he was the head teller in 1926. It only graded a pcgs ms62. I haven't seen many graded higher, although they do exist. Back then the bank had them for depositors. I have the one he brought home. My grandfather ended his career as Treasurer in 1966. In 1964 he used his position to get a client 10, 1,000 coin bags of silver dollars. In 1964. Those were the days.

 

I’m a bit surprised by the grade but have seen nice AU examples before. I used to own this AU53 that looked solid.

 

I never understood new math.

 

I must be livin under a rock, but I don't think I've ever seen this coin before! But then I dont partake in too much of the yellow shiny stuff much as I'd like...