Typically, I collected coins circulated grades. However, to complete my Jeff nickel and Roosevelt dime collections I am seeking some high-grade proofs. None of these proofs are very expensive. However, I find it very difficult to distinguish a PF62 from a PF65 versus a PF67. I have read the PCGS guide and see all the words, but at the end of the day, I still have a hard time deciding what I've got and how to judge it. I recently read a post from another guy who was asking about high grade coins. For example, I bought the 1971-75 San Francisco Jefferson nickel proofs from a reputable eBay dealer. He said they would all be PF65 or better. Under a 10x loop, they look good....some nearly flawless. But one of them has a two small scratches around Jefferson's eye. One is tiny and thin, the other is heavier....relatively. You still need the loop to see anything. Another is beautiful; but there's one small scratch on Montecello above the dome. The background looks like a mirror to the unaided eye....great. Under a loop, you can see tiny shimmers or maybe spots; but the light plays games as well as the loop optics itself. Maybe I'd grade them PF65? The others are nearly perfect. But then the PCGS guide talks about "eye appeal" and lustre, etc. Who gets to decide that? Under a loop, even the smallest specs of dust or lint shows up and I have to use a soft cloth to try to gently "coax" the dust off to see what I'm looking at. I find grading MS and PF coins the most difficult thing to do. It seems like voodoo to discern coins above MS or PF62. Any grizzled veterans got any stories or advice? Houston_Ray
As long as they are your coins, it's your responsibility to decide! I've had this problem for all my life and it never gets any better. About the time you figure out the system, they will change it and your back to space !. Come to think of it, "voodoo" is a very good word for the whole thing.
This is a big no-no with Proof coins. You don't EVER want to touch the surface of the coin with anthing. Even a soft cotton cloth WILL leave marks. If there is dust on the coin - get a some canned air, like you use on your computer and blow it off. Just be sure to hold the can completely upright so no liquid squirts out. Yes, learning how to grade MS or Proof coins can be difficult. Like anything else, it requires practice. Lots and lots of practice. But with the practice you gain experience, and with experience you gain knowledge, and with knowledge you gain skill. About the best thing you can do besides studying the books is to look at coins already graded by professionals. You can do this by buying the coins for your collection and studying them. Or by looking at graded coins in a shop or at a show. And you can also look at pics on ebay or other auction sites. And as you look at these coins - compare your ungraded coins to them and see what the differences are. At first the difference may be hard to see. But with time you can see it at a glance.
Don't breathe...literally! The smallest of your exhaled water vapor landing on a proof coin could "kill" the grade. I hold my breath when I slide a proof coin into a soft flip (for grading), 2x2 Intercept Shield or whatever device you use to display and store your coins. Actually I do that for all MS/PR coins...especially RED Lincolns. I never touch the coin...I use an insert from a slab I may have broken out in the past to move the coin into proper placement. Sometimes I use a Q-Tip to "push" the coin into the flip...only touching the edge. But as I read here, that may not be a good idea. Like you...I can't tell the differance between a PR69DCAM and PR70DCAM. I have seen both...side by side...and they got me?!? Even for those PR65 +/- a few points, I have a difficult time...so I usually buy them already slabbed by either PCGS or NGC. Sure I can see a carbon spot on a Lincoln versus one that is carbon-free, but one's version for a hair-line is not the same as the next person...if you can't even see the damn thing! Don't touch them with bare fingers...don't breathe on them and for God's sake, if you sneeze/cough on them by accident, you will hate yourself. Speaking from experience.
I hoping this week to get back some coins from ANACS and boy do I want to see how close I got to the right grades...I'm not too good at MS grades so I hope I did alright. I agree that Proofs are hard...I think they are harder than MS..... I also have some silver nickels in at NGC that were in the bank roll since 1943 and they toned....sooooooo purty.......!!!!!!! Speedy
