Grading Opinions - 1939 Wheat Cent

I posted these images a few weeks ago in the "Roll-searchers..." thread.

Today, I spent some time on the heritage website.. looking thru image after image of wheat pennies that had sold. I chose "PCGS" as the grading service company.. and then looked at every grade, from G4-MS68. Forming my opinion from those images, I thought this coin may grade somewhere in the MS64-MS66 range. What do you think?

I thought that some of the coins in the MS grades didn't look as sharp as mine.. and then I wondered if that may be because they are in a slab and the camera focused on the slab instead of the coin.

 

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I'm no judge, but I would say MS63, looks like the "PLU" on the reverse is worn, but that's just my opinion.

 

Ok, in my opinion....
This is an AU 58 coin.. or should I say AU 64.
There is definitely wear in his hair, but the coin is a very nice red/brown.
There are too many nicks and spots to make 64 IMO, and I think it would grade as an AU, but if I was looking for one in my collection This would fill the hole nicely.

 

Assuming that the coin has full luster and has not been cleaned, I think the coin would go 65 RB.

 

weak strike on the plu

 

I was surprised to see that some wheats in the MS 60's on heritage had obvious wear of the letters on the reverses.
My initial opinion on this coin (before spending time at heritage) was AU 55-58.

 

And there's been no cleaning that I'm responsible for. Once again, I found this in a roll.

 

Without reading the other replies, I'll say it is either an AU-58 (if that is wear that I am seeing), or an MS-63 (if it isn't).

Phoenix

 

Most likely what you are seeing on the letters isn't due to wear, but due to a weak strike IMHO.

Phoenix

 

I'll have to go with AU-58 , Slight luster break on his cheeks , still a nice coin .
rzage

 

From the pictures I would say AU 55 or maybe AU 58. Looks like it has a bit of wear above Licoln's ear and cheek. Nice coin!

Lou

 

technical grade AU-58
market? (pretend it's an SVDB ) PCGS 63RB

 

Thanks for the opinions.. though, I am confused as to the differential between technical and what it would grade as..

I'm thrilled that I bought it for a penny. :goofer:

 

AU-58, I have to agree, luster breaks and rubbing on cheekbone and jawline, and again on the leftside wheat stalk.

 

I'm going in the AU area for reasons stated above

 

Never in million years!!

Never in a million years would this be a MS-64 coin. It has a problem and is a common issue easily found with no problems - It may (in my opinion) be a 62 or 63 - the rub on high places could easily be roll rub as this is a year near the beginning of roll collecting and I have seen many like this.
Reasons for my assessment:::

1. It's got spots and esp. it has a spot right at the date in the first field of vision, bad, bad, bad,, - that spot will always be the first thing I would see and that would never change.
2. One never needs to send a 1939-P in for grading unless it absolutely takes your breath away plus one never needs to buy a slabbed 1939-P as you can find one better than this easily - there are hundreds if not thousands of MS-60 tru. 66 red 1939-P's out there.
3. Absolutely nothing about this coin is unique, nothing - if I owned it it would be in my bargain box at $4 and I would take $3.
4. With that said I don't mean to "throw off on your coin" - but my life is built around finding original problem free Lincoln cents. For instance I recently went through a brinks box of 2008-P cents all BU - to fit my criteria I was able to find a little less than 3 rolls. Yes 50 rolls (2500) of BU coins netted me 135 coins I would offer my customers. That's how picky I am.

Remember a coin with a problem will always have a problem no matter what - and as another member of coin colleting has said, "there is no price too small to pay for a problem coin". It take one awhile to understand that but my dealer freinds will not even pay a third of bid for a coin with a problem - at first I thought they were being to harsh in that but as time goes on I now know that they are right.

Ben Peters, (home of The Knoxville Coin Show)

 

Thanks, Ben. That was a very thorough interpretation of my coin. I'll just say this.. beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'm still happy to have it. I've only been roll searching for a very short amount of time.. and the '39 still blows away any other wheat I've come across, to this point. And yes, I'm sure that I could go out and buy another '39 that's of much higher quality than what I have. But, for what I paid for it.. I'll gladly take many more!

bryan