In hopes of expanding on a discussion started in another thread (i.e. how TPGs grade weakly struck coins).... Please guess the grade that NGC assigned this coin. If your personal grading standard (EAC, ANA, etc.) differs, please also explain how you grade the coin. The pics above are dead-on accurate with the exception that they do not portray the luster accurately -- there is more luster on the coin than appears in the photos (mostly in the hidden areas of the fields next to the devices, and inside the devices). There is both clear high point wear (shows as greyish in the photos) as well as luster wear in the open areas of the fields (shows as darker tan/grey areas). Have fun...Mike
I see wear so not uncirculated, you mentioned luster which makes me bump my oringal thought of the grade of this coin. I will say AU55?
I'd say XF-40 , Since you said their is luster in the devises , I really don't see too many large cents so this is more of a educated guess , by Anacs 6th Edition I might go as low as 35 . Still a very nice coin . rzage
Makes it hard to grade not see the luster across the face. I picked AU50 based off what maybe luster across a weak strike. The 1822 I recently acquired from catbert actually has a better strike(in my opinion only) - but not as lusterous as what I think I see across your coin. Still catbert sold me a solid keeper. PS - Nice coin!
I was thinking 35 or 40 too, until I noticed that the coin still had substantial luster. In light of that, I'll bring it up to 45.
I'm going to go with AU-50 Slight ware above the eye and parts of the hair on the obverse and around the U in united on the reverse. Nice one!
NGC graded the coin XF 45. CAC agreed with the grade. This is a fairly tough coin to grade, IMO, and perhaps that's why the grade guesses were all over the place(from 55 to 25). I think the challenge, as with the draped bust half cent posted by Johnny in his thread, is how to grade a weakly struck coin that has some circulation wear -- the "weak strike -vs- wear" discussion that seems crops up from time to time. If you've been paying attention to my posts on how I think the TPGs grade circulated coins by luster, and also my comments below the photos, you probably had a good idea that this coin was going to grade at least XF -- there's simply too much luster on the coin to grade lower. Furthermore, if you are familiar with the issue you realize that 1821 N-2s are found with weak locks of hair. Anyway, thanks for all the grade guesses & I hope you enjoyed the thread...Mike