i love the mercury dimes and i've found that the earlier coins had much better strikings so im looking for a nice 1916 (for looks not investment). i'll probably get a graded one but for now i have a question about grading. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8324587288 this is a nice looking coin except for a few bagmarks on front and what appears to be either a bag mark or a scratch on her chin. also my biggest concern is the bump,dig, contact mark, or whatever its called located on the neck(missed the small mark on the wing). is that considered damage? also a few bag marks on the back and a minor blemish on the lower diagonal band. im not good with detecting wear yet and i cant see anything to keep this from MS-60 (pcgs-MS60: An often unattractive, possibly impaired coin with surface distractions and scuffed, heavily bagmarked surfaces. Yet, no signs of circulation) my question is how much would a mark like that lower the grade of a coin. and what would you grade this coin (subtracting for marks not wear if there is so i can get an idea).
It looks alright...I'm still learing MS grading so I won't say much about the grade but I do think it would hit the MS grades---I think its MS63 that the grading guide says that it can have a few bag marks...as for the FSB...from what I saw it looked like it could hit FSB but I wouldn't bet on it...there could be one little place where its messed up... Speedy
I've seen a few others that had warped looking but still split bands that got the FB rating from NGC and PCGS. so those are just a contact marks and not damage?(neck and wing).
I'm pretty convinced that in my case, I can't really tell the difference between MS and a nice AU from a photo.
that wasnt my point lol i just want to know how these marks would effect the grade. pretend the "wear" if any were just a weak/moderate strike.
If not for the mark on the neck and the center band on the reverse I believe PCGS would grade this coin MS65. With them - MS64 - and it is not FB.
