Im putting together a set of 1877 Open Bud reverse Seated Liberty Half Dollars from all the Mints. I came across 2 WB-25 1877-S Transitional Reverse R-5 coins. I’d like your opinions on which you’d want in your collection. A NGC straight graded VG 8 or a raw XF with problems?
Graded, the condition is pretty good and just seems like a better idea to go with authenticated for the old-er coins, you never know...
ANACS? I see NGC. I'd take the straight grade, in this case. Those problems on the raw would kill me everytime I look at it.
That seems super-beefy for a VG grade...? Then again, I have basically zero experience grading Seated coinage.
I will go against the grain here. I like the details on the raw coin better. Are the problems an obverse scratch or is that on the flip? Even if that scratch is on the coin, I would take the raw over the graded just from the strength of the eagle.
Thats what I thought. Seems closer to a F15 or maybe a VF. I think that it may have other problem we aren't seeing in the photo.
@Pickin and Grinin I think the area around the right breast may have keep the grade down. I like the first one, as far as the second one those deep scratches would keep me from buying it
Would it be worth having the NGC coin attributed? Rare Seated varieties are fun because nobody knows about them and you can usually buy them for common coin money. One of the amazing ones is if you look at PCGS CoinFacts one of the plate coins for a MS 58 1877-S is an unattributed WB 25.
@Bilbo1 First are you a member of NGC, if not and you belong to the ANA you can get submitting privilege's. Other wise you would have to join NGC. Second I would call to make sure they would attribute that verity. Good Luck
First one for sure. I would prefer lower straight grade every time, especially in this instance as the gouges on the second one are a definite no go.
I guess it would depend on what you want in your collection, and of course price. The raw coin being less expensive, I am assuming.
Never buy a damaged coin you have trouble selling it in the future. I wouldn't touch that raw 77 with what looks like nasty staple scratches. The VG actually my be slightly under graded. Very Nice for the Grade.
For me, it would depend on cost - if I could get the raw example for $12-15*, I'd take that. If I could get the graded VG8 for $30, and the seller of the raw coin wanted similar money compared to the VG8, maybe I'd stick to the graded example. Or, if I can get good deals on both coins, maybe both. Maybe I would buy both with the expectation of putting the raw coin in an auction format to see if it would go for a lot more than I paid for it, potentially making the graded example free. *Yes, I've seen it happen.