1877 indian cent , wrong grade ?

How can they grade this a G
http://www.steveestes.com/cgi-bin/newsite/C31406.html
Looks like it should be bodybagged .
rzage

 

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Yep....that's not good grade. Its worn so bad.

 

They may have made an excuse for the top rim, since the rest of the coin is much better than G-4.

 

My exact thoughts, excluding the top obverse, its very close to VG...

 

And key coins get treated a bit more gently when it comes to grading.

 

Pics looks a bit dark, but other than that it looks solid for the grade imo. I've seen worse go as G-4.

 

Sorry, but I do not understand what you are getting at. Bodybagged? Virtually every ag/g 1877 Indian I could find on Heritage is missing the same section of rim and, generally speaking, the wear (uneven strike?) on the obverse top rim is less extreme on this coin than the coins I looked at. If you are talking about the scratch, this coin is in good condition, not even VF. Marks, hits, and scratches are permitted within reason. I do not think this even comes close to not being within reason. Did I miss something?

 

I agree the color on the obverse looks suspect, but it is probably just the picture. As a matter of fact the G-6 coin looks better than the F coin. Their eye-deal of eye appeal is not the same as mine.

 

That coin has a good grade because you can read the lettering.The value at that grade is already 900$

 

I too agree with that. From all the coins I've seen as G-4, this should really be a VG.

 

read: keys are typically over graded. This coin is no exception.

 

Looks net graded down to G4 to me, sure the rim on the upper obverse is pretty worn, but the rest of the coin has detail better than G4. Except for that part of the rim, the rest of the coin is G6-VG8 or so.


Edited to add my G4 1908-S IHC for comparison (as you can see, the rims are ok on mine, but the rest of the coin is much more worn):

 

I agree that the overall grade besides the upper obverse is better than G, probably VG, but the surfaces do look a bit grainy.

 

Can you find one in that range (ag - g) that is not worn like that. I probably looked at 15 on Heritage and everyone looked like that or worse.

 

Well that's what I like about CT , always learning something , I know they usually grade up on key coins , and the rest of the coin is better than G , but that rim and scratch threw me , well live and learn , and what I learned is market grading is here to stay .
rzage

 

it looks like a average graded coin for a 77

 

I looked at a couple of them (not quite 15 though) and they also had weakness/wear on that part of the coin. I'm not that familiar with grading this date, but I'm guessing PCGS is more familiar than me

 

I am not the least bit familiar with IHC, let alone this date. That is why I went to Heritage. I was surprised at what I saw.

 

Suprised in what way , good or bad ?
rzage

 

I am not sure it was either. Just that every coin had the same wear pattern. There were 4 obverse dies for the S VDB. That should mean that there were 6/7 obverse dies for the 1877. That one pair or obverse die did something like this would not surprise me much. That every die pair/obverse die (at least most) had the same wear pattern really surprised me. Maybe there was something wrong with their press(es?). And, though I saw several in the fine range, I saw few in the AU and up range that showed any signs of weak strikes in that area. Were the older collectors that much more selective?