Guess the Grade - 1926 Gold Sesquicentennial Commem (photo & video)

It has been a while since the last ddddd guess the grade thread, so let's get back in the spirit with this coin.
What do you think PCGS graded this one?



Video posted here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg3RNECu43h/

 

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Boy, I just can't come up with a grade for this one. I'm all over the place from XF-45 to a poorly struck 62.

 

Not that I have any experience with gold but I'm going with AU58

Looking forward to seeing results!

 

AU Details

 

I bought a few of these years ago and I recall they were graded oddly becz they were lightly struck or something. I'm not much of knowing grades but looking forward to the result.

 

'62

 

My grade is AU-50. I don’t know what PCGS did with it. I see a general rub on the figure and the fields.

I am one of those “unusual collectors” who like this coin. I’ve dealers make the “vampire cross” when I mention it.

 

I’m at XF-45 details

 

I'll extend this one until tomorrow.

 

I'll guess PCGS gave it a 53. I like the coin.

 

I'm going with XF-45, straight-graded. Even for a coin with a notoriously shallow design, this coin is lacking a lot of the original detail, particularly on the obverse. I can't see any overt evidence of cleaning such as in the form of parallel hairlines, etc. But it may have been gently cleaned of dirt and debris since it seems to be suspiciously clean for a circulated coin. My guess is that it still straight-graded.

 

It would be very illuminating to understand why dealers disliked this coin so much. Hard to grade when raw, hard to sell?

 

As a Philly guy this is one one of my favorite coins.
Here's my MS62

 

Hard to sell. That is the biggest dealer complaint for most anything that isn’t popular.

Here's my example, which is in MS-64. I have been looking to upgrade, especially with the lower prices of recent years, but have not had much luck.

The reverse on some this coins can be really spectacular. When they are just right, the delicate die work makes it look like the sun is rising behind Independence Hall. I had one I sold to a customer when I was dealer that was especially nice. When you are a dealer, you can't keep everything or even that much.

 

I think these coins are supersleepers.
In 2026 we will see the 250 year celebrity of the independence. Therefore I see a huge demand.

 

45 cleaned

 

I think this one is about right at XF 45. There is no clear evidence of cleaning, just wear.
You don't often see these in lower circulated grades (many are MS or at least AU), so that partially sparked my interest. I like this coin design. While commems haven't come close to reaching their old peak prices (from the 80s) and might not do so, they are increasing. The Sesquicentennial Gold is up about $100-$150 from the prices before 2020 (so it has outpaced any increase in spot price).

 

I was at au 50. Obvious circulation wear. But still luster. Brutal hard to grade with the bad strike

 

I hesitate to suggest this given some of the designs coming out of the Mint, and I doubt it could happen anyhow, but... it really seems like our 250th anniversary ought to be marked with a commemorative QUARTER-Eagle.

In five years, I hope I'll still be able to see dime-sized coins.