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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;7Jags, post: 8232205, member: 78719&quot;]Here are some pictures of the 1902 Matte proof 5 Sov. and 2 Sov coins. I primarily collect silver and copper/bronze but appreciate the golds. I have noticed the &quot;Big Two&quot; TPGs to be all over the map with regards to grading. Allegedly mint workmen did not like the appearance of any of the silver or gold matte proof coins produced in 1902 as they did not look like earlier proofs (eg 1887 and 1893 coins) and wiped the coins on their shop aprons; I have seen that story quoted in many different sources but not sure if that is so.</p><p>Regardless, many do have hairlines but also have the leftover stigmata of the matte finish application itself during which struck coins were subjected to fine grain sandblasting (!!). I have seen coins graded as high as 65 that have what appear to be hairlines and then seen them go as low as 58 with virtually the same density or numbers of hairlines (BTW there are much worse discrepancies on grading of the later mattes from the 1925-1960 period). On some coins the hairlines extend up to the devices and then clearly stop and then the guessing begins as some appear raised as in hairlines to the striking die &amp; some infused as wear to the coin - IMO the TPGs do not consistently check exhaustively as to which and then issue IMO erratic grades on these coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>These photos taken through one of the near 25 year old ANACS soap bar holders &amp; the reverse especially has diagonal lines that are a wipe mark on the holder plastic. Also in hand do not see friction on St. George&#039;s thigh. Probably pretty near average.</p><p>Here is the 1902 Matte Proof 5 sov:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1447477[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1447478[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1447479[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1447480[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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