I don't care, I paid a $1.71 a piece for them, I'll take them, no problem. I don't need perfect 100 year old coins, If I did I would buy MS coins in slabs or something straight out of the mint like a mint set or something. I am sure most sellers want you to buy their choice stock at a premium price. I just started this thread because I cant' tell the difference between the many AU and MS grades. Most grades just have a couple levels.
I am wondering since you are throwing grades out there if you could tell me which is the lower curl they speak of that needs to be separate from the tassel for the coin to be extra fine? I asked before and nobody responded.
The lowest curl is generally meant to be the one at the base of the neck behind the ribbon. A good online resource for grading is provided by PCGS and a link is below- http://www.pcgs.com/Photograde/ Also, The Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards for United States Coins is a wonderful book that will cost likely about $20 and you will use for years.
I think it must be this since I don't see this little curl brushed against the tassel on VF coins but bought several XF coins in a lot and they all have these. I know about the photo-grade but was referencing a PDF file I was referred to that tells you how to grade IHCs.
There are many things that determine a coins grade beyond details. Mint luster and wear are the keys. It is entirely possible to have an MS IHC without the bottom curl.
The grading guide I used stated the difference between VF and XF is that curl. These coins may not have luster but at the end of the XF grade luster appears. The difference I have seen between the AU and XF grade by the PCGS photograde is AU coins have all the diamonds on the tassel. You can't judge luster on coins that have none. I agree wear determines grade, on the high points of the coin and on fine details as well.
I know I read something about corrosion at the NGC web site, http://www.ngccoin.com/details/environmental-effects.aspx. It states that if the corrosion is severe on unattractive, it will result in a details grade. So a coin with corrosion that is neither severely corroded or unattractive as the result of the corrosion could still grade. I personally like the dark coin and wouldn't mind keeping it but it sold at my minimum price so its gone, end of debate. I like the light brown one better and sill have that.
Buddy, I'm making these comments for your own future benefit. Maybe, but they don't say that, you did. And, you're making an assumption that may or may not be true. You also have to realize that what you consider to be severe or unattractive may not be what they consider consider to be sever or unattractive.
I can't really say what NGC would consider sever or unattractive. To be honest I did notice a surface issue and dropped my minimum ask price of the coin now it is in the mail--gone. I like the light brown one, I'll keep that.
I would not agree with these comments though. I see coins with hits grade all of the time and it is a circulated coin and would not consider the first one to be gunk. I think the tiny bits of verdigris can be removed easily if it is in fact verdigris. On another note though, would you agree with me that the coin above is XF?