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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;mac266, post: 2457151, member: 26371&quot;]As you may have seen from other posts, I&#039;m just branching out into EACs.&nbsp; In the past three weeks, I&#039;ve read 5 or 6 books and watched 5 videos from the ANA library.&nbsp; I&#039;ve decided to start with late date large cents just to get the feel for copper, because they are much more affordable than some other, earlier series.&nbsp; I bought a copy of the Newcomb book, too.</p><p><br /></p><p>I went to a coin show the other day with a wallet full of cash, intent on making my first purchase.&nbsp; Let me explain the coin and my thought process, and show you some pics, and then invite you to critique me as a way to build my skills in evaluating copper.</p><p><br /></p><p>One other note.&nbsp; I went ahead and bought the Nikon D3300 we talked about in another thread.&nbsp; However, I have yet to invest in a macro lens or other equipment that will enhance my numismatic photography.&nbsp; These pics are the best I could muster with the standard 15-55mm lens provided with the camera, and without a tripod or other stand.&nbsp; I will continue to acquire photographic equipment and work on my skills, but right now, these are the best I could do.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is what I bought:</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i64.tinypic.com/dfugk3.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i64.tinypic.com/t00vvn.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Here is my thought process:</p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;m using, &quot;Grading Guide for Early American Copper Coins&quot; as my bible.</p><p><br /></p><p>Sharpness (i.e. technical grade):&nbsp; The dealer told me it had been in a PCGS slab marked as MS-62, but he disagreed with the grade and cracked it.&nbsp; He had the coin marked as AU-58.&nbsp; When I examined the coin through my 10X loupe, I agreed that its sharpness did, in fact, rate&nbsp; a mint state grade.&nbsp; There is absolutely no wear on the coin whatsoever.&nbsp; You probably cannot see this in the pics, but through my loupe it&#039;s very apparent, so for now you&#039;ll have to trust me.</p><p><br /></p><p>Color:&nbsp; The color in my pics is close to the actual coin, but not exactly.&nbsp; In hand, the coin almost exactly matches the &quot;chocolate brown&quot; depicted in the book.&nbsp; To me, it has lots of eye appeal.</p><p><br /></p><p>Surface:&nbsp; I saw three impairments to the coin.&nbsp; First is a small nick in the field to the right of Liberty&#039;s head.&nbsp; Second is a carbon spot to the left of the bust.&nbsp; Finally, on the reverse, there is some slight discoloration in the &quot;E&quot; on the reverse.&nbsp; These are all very small, minor impairments, but using the &quot;net grading&quot; process used by EAC, it does drop the coin down below its Mint State technical grade.</p><p><br /></p><p>Net grade:&nbsp; Although the coin has a sharpness (technical grade) that puts it in the Mint State range, I assessed its net grade to be AU-58.&nbsp; The dealer and I agreed on a price of $145.</p><p><br /></p><p>What say you copper people?&nbsp; Please critique my grading abilities and thought process so I can improve my skills.&nbsp; When I consult numismedia, it shows I got the coin for a steal.&nbsp; Does the current market reflect that, too?</p><p><br /></p><p>Lastly, I attributed this coin as being the N-8 variety by using the Newcomb book.&nbsp; Am I correct?[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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