Reply to Thread

Message:: [QUOTE="Ethan, post: 1914893, member: 68800"]Well let me start by saying I have two copies of ANA Grading Standards and a new Making the Grade book. I have struggled with this. It is not that I do not know the difference between a VG, VF, EF, AU, and MS. That part is easy, but in most cases the MS60/PR60 -- MS70/PR70 is where it gets tricky. These are just plain hard to grade. I mean years like the 84 are weak strikes as are the 83's. I have found 89's that are awesome. So reading the ANA and 1 or 2 bag marks etc cost a grade. So I look at my coin with the naked eye and start at 70, count the dings, and work backwards etc. This doesn't seem to realistic to me. Here is an example: <img src="http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/uploaded/atsinger/20130304_1991DObverse_opt.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> I thought this was a MS64 at least, but posting on another board I learned real quick that is was not.. Pictures can sometimes tell all, so here is the same coin with a different picture, <img src="http://imageshack.us/a/img706/8832/1991dbuob.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Notice the scratches are all over it, lucky to get a MS62. So I bought some slabbed ones both MS and PR of different grades etc. I have a 98D in MS67, I have proof 64's in PR67 & PR68. The problem is I can not tell the difference between the 67 & 68. I know this is a acquired skill and I have bought what material I can but I need more resources to grade these.. Links or descriptions or something of that nature. Here is a few examples that I would like to get a good estimate of grade on, I am sure they are all Cameo some maybe even DCAM: First a 64 Proof, that happens to have a DDO error, <img src="http://s30.postimg.org/54jrdn5pt/64_DDO_B.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> And a close up, <img src="http://s29.postimg.org/49igqa4rb/64_DDO.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> My guess is around a PR66/67. No dings to speak of so how to I count what I do see. Do hairlines only count at 4X or what about 10X. Next up is my Accented Hair that appeared in another thread. It is Cameo, of that I am sure with a small possibility of getting DCAM and I will explain that one later in the thread. <img src="http://s28.postimg.org/inagin2pp/64_AH_B.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> And a close up or two.. <img src="http://s4.postimg.org/8k0b1xvul/64_AH.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> <img src="http://s10.postimg.org/nj23ssgyh/1964_AH_Cameo_Obverse_01.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> I sure hope it can make PR67 but it looks like it will go PR66 as there is a ding on the neck and some milk stain on the reverse. I am not sure how much they count but that was the prevailing opinion on another board. So I use these proofs and I have a few slabbed, some even in DCAM from 68-70 to gauge what I have as far as cameo etc. I can see imperfections on the slabbed ones also, even the 1969 - PR69 DCAM. I just have a hard time telling once you get to MS/PR65 and up, what differentiates the grade at that point? So, we move to non proofs but yet better then MS. I am talking the SMS sets. These are the hardest to get in Cameo and to grade is even harder as they all have bag marks to some degree. I recently purchased a half that is not slabbed but the guy I bought it off of 'knows' cameo's and knows the slabbing game. I had bought a few smaller ones to get an idea and I grew to trust him and his judgement. I sent him on a mission to find me a 1965 DCAM obverse but with a CAM reverse. Why you ask? I could not afford the whole package. Well it took three weeks but he found it. What I was told is SP67 CAMEO STAR from NGC is what it should slab at. I look at this 65 and the frost blows me away on any other 65 I have bar none. It is just spectacular! <img src="http://s24.postimg.org/cwt26n6t1/65_SMS_B.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> And a close up, <img src="http://s21.postimg.org/hvb24o7w7/65_SMS.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Now the pictures do not do justice to the Cameo on this one, you will just have to believe me. The back is not near as good as the obverse for sure but it is Cameo. This is a stunner and exactly what I wanted. Just how to I grade it? I know it is better than SP65, but SP66 or SP67? I just do not know for sure. I do know however now that I have this in hand. I went back through some of my other items and pulled the best of the best and I found a 67 that is even better on Obverse and Reverse. It is a DCAM for sure I think and the grade? Well I sure hope it will get a SP67 as it has very few marks and the eye appeal is awesome. Both of these SMS coins look like proofs, which is why I wanted them. Here is the 67, <img src="http://s2.postimg.org/84sklc2ih/67_SMS_B.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> And closer, <img src="http://s2.postimg.org/k5e0m29x5/67_SMS.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> So there is my question in a sense. I have slabbed SP66 CAM's and these are as good if not better to my eye but I might be biased. I have slabbed 64 proofs in PR65/66 CAM and my 64's are close. I have a slabbed AH in PR67 and I think the one above is as good if not better yet it is Cameo for sure. Does anyone have any links to specific information on grading Kennedy's especially in mint or proof state? Is there a resource out there to help with these types? I have a few and in the higher grades I can not just look for obvious signs. What are your opinions on this? Thanks for reading...[/QUOTE]

Create my FREE Account!

Log in or Sign up

Reply to Thread

Useful Searches