GTG: 1892 Columbian Commemorative

One of my most recent acquisitions. Have fun. reveal Sunday evening (or so);

 

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I have a 1893 in AU-58 that's as nice as yours . I'll guess AU-58 . If that makes any sense . : )

 

Nice rims, OK strike, acceptable toning, but many Obverse contact marks and a few on the Reverse. I would give it MS63. No one with "Beefer" in their name would buy an AU coin.

 

I'm going with AU-58. There are distinct rubs on the cheek, hair locks, mainsail and main topgallant sail. Toning is OK but I'm seeing muted luster although that could always be due to photography. If the TPG graded it MS, it is probably at 62 due to the abrasions and multiple tick marks. I'm not being snide but I see this as a AU-62.

 

For me, it's hard to tell if those are rubs on metal or rubs on the toning. On mushier strikes, the seams on the sails are the first to go. It could go either way.

 

It is uncirculated. MS 63. Don’t see any wear, just a soft strike, which is typical for that coin.

 

I have more than a handful of the '92 & '92 Columbians. About half are graded. While I believe the obverse carries more weight, I generally look closely at the reverse and the lines on the sails, the latitude & longitude lines, and the ripples in the waves. Based on your reverse side and the scratches on the obverse, I am guessing AU55. I could be too critical, but I will hold to my guestimate.

 

On a technical note the high points on the obverse are more or less cabinet friction from the way the coin was stored. I am in the low MS maybe a 64, But my guess is 63.

 

No question the reverse strike is mushy but I still see rub in several areas as shown in reverse blow-ups below. Not real obvious but I think it's there. I have also high-lighted the rubs that I see on the obverse. It's always tough for me to make a judgement on a toned coin from photographs but I still think this is a AU-58 that maybe graded as a 62.

 

AU58

 

MS63

 

First thought was MS 64
(although those that say AU 58 have made me waver a bit, I'm sticking to my first impression)

 

64

 

I'm at 64. Pretty coin.

 

I going with AU 58 still a nice coin be I see some circulation

 

Very sensible, Sal.

I've seen AU-58s that look nearly as nice as an MS-64.

 

So when I first saw the coin, the first thing I noticed was that the color was much more booming then the photos I based my purchase on, so that was a score IMO. Second thing was that the luster is full, including on the sails. Third thing I noticed (with directed light) was that the surfaces at the legends (obverse and reverse) were mirror-like. It's impossible for me to capture that in an image with it being in a slab (and I tried). I believe this coin was struck from a late state proof-like die.

This is a somewhat weakly struck coin, with no rub. What you folks saw as rub is actually weak strike, and planchet flaws that weren't struck out. This is why I absolutely hate trying to grade Columbians that I don't have in hand.

Anyways, here ya go;

 

I was going to say “in an MS-63 holder” because the eye appeal. As others have said, it has minor rubs and marks. Grading it “MS-65” is embarrassing for NGC.

 

I guessed MS-63, too. What I find amazing is...this would be MS66+ if it were a Morgan Dollar. It seems like TPGs grade based on the known population rather than the condition of the coin.

 

I can say with the utmost of certainty; there is no rub. I have the coin in hand, have examined it with a 10x at all angles, and see no areas of rub.

I wonder what the opinion of the grade would be if this was a PCGS holder instead of an NGC. Maybe I'll submit it to PCGS and see if it crosses.