The price jump on this year to a nice MS-66 always shocked me. Same for the 1952 and 1954. Wish I had a box full of 67's.
Here is an example of one reason it is hard to grade by photo. This coin looks and is as clean as the 52-S (#136) also ending tonight. However, if you look real close, there just is not quite the luster on this coin as on the 52-S. I believe that is why this one got a 66 and the 52-S got a 67.
If I've said it once, I've said it once... Luster is the single biggest factor in grading these coins in AU and above grades, and people who count hits will be very poor graders. That's not to say hits don't come into the equation, but rather they do not play as large a factor as many think.
I'm a tougher grader because I don't only use luster like the TPG's. I don't care, I think they're wrong for slanting too far to luster.
I know what you mean, Thad. Me, personally, I'm an eye-appeal man myself and tend to give coins more credit for this feature. Nothing wrong with that, but these threads aren't called "grade the coin", but rather "guess the grade".
