Guess the grade--1923 Peace Dollar

Doug, depending upon the severity of the die cracks, I'd probably deduct between 1 and 2 points. I'm generally more forgiving of mint-made, as opposed to man-made flaws, when deducting points for grading purposes. By the way, though we disagree, I respect your opinion and reasoning, and give you credit for being very consistent in that regard.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I feel that weak strike and planchet flaws are certainly taken into account and have a negative effect on a coin's grade. Since they are "as struck" by the mint, some feel they have less impact than similar post-strike imperfections.

On early American copper, recent major catalogs have specifically called out those problems; they did have a downward effect on the final EAC grade.

 

Were any of those "problems" as minor as fine die cracks?

 

Well as you two argue if the die crack should be zero deduct or a five point deduct, I'll sit here in awe that Paul got a 66 peace dollar for 375 bucks.

:bigeyes:

 

Wow, that is a great price. That's cheaper than the blast white coins are selling on HA...and this coin has nice toning for a Peace Dollar...so, I hope it is as nice in hand.

 

All I can say is I am slightly more than shocked that the coin graded as it did. Lehigh, please post your own photos of the coin when you receive it. What a score if it truly does warrant the grade! Cudos.

 

ahem...

 

Hmmmm.... interesting question in the context of EACs. Short answer - no. The problems were more "grade costly" than minor die cracks.

On EACs, fine die cracks are not generally problems. Quite the opposite; many folks collect die states of a given variety, so die cracks are collectable in and of themselves. In fact, I have rarely seen anything so instructive as looking at 15 different die states of the same die variety. Lay out 15 coins, and try to arrange them in emission order. Fascinating !

Another factor is EACs are so different from the OP, which is a strong MS coin. Almost none of the coins in the coppers catalogs I'm talking about were MS coins. I think many folks have a very different perception of flaws of any kind when we're in the MS64 - 66 range. At lofty grades, folks have every right to be very, very picky, and MS65, being "gem", is a milestone of sorts.

I can see how some folks would treat a die crack on a VF25 coin as "not a problem", but the same die crack would be a problem on a high grade coin (i.e. knock it down from 66 to 65).

Personally, I enjoy die cracks and clashes and do not feel they necessarily disqualify a coin from MS66 status - if fabulous in all other regards, why should a die state cost you ? But higher than 66 should show little if any die degradation.

So I put die states in a different category from bad planchets and weak strikes; the latter have more effect on grade.

 

Thanks, and not just because I agree