Hey all, These are two Imperial Russian coins that I recently saw (did not buy). I was quite surprised by the grades from PCGS. What do you all think each one graded at? (1)...1789 10 KOPEKS (2)....1794 10 KOPEKS
I looked at it and figured I was going to be wrong so I decided not to try. I am guessing they not what I think, so I will say VG.
All guesses are welcome! Don't worry about being wrong. It's a way to learn and have fun doing it. I certainly don't get the majority of GTG answers right, but it's fun trying.
Those both seem to have the perfect patterns that completely wash out the details in pictures. I had one like that before, pics looked vg in hand looked au. Looks like something like that could be happening here and impossible to make a real grade guess.
MS 61 soft strike EF 45 strong strike Edit - I just noticed the 1 looks like a dog gone cow boy shoe.
The answers are... (1) VF 35 http://www.pcgs.com/cert/24465639 (2) AU 58 http://www.pcgs.com/cert/81849697 (2) Really surprised me. @baseball21 has a good point in that the pictures may wash out the details. It also looks like it might have a scratch going right through the middle of the head area (but it may be the picture again).
They're fully detailed and lustrous at the rims and here and there elsewhere. Central obverse looks like crap perhaps because the die is no good? I imagine they're AU coins, and wouldn't be surprised if the first one graded MS61, since I can't really point to something and call it wear.
The 1st one graded VF 35; the 2nd AU 58...I believe there are no MS coins graded for the 1794 date so your suggestion of the die being poor is very possible.
I am baffled as well! I didn't buy either one (both went for more than I was willing to pay...$175.50 for the VF 35 and $332 for the AU 58)
