I just bought this. What do you think it graded?

Ahem. Blows on fingernails and buffs on lapels.
Yet another score for the Ed Wood School of Grading.

 

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Don't remove it from the slab, then. It's straight graded and is currently slabbed as such. Don't mess with it.

Breaking it out and sending it to another grader would be foolish. The best is that it came back exactly as it's currently graded, but it certainly could come back as something less/worse.

 

IMO, a good case that poor photograph in the original photo gave a misleading impression of the depth of ED due to lower lighting. When 'hiding' a label it is better to photograph it whole with a piece of paper covering the label, than cropping down. The grade is much more reasonable in the last photo with whole slab shown. Jim

 

What do you mean "come back Environmentally Damaged"? The coin already resides in PCGS plastic. Furthermore, the coin is a solid VG8 and the chance that this coin would be graded as a problem coin is miniscule.

Sometimes when you present a guess the grade thread, respondents will assume that the grade is somehow odd. If the obvious grades are VG8-VG10, it would not be uncommon for someone to look for a reason why this coin could be a problem coin, hence the guess of environmentally damaged.

 

After looking at a bunch of sold coins, it looks like yours was slightly penalized for the dark fields. It has detail, especially on the reverse, of a VG10. Another VG8 that recently sold by David Lawrence Rare Coins (for $1300) also falls into this category, but was downgraded for a couple gouges on the reverse that are borderline damage. While dark fields on a Mercury dime aren't for me (different story for bust dollars), I like your coin better than this one. The price you paid seems fair.

 

Basically what I was saying, on the off chance I tried to get it to upgrade or sent it to NGC in the future for a crossover, (I like NGC far better than PCGS) I wouldn’t want it to come back bodybagged. Also LeHigh, I tend to make mountains out of mole holes on this kind of issue, considering money spent and that I focus on problem free examples. I heard environmental damage and I began getting paranoid I bought a problem coin.

 

My point exactly with PCGS. Their BS in your enclosed video about “buying coins sight unseen” is hogwash. I don’t know any collector spending cash to buy a coin sight unseen just because they slabbed it. The coin you pictured, just like the VF I enclosed, should never have been slabbed and completely calls into question their claims. Also, I’ve seen and handled so many 1916-D from PCGS with scratches, obvious cleaning, or other problems in PCGS holders. Which is why I don’t trust them and I’m asking y’alls honest opinions on whether what I bought is a problem coin. The gall of PCGS is a joke. The only reason I purchase coins in their holders is if I, from my knowledge, think the coin is problem free and reasonably priced I don’t trust their word as far as I can drop a dookie, in contrast to NGC which I feel is more reliable and reasonable.

 

IDK who said about cracking out of the slab.
In this case the slab proves it is genuine, protects it and shows a straight grade.
I wouldn't mess with that.

 

I think the Obverse is a G-6. There is just not enough feather detail to call that VG. However, I think the reverse is a solid VG-10 - quite a bit of good detail there. You average those out to a solid VG-8, as PCGS did.

As for the color, I think it looks perfectly natural and quite attractive. It may be a little dark for some people's tastes, but this is a good look for a coin. Old, worn silver *should* be dark. This is not a problem coin - I'd say this is a very solid coin.

As for the price, it looks like VG-8's are trading on Heritage for about $1000 - $1200 over the past year or so. However, given that the coin is so attractive, the fact that you fell in love with it, and the reverse is a VG-10, I don't think you overpaid. A full VG-10 is trading for $1500 - $2000. I'd say you paid a fair price for a nice coin.

 

It's my understanding that the reverse can only lower a grade, not raise it.
I believe both sides should be graded independently and an average taken,
but that's not the way they do it.
If that's the way they do it, do they consider the reverse of the State Quarters and ATB Quarters, the dominant side?

 

Thanks Physics. What a surprise seeing you chime in and offer your opinion! I agree on the old Silver part, totally..... That was my logic when I purchased it. I very rarely see such original surfaces on 1916-D. As far as the obverse being a 6, I see where you’re coming from as well. Like you said, the reverse sharpness makes up for it.

That totally depends on the Coin. I don’t know about other coins, but I have a lot of expertise with Mercury Dimes, and in my experience, this coin has a lot of weight put on the reverse, particularly the reverse rim and Fasces detail.

 

I actually prefer split grading, where they give us a grade for both sides. So, this coin would be a G6/VG10.

There really is no hard and fast rule. *Usually* the obverse carries more weight, and *usually* the reverse carries less weight. But, especially when the reverse is several points higher, it might help bump up a weaker obverse. Stating that the reverse will categorically only lower the grade is to speak in absolutes which just don't apply to coin grading.

I can't speak to modern coinage, I just don't have as much experience with getting them graded.

I will also add, however, that they do tend to be a little bit more lax with key date coins like this. So, even if it is a G6 obverse, a strong reverse is more likely to help it up to VG8 than if this were a 1942 Merc instead.

 

Who told you that? I have seen many coins with superb reverses give a grading bump to a lower grade obverse. It usually happens in the uncirculated grades, but it happens.

 

I read it here.
I don't nec. agree with it, and I don't know if it is correct.
But I read it here more than once.
As I said I believe both sides should be graded and an average taken.
If I have been misinformed, so be it.

 

I have my suspicions on who provided you with a hard & fast, black & white grading rule. Grading is subjective, there are no hard & fast rules, each coin is graded holistically and individually. In this situation, I concur with Jason's (physicsfan-3.14) assessment completely.

 

I meant not burried like a metal detect find.

 

Guess i need to better understand the term environmental damage. I see now it must mean many things. I'll read up on that. Thanks again for your incite

 

Yeah. What he said!!!!

 

Great coin fair price always wanted one.

 

Not ED. Normal wear and surfaces.