Hi, I've been a long-time reader of the forum and have held an interest in numismatics for quite a while and am really just now beginning to purchase some real coins of my own. Aside from that, I've become something of the administrator for a family coin/currency collection because of my interest in coins. It's a fairly large , broad and completely unorganized collection, so I'm trying to organize it and see what can be done with it. One thing I'm thinking of doing is paring down the collection and focusing it - selling some of the numerous low-to-mid quality coins (stacks and bags of ~G-4 indian cents, buffalo nickels, etc) and basically junk silver coins (i.e. barely-identifiable barbers, mercury dimes that are G-4 or below, rolls of average-quality silver roosevelts, etc) and using the proceeds from those sells to re-invest in the collection with fewer and better [quality and date] coins that are easier to manage. I am also interested in possibly getting a few of the current better date examples I have here authenticated/graded. That's where this thread comes in. I have scanned in a few of these coins. I've been reading up on better scanning/photo techniques and will improve in the future, I'm sure, but I hope these will suffice for now. Note that the plastic is creating some anomalies in the images. The better-date coins I'm interested in having graded/slabbed (for authentication, grading, preservation purposes) are the following: 1928 Peace dollar (VF-20 - wear on wings on rev, hair lines on obvc are slightly worn) 1897-O dime (EF-45 - strong edges, high points on rev intact, head band defined and LIBERTY are sharp) 1893-CC dollar (G-4) 2x 1914-D cents (1st: what's with the woody-grain? VF-20) (2nd: AG-3? looks like it was buried and dug up years later) - images on next post I am still working on my grading skills, but I've given my grade estimation in parenthesis. Note in the pictures that the scanner is not picking up the true color, especially on the cents - the first is redder in hand than in the image and the peace dollar is more vivid. My question is, given the condition of these coins, would it even be worth it to get them graded. I realize the 1893-cc dollar is in pretty poor condition and not likely to be worth the effort. However, the peace dollar, 1897-O dime I think might be worth it. And I would think the 1914-D cents would be good to be authenticated, however, the condition of the second one might change that. That's what I'd like to hear from the experts here, what do you think would be advisable? (Plus, how far off am I on my grade estimations? Need better images?) Thanks very much!
First off, I would have them examined by several numismatists you trust in-hand and ask them the same question... Your answers will likely be much more valuable than those you'd get here.... That said, I suspect none of the 14-Ds would slab at PCGS or NGC or (non-problem) ANACS slabs. I would not get them slabed, except if you are concerned as to their being genuine -- and then I would consider ANACS and NCS (NGC) to do that. I think the 97-o (XF) would slab, as would the 93-cc (G/VG). Not so sure about the 28 (VF/XF). All three would be worth slabbing and would likely increase their value if they get in the right holders (no small thing from what I'm hearing). PCGS or NGC are both very good services for this. That said, I would just keep them as-is -- unless you want to sell them. Hope this helps, and submitted as my opinion only. YOU must decide what's best for YOU...MIke
p.s. your scans are pretty darn good. But they are scans - and as a result will never show luster well, and make judging coins via ditigal image even more problematic than it normally is.
Good point, I hadn't thought of that actually. I'd think it's safe to say the second one certainly would come back in a bodybag, but I don't see why the first would. It has some details remaining and a decent reddish color that I didn't duplicate with the color adjustment on the scan. Why would the lower grade 93-CC be more certain to slab than the '28 peace dollar? I was hoping to sell at least one of the 1914-Ds along with some of the others to help pay for rennovating the collection, plus I was thinking slabbing some of the better coins in the collection would be useful for the family. Thanks very much for your opinions.
Might just be the scan on the fist coin that is leading me to say that. There appears to be discoloration which I interpreted (perhaps incorrectly) as corrosion. Because it is more problem free, and the grade has nothing to do with it... The peace dollar looks to have a lack of luster which would lead me to suspect it may have been cleaned in the past. However, it might just be the scans. Of the two coins, the Morgan seems the most sure to slab (at least in my eyes). You are welcome.
Great advice Leadfoot. As said, I'd only get the 14-Ds slabbed if you plan on selling. Being the Lincoln Cent series is becoming even more popular especially with the new design changes next year and with that comes higher demand which causes prices to go up which in turn creates more criminals out there counterfieting the key dates. Nice Barber dime by the way.
If you're referring to the white-ish spots down the center of the coin, that is on the plastic of the 2x2. I'll ask a local dealer about that for sure. The peace dollar certainly doesn't have cartwheels, but is a little less of a flat grey in hand that the scan would suggest.
