Liberty Cap 1C Will it certify problem free? What would you grade it?

I've been searching for several months for a decent Liberty Cap cent for my type set. The parameters of my set are A) The coin must be certified and B) it must be no more than $400. So this puts me in the AG-G range for the Liberty Cap cent. I recently came upon one on eBay with terrible pictures but potential. I decided to take a shot at it and to my relief and happiness it looks pretty choice to me for the grade. But I thought I would throw it out to the community before I send it in.

Here is the original auction gamble: http://www.ebay.com/itm/191250616290?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

And here are the pics of the coin in hand:

There is a very slight porosity to the surface and a hairline to the right of the eye/nose region but to me this coin looks significantly better than some "problem" free Liberty Caps ive seen in the holder.

Thanks for any input!

 

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First of all, that is a very nice large cent!

As for the grade, well, that's a tossup. I'm with you and have seen worse in holders. However, I've also seen coins with that amount of roughness get bagged. If I were to grade it, I'd say it's a G4 obverse with an AG3 reverse, but your pictures don't quite enlarge enough to be certain as to which direction PCGS would lean.

My question would be, do you need to holder it? A lot of the copper community, and especially EAC purists, would be just as happy with that coin raw. Do you need PCGS to tell you what you already know, especially if you have no plans to sell it?

 

I don't have any input, but I like the color and the general appearance. Many of this era are brownish-black for no apparent reason. Also like the central portions of both obverse and reverse, a good clear version of the design.

 

I like it too. I also would consider what aubade21 said concerning having it graded. If it were mine, I'd worry about the porosity getting a "Details" grade and would probably keep it raw.

 

If your type set is one of the TPG Registry Sets then, yes, it'll have to be slabbed by the appropriate TPG.

IMO it would slab AG-3.

As for a DETAILS label I'm weak on early porous coins.
I would think that if the porosity were in the original planchet then DETAILS would not be appropriate.
But if the porosity were cause by storage or other environmental conditions then, yes, DETAILS would be appropriate.

 

http://www.pcgs.com/photograde/#/LibertyCapCent/Grades

For reference here is the PCGS photograde. Notice how their example of what a G4 looks like is completely porous. I think this coin is pretty choice for a G4. I've looked at coins like this for about 4 months now and I haven't been able to find one in this price range that has a full date, full liberty, and decent detail on the bust. The porosity is concerning but it is absolutely hilarious how many coins PCGS (the market leader!!!!) has certified in lower grades for this type that they claim are problem free. I've come to learn that just about everything can be a darn "planchet flaw".

I want it certified to match my set as well as the fact that I feel it's a safer form of preservation in a slab. Hopefully prevents it from further decay as well as from me dropping it and putting a rim ding on it.

 

I understand. If it's for a registry set, then by all means send it in.

What I hate to see is for somebody to buy a coin they really like for their personal collection, send it to a TPG, then have it come back as details (justified or not), and then not like the coin anymore and feel bummed out. The coin didn't change.

In this case, I'll stick with a G4 obverse and an AG3 reverse. As for it grading cleanly, I'd say that the odds are in your favor in regard to the amount of porosity. (Although the pictures are small.)

Good luck. As I said before, I think it's a very cool coin.

 

Sam, I like it better then the 2 other coins you showed me already in holders. I think they slab it with a grade.

 

I'm gonna call it ag -3 as to details grade I'm gonna say 50/50 for enviro damage I've seen far worse in clean holders yet I've seen better in details holders regardless it's a pleasing coin to me and the porosity is in the fields alone which makes me think it may have the planchet.

 

Grade?

Circ.

 

And if not, Matt will sit on them!




Oops, I forgot, Matt won't be there.

Hi to the kids, Matt