I've been working on a classic Hungarian type set for many years now, along with a date set for Austro-Hungarian Corona/Korona. Here are the results from my latest world submission to NGC for my Austro-Hungarian set, along with my grade estimates before submission. I feel like NGC is a little hard on grading coronas, and PCGS is too lenient. I have literally never seen a corona in a PCGS slab that I didn't think was a point overgraded. The Austro-Hungarian Corona/Korona was minted from 1892 through 1916 and was equivalent to a silver quarter dollar. Both Austria and Hungary each had 3 types (a younger bust, a commemorative, and an older bust) during the run for this denomination. Common dates for these coins are typically obtainable in grades up to MS63 without too much trouble. It becomes harder to find examples at MS64, and gem examples are extremely scarce. For my set, I am going for the highest grade of both MS and MSPL that I can find for each date, and I have been pursuing upgrades aggressively. These are my submissions for my Austro-Hungarian Corona/Korona date set in this NGC batch: Austria Corona KM 2804 1895 My grade: MS64 NGC: MS64 Austria Corona KM 2804 1899 My grade: MS64 NGC: MS64 Austria Corona KM 2804 1901 My grade: MS64 NGC: MS64 Austria Corona KM 2804 1903 (Better Date) My grade: MS65 NGC: MS64+
Austria Corona KM 2820 1912 This is the nicest PL example I have come across out of any of my corona/korona types. It is uncommonly frosty for a PL and I think it may be an actual proof, though none were officially recorded. My grade: MS64 PL NGC: MS64 PL Austria Corona KM 2820 1913 This coin was previously in an ICCS MS63 holder, though I agreed with the grade. 1913 is a high mintage year, so there should be higher grade examples out there, but oddly this is the nicest example I've come across. My grade: MS63 NGC: MS63 Austria Corona KM 2820 1914 This coin was previously in an ICCS MS65 holder, though I agreed with the grade. My grade: MS65 NGC: MS65 Austria Corona KM 2820 1914 (#2) This coin was previously in an ICCS MS64 holder, though I agreed with the grade. It's not as nice as my other 1914 examples in terms of grade, but the toning was very interesting and beautiful. My grade: MS64 NGC: MS64 Austria Corona KM 2820 1915 This is the first coin in my corona/korona date set that's gotten a 66 from NGC. My grade: MS66 NGC: MS66
@Jaelus FWIW, NGC stopped accepting PCGS-graded world coins in their Registry sets because there were too many problems with their attributions. Chris
Here are the Hungarian korona types from this submission: Hungary Korona KM 484 1892KB (Key Date) I lucked into a pair of beautifully toned gem 1892s. This is a key date with a mintage of only ~5,000. This one has nicer toning and luster than the coin below, but a weaker strike on the reverse. My grade: MS65 NGC: MS65+ Hungary Korona KM 484 1892KB #2 (Key Date) This is the second of the pair. This one has a full strike. My grade: MS64 NGC: MS65 Hungary Korona KM 484 1894KB Darkly toned original surfaces. My grade: MS63 NGC: MS64 Hungary Korona KM 492 1912KB I feel like I'm cursed with 1912s. No matter how nice the example is I can't get a grade higher than MS63. Since my expected grade was two points higher than NGC's, I may crack out and resubmit this one. My grade: MS65 NGC: MS63 Hungary Korona KM 492 1914KB This is a beautiful semi-PL coin. I think they were too hard on it. My grade: MS65 NGC: MS64
Hungary Korona KM 492 1915KB An absolute stunner with lovely toning and luster. My grade: MS66 NGC: MS65 Hungary Korona KM 492 1915KB (#2) Of this date I had an MS62 PL and an MS63 PL already, but I was certain this coin would get the 64. It's definitely the choicest PL I've seen of this type. My grade: MS64 PL NGC: MS64 PL
Here's the balance of the submissions for my classic Hungarian type set: Hungary Forint KM 475 1892KB (Better Date) This is the last year of a three-year type and the last year of this denomination as 1892 was the transition year to the korona. Due to the size of the coin (29mm), most surviving forints are baggy and grade MS62 or lower. Finding an MS63 is challenging, and MS64s are extremely scarce. I consider this example to be PL, but NGC did not agree with me. I found getting the PL designation from NGC on these larger coins to be very difficult. My grade: MS64 PL NGC: MS64 Hungary Filler KM 480 1902KB Tough to find these earlier examples fully red. I was very pleased to come across this. My grade: MS65 RD NGC: MS65 RD Hungary 2 Filler KM 497 (Iron) 1916KB This is the first year for this type, and one of the first iron issues. These coins are mostly found corroded and are extremely hard to find in problem-free uncirculated grades. This is a second time submission to NGC. The first time around it got UNC Details Surface Hairlines, but there wasn't a hairline to be found on the coin. It does have prominent die lines due to being an intermediate die state where this is characteristic of the type. I showed it to several world dealers after it came back the first time and they all agreed I should crack it out and resubmit. My grade: MS62 NGC: MS63 Hungary Filler KM 505 1938BP A choice red example. My grade: MS64 RD NGC: MS65 RD Hungary Pengo KM 510 1939BP The pengo was the replacement for the korona after the korona hyperinflated and was abolished. The reverse uses the same laurels as the korona. An attractive gem. My grade: MS65 NGC: MS65
Hungary 2 Pengo KM 513 (Pazmany University Commemorative) 1935BP This is the toughest to find of the commemorative issues under Miklos Horthy. Seems they always have to give details to at least one coin on my big submissions. This time it was this one. I figured if any coin on this submission got details it would be this one, so I'm not completely surprised. I may crackout and resubmit if I can't find a nicer example. My grade: MS62 NGC: UNC DETAILS Surface Hairlines Hungary 2 Pengo P7.4 1942BP One of the larger aluminum issues. This one is a three-year type. The aluminum issues are plentiful but tough to find in higher grades. I suspect that they generally weren't considered collectible after they stopped striking them in silver, and as a result they are scarcer in higher levels of preservation. Really a 64 obv/63 rev I think, but NGC apparently thought the obverse was enough to give it the bump. My grade: MS63 NGC: MS64 Hungary Forint KM 449 1868KB Restrike I really enjoy the Artex proof restrikes as a supplement to my collection of original types (1,000 pieces struck). My grade: PF67 NGC: PF67 Hungary Forint KM 475 1892KB Restrike Another Artex proof restrike (1,000 pieces struck). A little nicer than the 1868KB restrike above. My grade: PF68 NGC: PF68 Hungary 2 Pengo PE5.2 (Ferenc Rakoczi Pattern) 1935BP Restrike Great cameo and light golden toning. This is a restrike of a pattern. The final released version of this commemorative was produced with a significantly modified obverse. My grade: PF67 UCAM NGC: PF68 UCAM
Makes perfect sense. I still have a few in PCGS Secure Plus slabs for my Hungarian type set (just not coronas) where the grades are reasonable, but I crackout and submit to NGC almost all PCGS world coins I get. To date, every single one of them has come back one point lower from NGC, and I have agreed with the new grade every time.
While it doesn't look like much of a difference, the 1914 and 1915 koronas that graded a point under what I had expected were pretty disappointing to me. They are both common dates that I've been aggressively trying to upgrade, and the single point on those would have made a big difference for my set. Still, I can't really complain. For the most part, the grades were one point in either direction from what I expected, except for that 1912 korona and the 2 pengo that got details. I'm very pleased with the grades on this submission on the whole, especially on those 1892 key date koronas. The finest example of that date that I've seen before at auction was a nicely-toned 63, and it sold for a hefty sum. I paid less than that for the pair I picked up and they graded 65 and 65+.
You have some wonderful coins and seems like you have good sense of grading. Unfortunately that 1912 seems to still be elusive but overall it seems you were on par or maybe just a little more strict than NGC. Thank you for sharing, I love seeing feedback like this.
Thanks all for the comments. My entire Austro-Hungarian date set is up on collective coin here. I'm still missing a few keys and better dates, but it's getting there. I'm going to photograph them all when this batch comes back from NGC and then set up a custom registry set.: https://collectivecoin.com/Jaelus/xO81m6udia9NA4anFqhp
Very nice set of coins! I really like your Filler in MS65 Red. Yeah, that's got to be a tough one! Yeah, you could try to crack out and re-submit your Pazmany University commem, but it will come back the same, especially if submitting to NGC. That's my guess. Perhaps wait it out?
