Hi everyone. Here is a neat little Wheatie I purchased a few years ago. It's a dateless Wheat Cent. Way Off Center. It's the only one in my collection so I had it attributed by NGC. Enjoy! Anyone else have any other Off Center Wheat Cents?
I've often wondered how they determine a grade on a planchet. Everyone that I've seen was completely uncirculated and had hairline scratches all over it, I'm assuming from a bath in a tumbler.
Well actually those would be hard to come by as the US Mints (or are them "pressing places"?) have stricter quality control!!
Same as with any coin, by wear. A planchet has its own form of "luster" and the raised rims are the high points. As a planchet receives wear there will first be a color change on the highest points of the raised rim and then in the central areas of the planchet as the "luster" is worn away. As more wear is received the rims will develop flat areas on top with will broaden as more wear is received. The wear in the central area will also get wider and the will be a protected ring of luster between the high area of the rim and worn central area. For planchets with no wear (uncirculated) once again grade is determined the same way as on other coins, by contact marks.
