MS66: http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1121&Lot_No=5155 MS68: http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1121&Lot_No=5156 Both great looking coins. Is the MS66 toward the high end? I have an untrained eye, but it looks like a superb 66? Doesn't the strike look sharper then the MS68? Can someone with a trained eye tell me what the major differences are here between these two coins? I notice in coin 1 (the 66) there is something near the F in 'OF'. The thing is, the 66's wreath and hair look like a better strike and luster then the 68?? Enlighten me please Greg
I think this is an excellent example of not being able to grade coins from images. I personally can't tell whether what I'm seeing are coin problems or image problems. The -66 appears to have some ugly metal flow at the top of the reverse. But the -68 appears to be missing a significant number of denticles on the reverse. Need the coins in hand.
I am lost in the rarified atmosphere above MS65, especially with things the size of my pinky fingernail!
Personally, I think both coins are drastically overgraded. Purely my opinion but I would say they are a 63 and 65 respectively. But to tell the difference just look at the face on the 66 - pretty beat up if you ask me. The 68 has its share of hits as well. But both coins appear to be fairly well struck which is not all that common for the series. They also have nice luster and I can only assume those two things led to the grades assigned.
Two points: #1 - Be VERY carefuly with ultra-high-grade NGC coins. They are often overgraded. #2 - Both, yes both, coins appear to me to be puttied (white haze). As for the original quesiton, I find micro grading coins in the ultra-high grades from Heritage pics to be practically impossible. You realy have to see them in-hand and judge eye appeal and luster.
