Well, I hadnt noticed before but all the text on the face is weak including the date, some on the reverse as well. It doesnt look worn away, looks like the die barely hit it, though lincoln look decent, any opinion on what might cause all the face text to be weak, no sign of die deterioration.
I just searched this penny and found one, looks nearly identical to the one I have including the faint strike and it was registered as MS64 RD, mine is in better condition, mine is also more red, any judge is this is a real grading?
It's hard to gauge your coin's condition with the tiny sliver of information provided. That said, if the majority of Lincoln's image is as nicked up as the part you show, I would be reluctant to seeing the coin getting anything above XF-45. As for the coin you pictured, you can easily check that on the NGC website: http://www.ngccoin.com/certlookup/index.aspx
Thats kind of what im getting at, this other person has the same coin in most respects and they got it graded way to high especially with it having numerous large scratches, graded as uncirculated with minor wearing but no damage, that is as defined by a wiki numismatic page. I think mine would we quite low, unless the weak text detail gives it any extra points, which i doubt. Thanks for your help, i might keep it or toss it back depending on what else I hear.
I think you misinterpreted what I was attempting to communicate/convey. Your coin - the one you posted to start this thread - has may more nicks than the NGC graded coin. While I disagree with the MS65 grade, I still think it's MS64+. The strong luster on the reverse pulls it up from a MS63+/64-. Your coin would be a XF-45. I don't think 1971-d coins in circulated grade are rare, per se. I wouldn't spend it - it's only a penny - on the sheer premise that it's worth more than a penny in Cu content.
ok, i did misuderstand thanks for the clear-up, in any event, i just noticed it shows and ever so faint strike thru from either side, the edge of a collumn shows next to lincolns chin, and strike thru in between the middle collumn and elsewhere. dont think its significant enough to be valuable but its a keeper!
