Would You Send This In For Grading?

It is the lesser of two evils advice/decision; nothing less or more. Unfortunately, buying slabbed isn't the guaranteed fix-all some make it out to be, but certainly is a better opinion than blindly buying raw. There are plenty of dogs, hot potatoes, and downright dreck residing in even top TPG holders, and someone who believes slabs save the day is a ripe dumping ground for such material. A quality and knowledgeable dealer unwilling to sell dogs to retail customers, if one can be found, may represent the OP's best bet if he desires a quality set as long as he understands and is willing to pay up for the added "value".

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Joining or at least attending a meeting at a local coin club will be of enormous value. The benefit of that far outweighs the advice we can give here. You have to understand that all we have to go on are photo's that you provide. These give us just a glimpse of the possible state any coin is in. Some photo's can tell a lot about a coin, other's can conceal a lot. Members at a coin club can hold the coin in hand and describe exactly in detail, the problems with the coin (if there are any). The same thing can be done at a show, but dealers are there to conduct business not teach, so they will have their best interest in mind. This and other forums are the second best place to get opinions and to learn from.

To help you learn, I would suggest searching for all the Guess The Grade threads you can find and study the images and read all the guesses, then postulate your own opinion and ask yourself why you came to that conclusion. If your buying raw on eBay (which at this point I would highly suggest you not do) then the guess the grade threads will help you learn to read a photograph. But then again, you must beware that flaws can easily be hidden using lighting techniques. You're at the beginning of your journey, study the map and learn where all the pitfalls are before you leave the comforts of home.

 

I certainly wouldn't argue your good points to the contrary.

 

Great advice and pretty much applies to every new adventure. I am certainly "at the beginning of my journey" but eager to learn. This is the first I've approached using my time to acquire knowledge instead of just bullheaded endurance.

Thanks to everyone that has contributed, I am learning and looking forward to posting a win... Eventually! (lol)

 

You will. And we will all be here to congratulate you.

 

Here's a sight I use a lot. It doesn't have many words but tons of pictures that are helpful.
http://www.pcgs.com/photograde/#/SLQT1/Grades

 

I was mostly trying to play up on your point of knowledge being key, but thank you.

 

A quarter, pocket change, common junk.

Actually 100 years ago in 1916 they probably would have called a 1917 D quarter a counterfeit.

 

200 dollars is not too bad. I've done worse early on The coin looks over-dipped to me, with spot treatments on top of other dips. There just isn't much life to the coin. With that awesome detail, you'd expect deep, booming luster (the kind that strikes most experienced collectors as natural). My guess is that it had natural luster but toned too dark for the previous owner and so they kept dipping until they stripped the natural luster away. Better pics might tell me it was a polishing job, but I'm not guessing this because I can't see small hairlines everywhere which would be indicative of polishing. I'd suggest looking at a bunch of graded mint state coins on ebay and get the feel for coins with more natural skin. It just takes familiarity and you'll do a lot better with future purchases