1803 Draped Bust cent (w/grading poll)

lordmarcovan · November 4, 2014 7:58PM

Once again, I am posting a coin that I do not own, though in this case I have made an offer on it.

This particular coin is in TPG plastic, though not necessarily that of one of the "Big Two".

Larger obverse picture

Larger reverse picture

PCGS/Photograde standards

Index of similar grading poll threads like this

lordmarcovan · November 4, 2014 8:03PM

For the record, I went with the "neutral" option this time, since the coin is already in TPG plastic.

After 30-ish votes or so in the poll, I will post a link to the slab grade.

IrishMikey · November 4, 2014 10:59PM

Sweet looking copper. My grade is VF 20 - on the obverse (really an 18) and Fine 12 on the reverse, with an
overall 1 point bump for eye appeal. Overall grade Fine 15. I can see the grading services calling this coin
anywhere from Fine 12 to Very Fine 25.

What do I win?

lordmarcovan · November 4, 2014 11:05PM

FWIW, I think my offer falls somewhere midway between F12 and VF20 money, per Numismedia trends. So I suppose I'll be in it for an F15-ish investment if my offer is successful. Maybe F15 would've been my poll vote if I hadn't stayed neutral in it.

I think this coin has a tiny bit of that nice copper CircCam look like the 1804 Spiked Chin half cent I had last year.

indeetlib · November 4, 2014 11:12PM

I voted VG10, but that was when I was looking at it on my phone screen. I think it's a F12. If the reverse legends were a little crisper, F15. Looks like an attractive coin - I always like that two-tone color.

Coin Finder · November 4, 2014 11:17PM

Gen holder with PCgs Environmental damage. Color is off surfaces look porous..

lordmarcovan · November 4, 2014 11:25PM

<< <i>Gen holder with PCgs Environmental damage. Color is off surfaces look porous.. >>

Really? I don't see it. Unless there is the tiniest bit of microporosity in the reverse fields. Who knows.

I've seen worse looking stuff in the Big Two's straight-graded holders, though not too many times. I will admit I'm a little concerned by all the details-graded Genny holders I saw when browsing, though.

And I will go ahead and reveal that this one is in a recognized (not Third World) TPG holder with a straight grade.

PS- thank you for explaining your rationale on that. Too often in the past, people have voted the "counterfeit" or "problem" options in the poll without explaining why, which is how come I amended the wording a bit on those options this time around.

I'll wait until after 30 poll votes to reveal the service and grade, as mentioned.

And you could well be proven right, if the coin is ever cracked out and resubmitted. But I hope not.

Of course I have to win it, first.

BillJones · November 5, 2014 12:29AM

I voted "no grade" although I think that there is a chance that it could grade. The coin has VF sharpness, but there is also some light corrosion on both sides which has made the coin slightly porous. As a result my net grade would be Fine. The EAC grade would be higher than Poor or Fair. I think that the EAC net grade would be VG with sharpness grade of Fine-15 or perhaps VF-20.

Overall this is a decent large cent. It is about the best you will find at a small to medium sized show short of going to an EAC dealer and paying a price higher than catalog price for a smooth, brown example.

291fifth · November 5, 2014 12:36AM

Fine details, corroded reverse surfaces.

lasvegasteddy · November 5, 2014 12:43AM

"G06 (see, Teddy? I remembered to include it this time)"

so much for getting 2 xmas cards this year from me....with such attitude

next time include this lil number in your poll...as you'd be at 1 by me...

rhedden · November 5, 2014 1:27AM

I vote ANACS new blue holder, VF30.

These surfaces are probably gradable on an 1803 cent. Those of you seeing corrosion, etc., have been looking at too many cameo proof Jeffersons!

steveben · November 5, 2014 2:31AM

i think it passes as f12. not my series, however, i think the corrosion is there (but forgivable) and the details are too flat for a vf, which was my first impression.

lordmarcovan · November 5, 2014 7:20AM

32 poll votes, now, so it's time to reveal the slab.

As of right now F12 and F15 are tied with 6 votes each.

VF20 and VF30 are close behind, tied with 5 votes each.

Usually these GTG poll results end up forming some kind of bell curve.

OK, here's the plastic. Click here if you already voted above.

Now to check email, to see if my offer was accepted.

Edit- the seller counteroffered, so I just counteroffered to his counteroffer. We're quite close, now; less than 15 bucks apart. So it looks like this might happen.

Just checked PCGS trends and I should come in pretty near their F12 price. Still midway between Numismedia's F12 and VF20 price.

If and when it is mine, I may crack it and send it to PCGS for a new slab and TrueView pic later, because that's my typical practice with non-ancients in my Box of 20 these days.

Tookybandit · November 5, 2014 7:30AM

Woo hoo, I love it when I get it right!

indeetlib · November 5, 2014 7:38AM

Definitely overgraded, but still could be a nice coin at the right price. There's actually an image on coinfacts of an S258 (same die variety as this) in VF20 that's a good comparison coin:

I think this coin only barely makes a 20, but note the sharper detail around the outside of Liberty's hair (the central hair detail is usually pretty strong even down to VG since it's well protected on this die) and the crisper peripheral reverse detail...granted, it is an earlier die state, but still. As for the surface corrosion/porosity on the ANACS coin, it's so minor for the grade and type, I didn't even consider it and I'd be willing to bet it would grade at PCGS 99 out of 100 times.

lordmarcovan · November 5, 2014 8:05AM

I love that Coinfacts example.

Really, I love the Draped Bust Liberty in all her copper and silver incarnations.

She was so much lovelier than her turban-headed successors, aesthetically speaking. (Though numismatically speaking, I love those too.)

Edited to fix my "thar" typo, which made me sound like a 19th century whaler or pirate. Arr, mateys!

TPRC · November 5, 2014 8:56AM

To me this is an EAC VG-8 or 10, slightly granular but decent enough. I'm 50-50 on whether it would make it in PCGS plastic....if it did...12 or 15 and likely netted to a 12.

lordmarcovan · November 5, 2014 11:12AM

Well, time will tell on the outcome. I have just consummated the deal, so win or lose, this is my coin now.

lasvegasteddy · November 5, 2014 11:20AM

<< <i>Well, time will tell on the outcome. I have just consummated the deal, so win or lose, this is my coin now. >>

hopefully it's truly a gem in hand that brings a smile upon your face

she did survive her travels in days gone by...some history sitting in her

1803 Draped Bust cent (w/grading poll)

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