Guess the grade -- 1970-S DDO Lincoln GRADE REVEALED

jonathanb · October 14, 2005 4:23AM

I posted images when I first got this coin, but I don't think I ever did a guess-the-grade. I've now sent it to two different grading services, with very different results. And that's not mentioning the totally different third grade that I thought it might get, or the still yet different fourth grade that a professional dealer suggested.

So given the difference of opinion, it might be interesting to see if there's a consensus for what the right grade "should" be.

Top image is a better picture (technically better, and also the color is closer to real-life), but I couldn't find where I put the matching reverse, so the bottom two pictures are a matching obverse/reverse pair.

rsdoug81 · October 14, 2005 4:26AM

In my ultra-limited copper/Lincoln experience, I'd say AU50ish.
I wouldn't be surprised if it got bagged for environmental damage, though.

goose3 · October 14, 2005 4:30AM

53-55ish.

p8nt · October 14, 2005 4:32AM

AU53

cladking · October 14, 2005 4:33AM

It looks to be a nice XF to me but I tend to grade a little low.

I don't find the spots overly annoying in the first picture.

ecos · October 14, 2005 4:33AM

I also have little to no experience with Lincolns, but my guess would be XF45. Perhaps BB because of the strach or environmental damage.

Way cool coin though!!! If the TGPs don't like it, then you should just drink some more Kool-Aid and send the DDO to me.

NumisOxide · October 14, 2005 4:34AM

AU50

koynekwest · October 14, 2005 4:38AM

AU50.

Longacre · October 14, 2005 4:41AM

EF45

RedneckHB · October 14, 2005 4:45AM

Enviromental damage

seanq · October 14, 2005 4:53AM

Just guessing where you would have sent that: I think PCGS graded it AU55, ANACS gave it an AU details net XF grade, and you thought it should grade AU50. The grade the dealer gave you would depend heavily on whether he was trying to buy the coin from you at the time.

I think the spots on the obverse probably should keep it out of any holder other than ANACS... if the variety weren't so darn rare. I feel exceptions are often made for super-rarities like that... heck, you could have your initials carved in the obverse fields and PCGS might holder it anyway. I would personally grade the coin AU50 and simply note the discoloration.

And I still can't believe what you bid on that original auction.

Sean Reynolds

jonathanb · October 14, 2005 5:13AM

OK, so opinions so far have included 45, 50, 53, 55, with and without environmental damage. Art imitates life, or something like that -- the four opinions I got from outside the board were (in rank order): environmental damage, 45, 50, and 55.

Only Sean really justified his grades. Would anyone else like to explain why they think that their grade is the right one? It's hard to decide between 50/53 or 53/55, but someone who thinks 55 should be able to explain why not 45 (or vice versa).

No?

jonathan

jonathanb · October 14, 2005 12:21PM

Bummer, I guess that was the end of the discussion.

Looking at this myself, I was thinking AU-50.

The dealer I showed it to -- who I've known for a long time, and who knew I wasn't looking to sell -- said XF.

I originally sent this to NGC, and it came back body-bagged for environmental damage. Looking at the coin more closely, I agree with them. There is significant corrosion in those black spots. The surface of the coin truly is damaged.

So then I sent it to ANACS, simply because I plan on holding it for a long time and I wanted the stability of the slab. Imagine my surprise when it came back as AU-55, *non-net*.

In my opinion, the ANACS grade was a gift. I could argue 50 or 55, but it really is environmentally damaged.

Interesting to see such a wide range of opinions for the one coin.

jonathan

coppercoins · October 14, 2005 12:24PM

It's AU50, slightly downgraded from the detail present (55 detail) because of the corrosion. I haven't seen anything other than the photos, so if I'm right it was without the help of the grade posted.

seanq · October 14, 2005 1:46PM

Huh... I came darn close there, didn't I? Substitute "ANACS" for "PCGS" and "NGC" for "ANACS" in my original statement and I'd be dead-on.

So as the closest guess, I win the coin, right?

Sean Reynolds

jonathanb · October 14, 2005 2:52PM

Yes, credit to Sean for overall accuracy. But I have to give a nod to C.D. as well, since I still think the environmental damage is worth noting.

Now I'm sort of curious what PCGS would do, but I'm never going to find out. This gets stashed away for a long time...

jonathan

Guess the grade -- 1970-S DDO Lincoln GRADE REVEALED

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