Guess the Grade - eBay Gamble Edition Part II - 1857 Flying Eagle Cent (GRADE REVEALED)
illini420
Posts: 11,466 ✭✭✭✭✭
Thanks again for all of the guesses/comments to my first Guess the Grade post found here:
Guess the Grade - eBay Gamble Edition Part 1 - 1814 Large Cent
Had so much fun with it so I decided to do another. Here's my only other "eBay Gamble" (so far...) an 1857 Flying Eagle Cent. Here was the seller's pic:
Again, no cheating by searching the eBay listings. Saw the auction and the weak picture so I emailed the seller with a somewhat lowball offer given the grade assigned by the TPG. Seller accepted and the coin was mine. Here's my pictures:
All of the scratches of note are on the holder, had trouble imaging this one as it's tilted in the slab... Not sure I'm going to keep this one forever as I'm not a huge fan of the few spots on the obverse. Anyway, feel free to comment and "Guess the Grade!!!"
Also, upon closer inspection I noticed some doubling of the date. Sort of cool and not sure if that adds any value as I've read it's somewhat common on these. These are the best pics of the date I could get w/o significant effort:
Have fun!!!!
Edited to change title
Guess the Grade - eBay Gamble Edition Part 1 - 1814 Large Cent
Had so much fun with it so I decided to do another. Here's my only other "eBay Gamble" (so far...) an 1857 Flying Eagle Cent. Here was the seller's pic:
Again, no cheating by searching the eBay listings. Saw the auction and the weak picture so I emailed the seller with a somewhat lowball offer given the grade assigned by the TPG. Seller accepted and the coin was mine. Here's my pictures:
All of the scratches of note are on the holder, had trouble imaging this one as it's tilted in the slab... Not sure I'm going to keep this one forever as I'm not a huge fan of the few spots on the obverse. Anyway, feel free to comment and "Guess the Grade!!!"
Also, upon closer inspection I noticed some doubling of the date. Sort of cool and not sure if that adds any value as I've read it's somewhat common on these. These are the best pics of the date I could get w/o significant effort:
Have fun!!!!
Edited to change title
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
0
Comments
You really need to polish that holder.
<< <i>63 RB unless it is your pic making the edge look brown... then 63 Red. >>
This is a copper nickel cent. There is no RD/RB/BN designation for these.
<< <i>
<< <i>63 RB unless it is your pic making the edge look brown... then 63 Red. >>
This is a copper nickel cent. There is no RD/RB/BN designation for these. >>
Wow, I never realized that! Learn something new here everyday!
The spots plus mushy strike = lower grade.
<< <i>This is a copper nickel cent. There is no RD/RB/BN designation for these. >>
Correct. But it definitely looks red!!!
<< <i>The spots plus mushy strike = lower grade. >>
Hard to tell from the picture, but the lower half of the letters in "United States" is weak as well as the beak of the eagle. The rest of it isn't too bad.
<< <i>You really need to polish that holder. >>
Definitely going to do that if I decide to keep it in the holder or sell. Original plan was to crack for my Dansco, but haven't committed to that just yet.
Will give the evening crowd a chance to "Guess the Grade," will post the answer either late tonight or early tomorrow
Any thoughts on the date, the "1" "8" and "5" are definitely repunched or doubled. The "7" doesn't appear to be. Not sure if this would add value or increases its rarity, but I like it. Just wish the darn coin didn't have those couple of darn spots!!!
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
<< <i>MS61 or 62 due to the spots on the obverse (corrosion?) >>
I don't think the spots are corrosion. Look just like the small spots that show up on copper cents, on the surface only I think. Just detract from the eye appeal, not sure if they really do other damage. Also is a discoloration between the wing and AM of AMERICA. Not sure what's going on there.
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
Before flipping though, I plan on doing some more research on this in connection with the date doubling. Just want to know what I have before getting rid of it
Thanks again for all the comments.
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
<< <i>Cool! But why did NGC not give it a color designation? >>
Because it's a copper nickel cent. Flyers and copper-nickel IHC from 1859 to 1864 don't have color designations.
<< <i>And the answer is.... NGC MS 64
Paid around 63 money for it so I know I could flip it and at least break even if not make a little on it. I too think it looks more like a 63 with the spots, but aside from those it has very good luster in hand. The weak strike is fairly common on these I have noticed in my search. I know there are better 64s out there, even better 63s, so I'm probably going to keep searching.
Before flipping though, I plan on doing some more research on this in connection with the date doubling. Just want to know what I have before getting rid of it
that is a nice coin! the spots come from spit! that's right! i learned this at the ANA coin grading class just 6 weeks ago in Colorado Springs!
Thanks again for all the comments. >>
<< <i>that is a nice coin! the spots come from spit! that's right! i learned this at the ANA coin grading class just 6 weeks ago in Colorado Springs!
Nice, never heard of that before. I'll definitely try to avoid spitting on my Lincolns from now on so that they don't grow similar spots over the next 100-150 years
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
JJ
<< <i>I would send it to NGC for a grade guarentee. I don't think those spots were on the coin when it was holdered. I don't think it would grade 64 with those spots.
JJ >>
That's a good idea and probably would probably be the right thing to do in this case, even though I've seen other 64s with spots. But haven't really seen many 64s with spots like this and a somewhat weak strike.
However, after reading up on the terms of the grade guarantee, it's a little unclear as to what they would do if they think this coin should really be a 63 or lower. Sure, they have the option of giving me another coin that is a 64 (not sure I like that unless I can view and approve the coin first). Or they can just give me the difference in fair market value (but basically they get to decide what that means).
Since I have no experience with the grade guarantee process, I'll probably shop this around at the next show I go to and see what kind of offers I get or maybe trade for a better example. If they are really low offers or if I get no interest, then I'll probably pursue the guarantee.
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448