Best Of

There could have been something on the coin when you bought it that progressed over the years, as relicsncoins wrote above. When you buy a coin, you don't know what is on it. Someone could have sneezed on a coin, got it slabbed and it looks fine when you bought it. After awhile, it turns.

I had an Unc. Braided Hair Half Cent in MS 65 BN that looked fine when I bought it, but eight years later, developed some PVC spotting. It was stored in a dry safe deposit box.

I prefer buying coins in older holders, as if anything would happen to a coin, it would have happened before I bought it.

I do not know the answer but would suggest checking the 62 for misplaced D on the reverse bell after STOW.

@PerryHall said:
We need a "It depends" option. You can usually get a good approximate grade from quality high-resolution pics taken under good lighting. The problem with pics is that hairlines don't always show up well.

My goal here is to get people to take a stand on the issue, I intend to integrate public opinion into the studies that I'm currently running. Those studies will show evidence one way or the other, so part of my research is whether public opinion has stopped or encouraged people to learn how to grade from images.

Civil War Ironclad ship USS Cairo being restored in Mississippi

@PerryHall — Well stated. — I agree with your comment.