Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
Usually when the lettering around the rims is disappearing that means Good or less.
This coin shows how the main devices of the bust and the eagle can protect the lettering at their closest points. Especially visible in the letters between the chin and neck and the eagles wing tip on the right.
Successful BST deals with mustangt and jesbroken. Now EVERYTHING is for sale.
@CaptHenway said:
Agreed. And still worth exactly one dollar.
See? That wasn't nice. It's worth more than face value to me. I collect lowball coins, and although this one isn't problem-free (and was thus reflected in the price I paid), it's a fun part of the hobby I've enjoyed throughout the years.
I know it's only an opinion and who cares, right? Yet the constant "it's only worth face value..." comments get old as it brings a bit of unnecessary misery. Of course, many people feel the same way. Even I do when it comes to collecting AU58+ coins. Why pay $250.00 for a Kennedy half? Yet I didn't add a comment to another thread as those who do find these coins interesting should be allowed to collect unencumbered by my negative thoughts/opinion.
With that stated, your thoughts are valuable on coins as a former grader yourself.
If you are open to adding to the discussion, what would you grade this Ike out?
I agree with your point on the whole, but something else looks funny with the coin given how unevenly it's been worn. Is the strike very uneven? Is there just really uneven wear (in which case, is that it's own problem--how does that happen)? Is there some fine corrosion beyond what's seen in the photos that lead to those soft areas, and the grade should be based largely on the bust, which is the part of the coin with the strongest details?
Having some experience with pocket pieces, I think that the wear patterns are consistent with a pocket piece AG-3. Not sure how it got the corrosion. Must have been retired or lost in a damp place for a while.
And you did ask for thoughts, not just opinions on grading.
Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
The wear pattern looks odd. Rims are full, moon and inner part of letters are gone. Not really sure what to make of the grade, but I wouldn't have said F12.
Excellent points. It is odd the rims are full yet UNITES STATES OF is partially worn away (next to a full rim). Plus the L and Y are missing next to a full rim. IN GOD WE TRUST is partially odd looking as to the wear pattern yet again, the rim is full. I'll take a better look upon its arrival.
Is it possible that there are so few of these around, that the graders really don't know how to grade them?
These happens with some frequency with certain varieties of bust halves, for example. The 1809 O-105 "weak chin" variety comes to mind. I know, I know, that is a variety with "strike" issues, but the point is that inexperience combined with an unusual coin leads to a larger amount of variance in grading opinions.
It is a difficult piece to grade, with AG rims, but a fair amount of meat on the main devices. I know I have not seen enough of these to know how to grade them.
Comments
Good details maybe not 12
The reverse is way too weak for a grade of Fine IMO.
I don't see a fine either.... maybe a mechanical mistake?
HAPPY COLLECTING
Agreed. And still worth exactly one dollar.
Usually when the lettering around the rims is disappearing that means Good or less.
This coin shows how the main devices of the bust and the eagle can protect the lettering at their closest points. Especially visible in the letters between the chin and neck and the eagles wing tip on the right.
Successful BST deals with mustangt and jesbroken. Now EVERYTHING is for sale.
AG03-
See? That wasn't nice. It's worth more than face value to me. I collect lowball coins, and although this one isn't problem-free (and was thus reflected in the price I paid), it's a fun part of the hobby I've enjoyed throughout the years.
I know it's only an opinion and who cares, right? Yet the constant "it's only worth face value..." comments get old as it brings a bit of unnecessary misery. Of course, many people feel the same way. Even I do when it comes to collecting AU58+ coins. Why pay $250.00 for a Kennedy half? Yet I didn't add a comment to another thread as those who do find these coins interesting should be allowed to collect unencumbered by my negative thoughts/opinion.
With that stated, your thoughts are valuable on coins as a former grader yourself.
If you are open to adding to the discussion, what would you grade this Ike out?
peacockcoins
I agree with your point on the whole, but something else looks funny with the coin given how unevenly it's been worn. Is the strike very uneven? Is there just really uneven wear (in which case, is that it's own problem--how does that happen)? Is there some fine corrosion beyond what's seen in the photos that lead to those soft areas, and the grade should be based largely on the bust, which is the part of the coin with the strongest details?
the rims are too strong for G4. There is something else going on like a weak adjustment strike.
Having some experience with pocket pieces, I think that the wear patterns are consistent with a pocket piece AG-3. Not sure how it got the corrosion. Must have been retired or lost in a damp place for a while.
And you did ask for thoughts, not just opinions on grading.
I don't think it's a fine, although I admit I don't think I've seen one this worn.
The wear pattern looks odd. Rims are full, moon and inner part of letters are gone. Not really sure what to make of the grade, but I wouldn't have said F12.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
Excellent points. It is odd the rims are full yet UNITES STATES OF is partially worn away (next to a full rim). Plus the L and Y are missing next to a full rim. IN GOD WE TRUST is partially odd looking as to the wear pattern yet again, the rim is full. I'll take a better look upon its arrival.
peacockcoins
It will be interesting to see what the reeds look like. Possibly in a bezel and worn as a necklace?
I plan to remove it from the ANACS holder upon its arrival and remove the corrosion. I will check the reeding then.
peacockcoins
Is it possible that there are so few of these around, that the graders really don't know how to grade them?
These happens with some frequency with certain varieties of bust halves, for example. The 1809 O-105 "weak chin" variety comes to mind. I know, I know, that is a variety with "strike" issues, but the point is that inexperience combined with an unusual coin leads to a larger amount of variance in grading opinions.
It is a difficult piece to grade, with AG rims, but a fair amount of meat on the main devices. I know I have not seen enough of these to know how to grade them.
Tom
I've also seen this grading phenomenon with low grade early commemoratives.
peacockcoins