Questionable IHC grade on eBay listing

waisaacs

I was browsing IHCs trying to understand grading for @Paradisefound 's current giveaway, and ran across https://www.ebay.com/itm/334296378590 - maybe the picture is just fuzzy but to my untrained eye the grade didn't match. I looked up the cert and there are no images to compare with.

I'm not so much plugged into eBay so not sure what to do regarding reporting or contacting the seller. I'm new here but have noticed a lot of discussion on similar issues, just wanted to bring attention so someone can address.

Best,
Bill

braddick

Sometimes an uncirculated brown Indian cent (and Lincoln cent) can "look" AU/circulated when indeed the grade is accurate.
Shot straight on, such as the photos in the auction, don't show luster and thus appear to be of a lower grade when truly the coin (and seller) are just fine.

waisaacs

I'm in learning mode so am happy to be wrong here, but it wasn't just missing luster that got to me - I read the surfaces as quite worn. Maybe the photos are really just low res and unfocused.

Paradisefound

@waisaacs Welcome to CU!

To tell you the truth I wouldn’t GTG it right either …… now go ahead and give your best shot at the GTG IHC Contest ☺️

jesbroken

One of the reasons grading from photos is hard is the res of the photo can underplay luster whereas lighting can sometimes make luster appear where there is none. Looking thru a lens plus a plastic holder can make wear appeae where there is none. You will notice how many times truly educated graders will make an error due to grading from a photo.
Jim

ricko

That IHC certainly does not appear to be an MS64.... Pass on that one. Cheers, RickO

Rampage

@waisaacs said:
I was browsing IHCs trying to understand grading for @Paradisefound 's current giveaway, and ran across https://www.ebay.com/itm/334296378590 - maybe the picture is just fuzzy but to my untrained eye the grade didn't match. I looked up the cert and there are no images to compare with.

I'm not so much plugged into eBay so not sure what to do regarding reporting or contacting the seller. I'm new here but have noticed a lot of discussion on similar issues, just wanted to bring attention so someone can address.

Best,
Bill

I am a bit perplexed as to why you would report the coin. I am glad you did not do that, but the fact that you considered it concerns me a lot. The coin is in a PCGS holder. Pictures may or may not do the coin justice. As already mentioned, brown cents (most coins really) can be difficult to photograph. Just because you (untrained, as you admitted) do not agree with the grade (questionable, as you called it) does not mean it is not what it is. My suggestion is to learn a lot (a lot) more before jumping ahead to report auctions.

waisaacs

@Rampage said:

>

I am a bit perplexed as to why you would report the coin. I am glad you did not do that, but the fact that you considered it concerns me a lot. The coin is in a PCGS holder. Pictures may or may not do the coin justice. As already mentioned, brown cents (most coins really) can be difficult to photograph. Just because you (untrained, as you admitted) do not agree with the grade (questionable, as you called it) does not mean it is not what it is. My suggestion is to learn a lot (a lot) more before jumping ahead to report auctions.

I was very careful not to report anything myself, as I am well aware of my spot on the learning curve. I was probably influenced by recent discussions here about counterfeit holders. I'll take this as part of my education, and thank you for the words of advice.

MasonG

@waisaacs said:
I was browsing IHCs trying to understand grading...

You really need to look at coins in person to understand grading.