+ vs non+, your thoughts?
Cladiator
Posts: 18,055 ✭✭✭✭✭
How is this a 65+...
When this is just a 65? Am I missing something?
3
Comments
Luster
This is funny. My exact thought was "luster." Then I scrolled down and... "well I don't need to type that ."
Coin Photographer.
The second coin without the + has cleaner surfaces as far as contact marks go and is the one that I'd rather own. I hate bag marks.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
If the grades weren’t disclosed, I believe that almost everyone would say that the non-plus coin was the better of the two. And with all of the marks on the plus-coin, I don’t think the “luster” explanation is a valid excuse for it deserving a higher grade.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
The strike also appears to be better
If you weren’t aware of the assigned grades, which coin would you grade higher?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I would take the second coin over the first one. The obverse has too many abrasions in the top photo.
Successful BST with BustDMs , Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino (CBH's - 37 Die Marriage's)
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
I thought I recognized those coins from a dealers site. The dealer only has the 65+ grade coin listed for $300 over the 65 coin so probably also thinks the lower grade coin is better for the grade. When those two were first listed I thought about purchasing the 65 and passed quickly on the 65+
Successful BST with BustDMs , Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino (CBH's - 37 Die Marriage's)
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
If both coins were resubmitted raw, the grades could be easily reversed.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I will join the consensus on this one....The surface condition of coin 2 is preferable to coin 1, though 1 seems to have more pronounced luster. Cheers, RickO
I also recognize these coins, as I've been looking for one. I passed on both. Too many hits on coin 1, luster doesn't look great on coin 2.
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The strike also appears to be better> @MFeld said:
Based on the photos, probably the second, although I think it's close. But the luster is so bad in the second photo it barely looks UNC. I also think there are more marks than are apparent due to either the subdued luster or bad photo.
Fine, forget about the second coin. How do you grade the first one, with its booming luster and magnificent strike?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Lol. I'd call it 64. But I'm always more conservative than the grading services. I can see it as a 65 these days.
Agree I'd say 64+.
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Mark, the grades being what they are, in an auction, if you have to guess, which coin will bring in more $$$ ?
My guess is that the plus coin would bring more, as some buyers focus more on labels than coins.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Hard to judge the comparison from these photos, the lighting is significantly different. The lighting on the 65+ is much "harsher". It accentuates the nicks etc., as well as the luster. The lighting on the 65 is much softer. On the 65, note the horizontal mark to the left of the middle of Liberty's nose. Also the long mark curling from the point of her neck up past star #2. I suspect that these, and the chatter to the right of her lower curls, would show up much like the chatter on the 65+ if the lighting were the same.
Coinlearner, Ahrensdad, Nolawyer, RG, coinlieutenant, Yorkshireman, lordmarcovan, Soldi, masscrew, JimTyler, Relaxn, jclovescoins
Now listen boy, I'm tryin' to teach you sumthin' . . . . that ain't an optical illusion, it only looks like an optical illusion.
My mind reader refuses to charge me....
The grades are 65+ and 65 (not 64+ and 64).
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Thanks, fixed.
Coinlearner, Ahrensdad, Nolawyer, RG, coinlieutenant, Yorkshireman, lordmarcovan, Soldi, masscrew, JimTyler, Relaxn, jclovescoins
Now listen boy, I'm tryin' to teach you sumthin' . . . . that ain't an optical illusion, it only looks like an optical illusion.
My mind reader refuses to charge me....
Enlightening replies, thanks all. The search for a PQ 65 $20 that won't mortgage the house continues....
Personally, I think the angle of the second coin's pictures hide quite a few marks. Granted, it does have fewer, but the luster is nonexistent compared to the first coin. One thing that I've seen in higher graded PCGS coins (once you get up to the gem level) is that luster takes more prevalence to marks or surface condition. It's like color - the more attractive the higher the coin can go even if it has marks that would hold it back if it was blast white. The weaker strike doesn't help coin #2, but I don't think that's the difference in grade.
Not saying this is wrong, but it is something that I've noticed. Each grading service has its own nuances, and things that would lead to a different grade at another service.
Coin Photographer.
The non-plus coin looks to have better surfaces, IMHO.
The difference in luster appears to be insignificant.
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My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
That’s what I’ve been wanting (65) but I settled for the OGH 64 I found Friday night. It’s close enough and like half the price.
Heck, I can always upgrade later if the perfect 65 comes along.
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How about this for an answer: 65+ the grader was in a good mood. The 65: she is tough and in a bad mood.
Grading is an opinion - an expert opinion, but an opinion nevertheless - and it's an important part of the hobby.
Many years ago, I first noticed things like this. I'd line a dealer's MS 64 with Motto Seated Half next to one in an MS 65 holder, and the former was a nicer coin. Rinse and repeat. It happens. From what I've seen, not too frequently, but if you look at enough coins, you'll see it.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
Same person grading?
Maybe it was early in the morning and eyes weren't clear yet.
I see more shiny on the+ sunny day vs overcast day and a microscope with 100 watt vs a 60 watt bulb difference.
Graders likely work under the same lighting conditions each day and all times of day, regardless of the weather outside. And to be clear, they do so indoors.😉
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Or one before coffee and the other after.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
Second coin is also weakly struck on the reverse centers as a lot of those details are mushy.
I would like to see both coins in hand. The top coin probably has considerably better eye appeal, and the strike is hammered. The coin looks almost PL.
It sounds as if you might be making a number of assumptions.
For example, how do you know that “many of those 12 coins were graded down , but were saved by the PCGS guarantee”?
How do you know now much, if any, influence that one particular grader had on the grades of your coins?
How do you know that the turnaround time is faster or slower because of one grader?
How do you know that a particular grader was even grading each of the times you failed to receive upgrades (or that he wasn’t grading when you got upgrades)?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Of course, I do NOT know for sure, and there is NO way for me to know for sure. And, I should not have said "many of the 12" but "some or few" instead. Without going into statistical odds details (which are never 100% correct), may be I am just 100% wrong. So, if understand correctly, you do not believe in the "tough grader factor" ? That's why I asked for enlightenment. One last question, are the graders at any TPG , 100% blinded to the original grades with regrades ?? (of course are not with reconsideration). Always appreciate your knowledge and expertise. Cheers.
I never graded at PCGS and it’s been a very long time since I graded at NGC, so I can’t answer your last question.
As to your “tough grader factor” question, I believe that some graders tend to be somewhat stricter or looser than others. But grading is a team effort and I wouldn’t assume that a particular grader has been responsible for your disappointing results.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
The + looks like it might be semi-PL
Collector, occasional seller
If the coins were photographed under identical conditions, I prefer coin #1 by a significant margin. Color and apparent luster are much better. Coin #1 has "lively" fields while coin #2 is a bit more uniform and subdued. However, assuming that lighting and photographic technique was precisely identical is a stretch.