NGC ★ Ultra Cameo Coins
dunkleosteus430
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As many know, NGC will award a "★" designation to coins that have something special going on with the cameo finish, whether it's really strong but not enough for the next designation (such as ★ CAM instead of UCAM,) or one side of the coin seems to deserve a certain cameo designation but the other is holding it back. It is also used to designate nice toning, but that is not the topic of this thread.
Some coins with extraordinary frost will receive a designation of ★ UCAM. These coins are not very common but are really nice to see, which is why I made this thread: for you to post yours! It's not very easy to find pictures of them on the internet. Here are just a few on Heritage Auctions, though.
Young Numismatist
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Those "Stars" are shinning Bright on all of those examples that are shown here.
I only have one, but it doesn't have the CAM or DCAM designation.
Here’s one before it got crossed
These coins are super cool. The only issue I have with the star is it's subjectivity - it really matters what grader set you get at NGC. Sometimes the star is mostly for color, but other times you'll see it applied for contrast.
There is also the big question of why obverse DCAM coins with brilliant reverses get the star, but if the reverse is DCAM and the obverse is brilliant it almost never gets the star (I've never seen one).
No matter what though - usually the star coins are a beauty to behold.
Coin Photographer.
So, if a coin is already graded PR69 UCAM and color-free, what does the Star (supposedly) signify? I’m having a hard time thinking it’s not redundant.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
That’s what I’m having trouble understanding. I understand the first part of OPs explanation about the coin not making the designation but being close, but if it’s already a UCAM the star represents that is a stronger contrast than a normal UCAM?
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Yes. To my understanding, the ★ UCAM designation is used when an older proof coin has very strong contrast that is similar to the black-and-white frost on modern proof coins.
Young Numismatist
https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/806/
https://youtube.com/watch?v=wwmUMvhy-lY - Pink Me And Bobby McGee
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https://youtube.com/watch?v=D0FPxuQv2ns - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Maybe I'm Amazed
RLJ 1958 - 2023
I like this thread! Here are some more I crossed
My guess is it basically is a 69+ UCAM. Since that +grade doesn’t “exist”, NGC has found a way to create it.
I’ve made 1 ms70*star coin and it’s tough, trust me.
Are there any coins that have graded 70ultra cameo *star? Does that designation/grade exist?
I think possibly on some Ikes, earlier ASEs, Kennedys, etc. I might have seen it on an ASE from the 80's, but I can't remember.
Edit: nevermind, I think it was an MS-70 ★.
Young Numismatist
https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/806/
https://youtube.com/watch?v=wwmUMvhy-lY - Pink Me And Bobby McGee
.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=D0FPxuQv2ns - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Maybe I'm Amazed
RLJ 1958 - 2023
.> @1madman said:
Hopefully, that’s not the case, as the Star is supposed to represent exceptional eye-appeal, not quality.
It appears that the explanation was provided by @lilolme, from NGC’s website:
“In applying star designations to applicable proof coins, all of the above criteria apply for toned
coins. Untoned coins, however, must meet one of the additional criteria outlined below to qualify:
…They qualify for the ultra cameo designation and, in addition, exhibit exceptionally intense contrast between devices and fields on both the obverse and reverse that exceeds by a
generous margin that of the normal ultra cameo standard.”
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Those are wow!
As I understand it, the coins display a level of contrast above and beyond what a normal Ultra Cameo shows. As such, the coin has a higher degree of eye appeal and garners the star designation for that eye appeal.
We can see this in the OP post, where several fantastic gold and silver 19th century proofs with exceptional contrast are shown. I think we can all agree that these are not your average Ultra Cameo proofs and have a level of contrast beyond what is usually designated as Ultra Cameo. I consider each of these much more appealing than a standard non-star Ultra Cameo, and evidently NGC agrees with my assessment.
Coin Photographer.
It's all good stuff 👍
Skip over at icg wrote an article about star coins (I can’t find it at the moment) l but I agree with him that they do exist in 70 grade. There is a level above for certain coins that make them exceptional. You don’t think these exist? I strongly disagree with you. Not all mint state / ultra cameo coins are created equal.
Think of it as a DCAM/UCAM + for contrasts instead of the numerical grade. The scale looks like this:
Star - appreciable frost, not full cam
CAM
CAM* (cameo plus)- solid cameo, at least one side borders on DCAM/UCAM
UCAM
UCAM* (UCAM plus)
Don’t/shouldn’t particularly high grade Proof coins with the UCAM designation have “exceptional eye appeal”? If not, perhaps the grade or designation isn’t justified. But if so, maybe an “extra exceptional eye appeal double star” designation should be added.😉
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
There’s ambiguity for sure. That has always been my criticism of the designation more broadly. Star coins can range from “who cares?” to the crème de la crème.
Wowzers
It should come in a rainbow colored slab with sparkles. Maybe they could borrow from the Vault Box people and call it the rainbow core awesomeness series.
This is the only star cameo I have. Not sure if given for eye appeal or nice Cam.
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NGC seemingly felt that at least on side of your coin was borderline UCAM.
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These ultra cameo coins are simply beautiful.... Especially those that have survived from the 1800's.... I do believe the extra terms/stars etc. are splitting an already fine hair, but I admire the coin beauty. Cheers, RickO
Beautiful coins. 🤩
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