Let's Have Some Fun Here - A Video Guess the Grade - GRADE REVEALED PR65*

FlyingAl

This is going to be a tough one, as always. The limitations of my phone camera are evident, but this is the toughest coin I've ever had to image, so we'll have some fun with this one and do a video.

I will give you one hint as to the limitations of my phone camera.

Hint - the mirrors show deeper in hand, and are quite liquid and flashy. The video evidently catches the minor die lines in the field much more than you eye would in hand, so the mirrors show much lighter than in hand (where I describe them as black - the opening shot of the embedded video is close to what the coin looks like in hand).

The video. Note the embedded link was done with the phone sideways so it didn't turn into a Youtube Short. Therefore, the books I was using to elevate my phone show as red flashes on the coin. The link is a better video, but a lot of you guys don't do links so I'll give you the option.
https://youtu.be/NDX4ewMHT8I
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/T0rzMU42EkA

Good luck! If you know the grade, please only offer thoughts, not a grade.

Mr_Spud

66 Ultra Cameo

ChrisH821

PF65+*

coinbuf

PF65 CAM

johnny010

Edited
PF68

asheland

PF65 cam

david3142

PF65*. Those are incredibly hard to find CAM but that one looks close. Very nice!

Dropdaflag

Are the hairlines on the plastic?

FlyingAl

@Dropdaflag said:
Are the hairlines on the plastic?

No.

SanctionII

Thanks for posting the video of the coins and asking for GTG.

My understanding is that proof half dollars from 1936-1942 generally will not be given a Cameo designation by PCGS or NGS if the sun lacks the required "frost" (at all, or even if frost is present at a level that warrants the designation [i.e. light or moderate frost will not cut it]).

An example that does have the required level of frost on the sun is the 1938 NGC Cameo half dollar owned by Skyman (see photos of same below).

From the posted video the coin looks like it has mirrored fields and frosted devices sufficient to warrant a Cameo designation, except for the sun. The sun looks, at best lightly frosted and it may not have any frost.

So my WAG is PF66 (based solely on the video).

Smudge

PF66.

cameonut2011

65*

LeeBone

Total guess...
These are very hard to grade for me.
(Beautiful coin though )
66

WinLoseWin

Going by the linked video, the sun appears to have better than the usual contrast seen on Proof Walkers that have contrast elsewhere on them, so I am going to say they gave it a Cameo.

My first impression is a 65, but with the hints in the post and that there are die lines and with it being NGC I am going to guess that they gave it:

Proof-66 Cameo

NeophyteNumismatist

65+ Cam

messydesk

PR65*. I can see a few hairlines, but it is a special looking coin, nearly cameo, hence the star.

gumby1234

I'm in at 64

MFeld

PR65*

MarkInDavis

PR66*

U1chicago

PF 65 Star

Bigbuck1975

PF65

robec

@SanctionII said:
Thanks for posting the video of the coins and asking for GTG.

My understanding is that proof half dollars from 1936-1942 generally will not be given a Cameo designation by PCGS or NGS if the sun lacks the required "frost" (at all, or even if frost is present at a level that warrants the designation [i.e. light or moderate frost will not cut it]).

An example that does have the required level of frost on the sun is the 1938 NGC Cameo half dollar owned by Skyman (see photos of same below).

From the posted video the coin looks like it has mirrored fields and frosted devices sufficient to warrant a Cameo designation, except for the sun. The sun looks, at best lightly frosted and it may not have any frost.

So my WAG is PF66 (based solely on the video).

Another reverse shot of Skyman’s. It doesn’t feature the cameo so much but does show the clean fields a little better than the typical black and white shot.

ricko

My guess would be PF66.... Not sure if CAM, but looks close. Cheers, RickO

MFeld

Deleted due to duplicate post.

Gemstrike

PF63 CAM

FlyingAl

Alright, time for the reveal. There were a lot of really good guesses, and the grade is:

PR65 Star

I'm glad to see the discussion revolved around whether or not the coin was a CAM. In hand, it's very close and I'll probably send it in either as a cross at CAM to PCGS or a regrade at NGC (provided I won't lose the star this way) just to see what happens.

I'm going to post two photo sets here - one that shows the frosted sun and one that doesn't. A few notes about the photos - neither is completely accurate. The first set (frosted sun) shows the frost but lacks the depth that I find I usually get from my photos. The second set that shows a little bit of sun frost shows the depth that I usually get from my images. The first reverse shot is the most accurate of the two, but they are very similar.

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I find this coin compares favorably to the PCGS PR66CAM CAC that Legend auctioned in 2016, but as we all know comparing coins from images is a crapshoot.

PeakRarities

I think this thread was one of the most accurate group of guesses for a GTG that I’ve seen on this forum. Likely a testament to the stellar photography of @FlyingAl !

cameonut2011

Unfortunately there is no “cross as CAM” option for the coin at PCGS as you cannot specify a higher minimum grade/designation than the coin already has. If you want to pursue re-evaluation, regrade is the way to do it.

lilolme

@cameonut2011 said:
Unfortunately there is no “cross as CAM” option for the coin at PCGS as you cannot specify a higher minimum >grade/designation than the coin already has. If you want to pursue re-evaluation, regrade is the way to do it.

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That is what I recalled but the current pcgs information is implying that it changed (noticed it only recently on another thread). Here is the pcgs crossover page and the form instructions.

https://www.pcgs.com/crossover
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MFeld

Here's my unsolicited advice :
Please don't spend any additional money on grading, but instead, just enjoy your coin/set, as is. It's so easy to get consumed with trying to achieve a particular result. Avoid the temptation!
While the coin doesn't quite look "Cameo", you can always ask strong money for it when you decide to sell.

cameonut2011

@lilolme said:

@cameonut2011 said:
Unfortunately there is no “cross as CAM” option for the coin at PCGS as you cannot specify a higher minimum >grade/designation than the coin already has. If you want to pursue re-evaluation, regrade is the way to do it.

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That is what I recalled but the current pcgs information is implying that it changed (noticed it only recently on another thread). Here is the pcgs crossover page and the form instructions.

https://www.pcgs.com/crossover
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This is relatively new. Thanks!

@FlyingAl , apparently the policy is different and my post no longer reflects current policy- sorry

ChrisH821

@cameonut2011 said:

This is relatively new. Thanks!

@FlyingAl , apparently the policy is different and my post no longer reflects current policy- sorry

News to me too... I seem to remember the crossover instructions specifically stating that you could not request a minimum grade higher than current.
I like this change and it will probably boost crossover volume.

BuffaloIronTail

Oh, the intricacies of grading.

Mark is correct. Enjoy it knowing it's a close CAM and will sell for a CAM price if you ever decide to send it on its' way.

Pete

cameonut2011

@BuffaloIronTail said:
Oh, the intricacies of grading.

Mark is correct. Enjoy it knowing it's a close CAM and will sell for a CAM price if you ever decide to send it on its' way.

Pete

I wouldn’t bank on it fetching anywhere near cameo money for it. I’ve bought and sold many frosted device NGC star 1936-1942 proof coins and never came close although I made nice profits on most of them.