What is the most important detail when grading seated coins XF and above.

seatedlib3991

seatedlib3991

I only ask this because of late I have begun to think hair detail plays a much larger role than I ever considered before. I use to be fixated on the sharpness of Liberty Letters and her scroll.
However, the more I study Seated coins the more I see hair detail as the pivotal point between grades such as EF, choice EF and AU. James

MFeld

You asked about XF and above but the answers/considerations for AU and mint state coins aren’t the same as for XF examples.

BillJones

Ideally an EF coin has almost all of the design detail present with a light rub on the highest points. The mint luster is all gone or virtually all gone on an EF-45.

Unfortunately the grade as become somewhat "degraded" in recent years. Some EF graded pieces don't have the amount of detail that they should have in my opinion.

My sharpness grade for this 20 cent piece is EF-40. Some might not like the spots or the marks on the reverse, but the coin has enough detail to qualify for the grade.

Cougar1978

They have to be PCGS or NGC, the deal has to be there, meet my standards, and have good chance move with retail buyers.

Manifest_Destiny

I collect VF-XF quarters and the most important points to push the grade from 35-40 are whether of not the breast is flat/round and the detail on the eagle's lower left (viewers right) wing.

VF35

XF40

You'll find some inconsistency though, but this is what I look for.

87redcivic

Since it hasn't been mentioned yet, I'll bring up undamaged rims as being an important consideration at the EF grade level.

alaura22

@87redcivic said:
Since it hasn't been mentioned yet, I'll bring up undamaged rims as being an important consideration at the EF grade level.

Don't confine it to EF grades, in ALL grades!

ElmerFusterpuck

@Cougar1978 said:
They have to be PCGS or NGC, the deal has to be there, meet my standards, and have good chance move with retail buyers.

I don't see any part of the OP's question asking how you run your business, what your standards are or if it is a "deal". Lame.

seatedlib3991

I was just curious what features others might stress in their grading and decision making. True to life "other" wins the race. Personally though, I have noticed that the amount of hair detail seems to play an oversized role, even though many guide books say not to use gown/clasp and head detail when grading. I only recently started paying attention to the age of slabs and was a little surprised to see a measurable difference in the details of the coins. I have several coins from the 2002 and earlier period that have the same or more detail than coins in newer age slabs, but are graded VF-35 rather than 40 or 45. First actual proof I have ever seen of gradeflation within my own coins.

bigjpst

Usually when I’m looking at XF or higher I look for detail definition of Liberty’s gown where it goes over her right shoulder and neckline. If you look @Manifest_Destiny quarters above the detail of the gown blends into Liberty on the VF35 and there is clear separation on the XF coin. XF 45 should have that clear separation and a decent amount of luster. In AU, I look for almost full details on all the devices so you should have nearly full hair and gown details. But it seems a lot lately from all of the TPGs XF 45s can have the weak details as long as they have some protected luster and get XF 45. Unless of course I submit them.

Crypto

Same as all coins, mint surfaces preservation. XF and above luster is a very good indicator of rub especially when you get to the middle and above AU grades where metal loss hasn’t effected the details discernibly yet

winesteven

@alaura22 said:

@87redcivic said:
Since it hasn't been mentioned yet, I'll bring up undamaged rims as being an important consideration at the EF grade level.

Don't confine it to EF grades, in ALL grades!

I checked “Other” because when talking about XF and higher (Mint State), I feel Planchet Condition plays a very key role for grading (“hits”, etc. - how many, how bad, where they are).

Steve

alaura22

@winesteven said:

@alaura22 said:

@87redcivic said:
Since it hasn't been mentioned yet, I'll bring up undamaged rims as being an important consideration at the EF grade level.

Don't confine it to EF grades, in ALL grades!

I checked “Other” because when talking about XF and higher (Mint State), I feel Planchet Condition plays a very key role for grading (“hits”, etc. - how many, how bad, where they are).

Steve

We are talking specifically of rim damage. Dings, bumps, nicks ect. Planchet flaws are a whole different story.

winesteven

@alaura22 said:

@winesteven said:

@alaura22 said:

@87redcivic said:
Since it hasn't been mentioned yet, I'll bring up undamaged rims as being an important consideration at the EF grade level.

Don't confine it to EF grades, in ALL grades!

I checked “Other” because when talking about XF and higher (Mint State), I feel Planchet Condition plays a very key role for grading (“hits”, etc. - how many, how bad, where they are).

Steve

We are talking specifically of rim damage. Dings, bumps, nicks ect. Planchet flaws are a whole different story.

I understand you’re talking rims, but the post is asking what is the most important detail when grading Seated coins XF and above. In my opinion “hits” on the devices and/or in the fields is key. To be clearer, I’m not referring to defects in the raw planchet, but what happens to the coin after it’s struck.

Steve

alaura22

Steve, have it your way
I was responding to the post within the thread about rim damage, not the OPs question.

winesteven

Ok, sounds good!

Steve

Walkerfan

I look for wear on the breast, hair and leg.