Guess the grade on this Maryland 50c - surprising answer posted!!!

Higashiyama

It is graded by PCGS. I'm giving you the obverse only -- reverse is consistent. I'll be surprised if anyone guesses correctly!

nwcs

Hard to judge the luster, but considering the marks, I'll guess MS-64. I'm assuming some areas of dull color are jpg issues and not color shifts. If they are color shifts, AU-58.

TheNumish

MS-64.

LanLord

There is a pretty noticeable ding on the eye and cheek has a smaller dent, other than those, the strike looks nice for this type. I'm going to say ms62 because of those marks. The fields are really clear so I would have gone much higher if not for those marks, perhaps a 66.

Gilbert

Going with the generalization that MD Commems were not well kept and were dispersed to the public at large v. collectors, peculiarities in the design and that you will be surprised if anybody guesses, I going to say that despite the "smoky" toning it may have been given a MS65 probably in an old slab.

Pushkin

MS Grumpy 64

I'd sure hate to meet old Cecil alone late at night in a dark alley. Sure looks like a guy with NO SENSE OF HUMOR! What did he do for a living, construct gallows?

LanLord

<< <i> I'd sure hate to meet old Cecil alone late at night in a dark alley. Sure looks like a guy with NO SENSE OF HUMOR! What did he do for a living, construct gallows? >>

You think he caused a few nightmares in town during his time in office? I'll bet the kids around town had some great names for that "scary old guy".

Gilbert

Hey now, you guys ought to leave ol' Lord Baltimore II alone. Back in those days, I don't imagine there were very many "good lookin' folk" by today's standards anyway. I mean, powdered wigs, baths every week or so (if you were of means) men in tights, them hard a$$ shoes in particular would cause anyone to "scowl".

Pushkin

Gilbert,

As you know, we are a tough bunch on this forum, but Old Cecil scares me.
Maybe we should have a "Scariest Coin Contest"?

nwcs

SBA wins in a landslide election day vote!

FC57Coins

Higashiyama:

MS64 would be my first guess based on the looks of the coin, but since you're doubtful that we'll guess right, I'll make MS66 my official guess

Frank

LanLord

<< <i>SBA wins in a landslide election day vote! >>

The congressional commemorative half has to be a close runner up, or maybe just foolish looking.

Placid

au-55

nwcs

Nah, the 1987 Constitution dollar is worse than the 1989 half. Although I like the 1989 dollar.

truthteller

MS66


TRTH

keithdagen

The congressional commemorative half has to be a close runner up, or maybe just foolish looking.

LanLord,

FYI -- that design that you don't like currently resides on the top of the dome over the capitol building.

nwcs

OK, so what is the grade?? We can take only so much suspense!

BillJones

I'd say MS-63. That mark on Lord Baltimore's eyebrow is too distracting to call it anything higher. Still sending coins to the slab companies cna yield some surprises.

gmarguli

The only marks I can see from the scan are on his eyebrow and cheek. Assumeing those are the only real marks and the fields are smooth/clean, MS66 would be my guess.

Pushkin

What about all those little black spots and smudges? I don't know silver well, but on copper they wouldn't buy you any points - would guess they would limit the coin to nothing better than MS64, but then I don't know turtle dung about these coins!

robertpr

PR65 from the tone of your post! "I'd be surprised if anyone guesses correctly" usually means PCGS graded a PR coin as an MS or vice-versa, no?

Higashiyama

It's in a PCGS MS67 holder! I guess the real coin looks better than the image!!!

And if you have an extra $ 3750, you can buy it as follows:

DHRC Maryland

Outhaul

The question I have is...Why did they put Carmen Miranda on the Congressional Commem?

dorkkarl

absolutely CANNOT STAND "pop-top" in a coin ad.

K S

1956Quarter

H-1 Hideous......

Ok thats not an official grade....

There is NO way that coin is over MS-62. A prime example of why I won't buy a slab....

tjkillian

It looks like a MS-63. But you said no one would guess it, so I'd say XF-45

Tom

gmarguli

There is NO way that coin is over MS-62. A prime example of why I won't buy a slab....

How many of these Maryland commemoratives have you owned?

While I think that MS67 is generous given the hit on the eyebrow, the coin is no was an MS62. The fields look very clean. While I wouldn't jump at the chance to buy this coin as an MS67, there is no denying that the coin is of gem quality.

coynclecter

<< <i>There is NO way that coin is over MS-62. A prime example of why I won't buy a slab.... >>



You got any unslabbed coins for sale??

Higashiyama

I would have to agree with Greg that the coin's surfaces are nice, the strike is good for the issue, and it is possible that the overall eye appeal may be much nicer up close. Nonetheless, if I had tried to guess from the image, I think I would have said about MS64. An example both of how difficult it is to grade from an image, and how grading is affected by the issue.

This is an example of a coin where the design is so ugly, and the lustre usually so bland that it is hard to imagine paying a large premium regardless of the "number" on the coin. For someone looking for a nice, slabbed verison, definitely better to aim for 65 - 66 rather than 67!

By the way, I think the apparent nick on the eyebrow is actually part of the design. So, the only noticeable mark seems to be a pinmark on the cheek. If I'm correct on this, the grade starts becoming more believable.

Gilbert

<< <i>This is an example of a coin where the design is so ugly, and the lustre usually so bland that it is hard to imagine paying a large premium regardless of the "number" on the coin. >>



Now are you talking about the coin you imaged, or the Maryland Commem in general. My understanding is that, as struck, the coin has a frosty to brilliant appearance with "rippled" fields similar to a sculptured plaque, as opposed to flat mirrorlike fields. Again, I have to stand up for ol' Lord Baltimore II. I like the design, it is significant to me as I am a native Baltimorean, and as commems go, it actually commemorates something (300th anniv of the arrival of Cecil Calvert followers in Maryland 1634). The design is prone to nicks (because of the fields) and I think I already mentioned that it was not handled with care, so a relatively mark free specimen may very well see the reward of a higher grade.

Higashiyama

Gilbert -- Actually, I like all the classic commems, including ones where the design leaves something to be desired (like the Maryland, IMHO), and those that commemorate almost nothing. (like the Cincinnati). With regard to the Maryland, speaking only of the design and not the historical significance, I would have to say that Cecil Calvert is about as "photogenic" as Ms. Shriver on the special olymipics coin. The bust of Calvert seems flat, and his nose strangely out of proportion.

The rippling effect you note is interesting, and I had never really thought about it before. It seems somewhat like the Iowa in this respect.

TommyB

If that Maryland is 67, where the heck would you put this (cleaned) Lafayette? I've got a couple of Missouri's that I might have to look at too!

Tom

BillJones

The coin as the hazy "never been dipped look." I guess that's what PCGS liked although NGC is usually more taken by that kind of thing. I just can't understand how they could call the coin MS-67 with that big mark that is on Lord Baltimore's eyebrow. I'd sooner own the smooth MS-64 that in my colleciton if I could choose between the coins at the same money!

Here's my Layfeyette which is a PCGS MS-63. I think it deserves that grade because of the scratch under the horse. If this Maryland is a MS-67 with the scratch on the eyebrow, maybe I should crack this and send it in. NOT!