Grading Question for PR Dime (late 1800s)

RKKay

If a PR dime is brilliant, with great reflectivity and has great eye appeal and no defects to the naked eye, but (evident on 10x mag) 2 spots of hairlines on the obverse and hairlines all over on the reverse, why might it grade a 63 as opposed to a 64?

Cam40

Hairlines on a Proof are not as exceptable as on a Business-strike coin.Meaning,The more visible the hairlines and severity,(deep,long,in a main focal area?) the more points it loses.
And I think the more modern the coin,the tougher grading standards usually apply.

Why it might be a 63 and not a 64 could be a matter of opinion too.It could be borderline.
We often disagree with what grade a coin `really ` is.Even the bigboy slabbed ones.

stman

A lot of people have said that sometimes the rev of a coin doesn't help a grade a lot, but it can really hurt the grade. You mentioned the rev had hairlines all over and that might be why.

Hope this helps, Stman

RKKay

Thanks. Doesn't it make a difference that the hairlines ones become noticeable upon 10x mag, or is that really just the nature of what one would call hairlines? And these are very shallow and more like spider webs, even on 10x.

stman

If I use a loupe and see hairlines all over the place I just call them hairlines all over the place. If on a dime you can see them to the unaided eye then they would be considered severe in my opinion.

And maybe even a lower grade.

Stman

Placid

Post a picture

stman

Now on some of these proofs they can have die striations or polish lines. These usually sit on top of the surface and not into the surface like hairlines. So you need to determine this. It gets tough sometimes.

Hope this helps a little.
Stman

Cam40

Thats true.It took me a few looks to start to notice the different between scratches(hairlines) and die scratches(scratches from the die being polished) What looks like lots of tiny scratches on the coin
is sometimes actually tiny raised lines on the surface.You can only see this really with a glass.

Try angleing your view to try and see it you think the lines are into the coin or are tiny raised lines.
Its tricky to tell at first.Gotta look at alot of different coins and grades,mostly the high grades,otherwise you,d know its hairlines and not die polish lines.

RKKay

Thanks for all your advice. It has helped. As for a scan, I don't have the capability, or I would post one. Thanks.

CarlWohlforth

Do you have a bright halogen light? Hairlines really jump out if under a light like that if you tilt the coin through all angles. I'd guess they are clearly visible without magnification under those conditions.

nwcs

Yeah, I was going to suggest the halogen, too. It's good for exposing subtle lines.

RKKay

Maybe I'll get one. Thanks for the advice.

michael

open your pm