How are Lincoln's graded?

Ogden

Can someone explain what the pickup points are on Lincoln's? I just got a 1993 Lincoln back from one of the grading service and it was graded MS-64. It had a full beard and a great strike. I have no idea anymore what to look for. I have other Lincoln's graded MS-65 that don't have any beard and the hair is either worn from a bad die or bad strike. Can someone tell me all the items that the grading services addresses to grade a Lincoln penny. The 1993 appeared to be the best of what little moderns I have and I actually sent it in to see if I was on the right grading track. Guess I'm not.

Thanks
Ogden

merz2

Ogden
First is the ear.Second is the luster.Third is the bow tie.IMHO The beard isn't that important.

Ogden

Thanks Don, sorry I don't know all about the abbreviation, such as IMHO. Can you tell me what that stands for.

Thanks
Ogden

merz2

In My Humble Opinion.I've been looking at them for 20+ years,if that helps.
BTW By The Way,turn on your PM Private Message in your profile.

SarasotaFrank

IMHO = in my (or in this case - his) humble opinion

Ogden

Sorry Don, I didn't realize that I even had to turn the profile on or off.

After the previous post I went back and looked at the two coins I got back today. The 1993 Lincoln which had a full ear, full beard and probably had a full belly if I could have seen it. The 1966 SMS lincoln
came back MS 67 and the ear was not as well defined as the 1993. Ditto for the tie. I have looked at PCGS book on grading but they don't get into the MS designations. Any suggestions?

Ogden

cladking

I don't know a lot about grading Lincolns but have seen that many of these coins from
BU rolls have myriad striking problems. This is really a problem with most of the coins
being struck for circulation. They are struck with worn dies which were not properly alligned.
Most of he zinc Lincolns can be found nearly perfect in mint sets. These coins are fully proof
like in some cases and can hardly be told from proofs. And most come virtually mark free.
They are the only mint set coins which approach common status in very high grade. Some
of the earlier memorial cents are very elusive in good condition, but the zincs are still easy.

merz2

Ogden
Look at the lock in upper left corner.Those are PM's.If you have any it will have a #.

clackamas

For the more modern Lincolns the face had better be clean of even the slightest contact to get a grade over 65. If you have a mark on the face spend it. The steps on the reverse are good indication for strike. They better be full for an above 65 grade or the coin must be mark free and or just plain awesome. You can have light contact on the shoulder to get a 66 but the rest of the coin should have no major marks and maybe the slightest minor marks in hidden areas. If you want a grade at 67 and above eye appeal is what is goin to get you here. So essentially, to make high grade lincolns I would first look for the most beautiful coins, ones that are proof like or just plain good looking and then look for contact and strike. Its a heck of a bit tougher than you think. This is of course my opinion but I have slabbed hundreds of Lincolns. Your average roll may contain a 65 but most coins are going to be 64 and below. You have to get a really good roll

Ogden

Clackamas, thanks, but I understand that the folks who grade do not use a loop. How can they see this type of detail without the loop? Also, if you were the grader which would be the first thing you would look at then the second, etc. Thanks again.

Ogden

clackamas

I was under the understanding that PCGS does use a 5X loupe, but even if they don't after looking at so many coins you can see small marks with the naked eye.

airplanenut

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