Your opinions re grading of Unc. No Motto Seated Halves, Old Large & half Cents

Elcontador

I am looking for a No Motto Seated Half in 5, and I would like your opinion based on these coins that you have personally seen whether on the whole, you believe PCGS or NGC grades these babies tighter than the other service, and why. From what I've seen in this particular series, I don't notice a difference.

Secondly, I will be getting into Draped Bust Large & Half Cents and maybe even a Classic Large Cent. I have seen very few of these coins around in Unc, but I find the grading of these coins to be horribly inconsistent.

Again, based on these coins that you have personally seen, on the whole, do you believe PCGS or NGC grades these babies tighter than the other service, and why? I don't have an opinion at this time.

dorkkarl

proof or b.s.?

K S

coinguy1

Karl, shame on you, on two counts, for asking "proof or b.s.?"

First, "b.s." is ambiguous and could be refering to the poster's post, rather than "business strike"

Second, Drraped Bust half cents and large cents were mentioned, along with the No Motto Seated halves - I know of no Proof Draped Bust Half cents or Large cents!

dorkkarl

i gotta learn how to read. it says right in his title "Unc.".

sorry dudes!

K S

tjkillian

I only have two seated halves without motto: An 1861-O in PCGS MS-62 and an 1854-O in PCGS AU-58. I feel that the AU-58 is right on (I made it myself) and the 1861-O is slightly undergraded. I feel they took too much off for some hits on the obverse.

I do have a motto 1875-S in PCGS MS-64 that has a very fresh look, but if you look at it just right, you can see some hairlines. It is my icon coin.

Tom

EVillageProwler

Jefe,

Based on my limited experience with Seated halves at this grade level, I'd say that both companies are a hit-n-miss. I've seen garbage as well as PQ specimens in both, with no clear advantage given to one service.

Most of the gems on the market these days are re-cycled junk. In any holder, you won't want them. The real gems are either priced too high, or are socked away.

EVP

PS I have no comment regarding Large Cents.

Baley

>>The real gems are either priced too high, or are socked away.<<

ain't it the truth. I know that MY best coins are not for sale at ask, maybe not even at twice ask.

Good luck finding a decent unc. classic head large cent at anywhere near sheet. I've tried

dorkkarl

oh, coinguy1, forgot to tell you ...

i disagree!!!

hahahahahahahaha!!!

K S

Elcontador

Well, I appreciate everyone's feedback, but I'm not exactly thrilled or surprised by the responses. The Copper I know about.

Later date Large & Half Cents are available in most Unc. grades in RD & BN, but not RB. The nice Braided Hair 1/2 Cents seem only to be available in PF, unless I want to sell a family member & buy a 66 RD business strike.

My gut feeling is that most nice classic coins are kept in collections for many years. When a beauty becomes available, it goes to a high end dealer to fill a preferred customer's want list.

I am not optimistic about Long Beach........

Ronyahski

I've been very active in Seated Halves for the past couple of years, including No Mottos, have viewed many of the pieces that have entered the market through auction, bourse floor, and dealers. I own several of the finest graded, and have some observations.

My overall view of how PCGS grades vs. NGC in the 65-66 grade for most series holds true for No Motto Halves. I hope I express this well. PCGS will more favor the market grade, giving weight towards luster, eye appeal, attractive (in their opinion) toning, while NGC gives more weight towards the technical side, marks and strike.

Taking a No Motto proof, PCGS will give a grade for an attractive mirrored and toned piece and tend to overlook the hairlines, while NGC will give a grade for a well struck, minimally marked coin, even though it was subject to an old-time obvious dip that affects luster, and may even be starting to tone unattractively ( e.g., you know that pissy yellow brown found on alot of 1860's halves). A technically nicer coin that may not have impaired luster or unattractive toning, I think NGC tends to give the highest grade (66-67) more readily over PCGS.

Who grades these puppies tighter? Depends on what you are looking for. I think PCGS tends to be a bit tougher. For white examples, there is no contest, PCGS is tougher.

I can say one thing. In three+ years of actively searching, I can't remember but one coin I've plucked from the bourse floor. Many of my purchases have come from scouring fresh material that pops up in the auctions, or from dealers who have my want list. So, my advice would be don't spend too much time wandering the bourse floor hoping to stumble across a nice No Motto Half.

EVP - "the real gems are... priced too high"? I was kind of surprised to hear you say that.