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Grading weakly struck coins.

fcloudfcloud Posts: 12,133 ✭✭✭✭
David,

Thank you again for another Tuesday chat.

How are weak strike coins graded? Some early Mercury dimes are very weakly struck, is this considered when grading circulated coins. For sake of discussion lets say a coin is an obvious light strike, and some of the details indicate it should be AU/XF, but the coin is so weak that the details are missing, would this be considered in grading? As an example, the diagonal bands are completely missing from the fasces, and most of the braids are missing, yet it is obvious by the other details the coin has only seen very minor circulation is the coin in the realm of VG, or is the weakness considered as weakness and given a grade in the range of the amount of circulation? If the coin was uncirculated, it would probably grade low MS due to strike, but once it circulated is it over?

Tony

President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay

Comments

  • homerunhallhomerunhall Posts: 2,498 ✭✭✭
    Strike is definitely a consideration in the grading of mint state coins. The four factors for mint state coins are luster, marks, strike and eye appeal. If you have a copy of the PCGS grading book, these factors are explain in detail.

    For circulated coins, strike is not as critical. However, if the strike is unusually weak, there would be some deduction of points for the final grade.
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