Check out this Liberty nickel coming up for auction!
mdwoods
Posts: 5,559 ✭✭✭
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mdwoods
Posts: 5,559 ✭✭✭
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Not good enough for me.
rainbowroosie April 1, 2003
toning aside, it's an MS63 or less strike. and that doesn't even acount for the very obvious neck hit, not anything major but in a prime focal area. one thing many of the coins being linked for sale at the F.U.N. auctions seem to have in common are high grades which appear to be inflated.
al h.
I agree, the strike would certainly keep me from bidding on it. Its pretty, but not all there for the grade.
Luster, luster, luster....eye appeal, eye appeal, eye appeal..... then deduct for hits. Don't nitpick a coin to death over ticks. That's the new grading, folks.
<< <i>toning aside, it's an MS63 or less strike. and that doesn't even acount for the very obvious neck hit, not anything major but in a prime focal area. one thing many of the coins being linked for sale at the F.U.N. auctions seem to have in common are high grades which appear to be inflated. >>
Al, it's not just a coincidence. Although the glossy catalogs and color plates look great as do a lot of the internet images, after reviewing a number of sales recently I've come to the realization that these sales are just about as much of a dumping ground as anywhere else.
When viewing the coins in person, it's not hard to eliminate 80% of them right off the bat for overgrading, questionable color, altered surfaces and a myriad of other problems. Of the remaining 20% I'd say that half of those are hard pressed to warrant a hard second look. That leaves a very small number of coins that are really going for in my opinion. Actual experiences may vary of course.
Certainly there are some fantastic pieces offered through these venues, not to take that away from them. But the true quality of most lots is pretty disppointing and it makes me very concerned for all the people who base their decisions on the internet image and catalog description.
Again, when looking at all these pictures, remember that there is often much more than meets the eye. It's no different than ebay or anywhere else.
Edited so post doesn't come across as being self-serving.
Yes, that left corn is flat and some might prefer a nice MS64 specimen with a fully struck left corn and other details. The last couple MS64 specimens I purchased of this date I decided to buy primarly because the strikes were super strong with well struck left corn. It is unlikely PCGS will go with a "full strike" designation on these Lib nickels anytime soon, but, if and when they do, you can count on a fully struck left corn being included as a major focal area for the designation IMHO.
Wondercoin
al h.
Wondercoin
We'll use our hands and hearts and if we must we'll use our heads.
while you note the corn-ear, you haven't mentioned the obverse flatness in the hair. for me, that's a much more noticeable area of strike weakness. on this coin it extends clear into the headband and down towards the eye, moreso than usual. of course it could be a matter of LDS, but the remainder of the coin looks sharp which tells me weak strike.
i had a discussion about Lib nickels and strike with an old boy in my coin club. he looks at something like this and says "rub-AU" without hesitation. i've tried to explain otherwise to him to no avail. i finally told him i'd like the oppurtunity to look over any AU's he has that he might want to sell!!
al h.