More Merc Pics for Ken & Marc - Warning large # of pics!

JustMakesCents

Ken (Fairlaneman) asked for some more images so here we go ...
Looking for comments & grades for the dimes as well as photographic help!

1916-S Unc w/FSB
Small nick in front of the nose, splotchy obv toning - cheek is clean even though the pictures disagree!
Lower diagonal band struck weakly - no rub, however



1917-P Unc w/FSB
Gorgeous luster, visible raised die polish lines in front of and behind liberty
Note the weakness of the T. On reverse, lower half of "Dime" is weakly struck.




1923-P Unc w/FSB
Luster hidden under a layer of haze and not-so-attractive toning (dip candidate?)
I can't find a single mark on this one.



1926-P Unc w/FSB
Another one with nice under-lying luster. Spot of purple toning on the obverse.
Only mark is the small hit near the ear, the rest is photographic magic!



Jeff

Gonfunko

Nice!

JrGMan2004

Here's my opinions... I'm a little better with Uncs My favorite of the 4, is the 1917. Nice Luster on the Obverse

#1 - MS64FB
#2 - MS66FB
#3 - MS63 (Not sure on the FB for this one...)
#4 - MS64 (Close to FB me thinks, but can't tell for sure in the pictures)

JustMakesCents

JrGMan -

Thanks for the comments. I should have mentioned on the original post that all 4 are definitely FSB. Had a hard time getting the photographs to show, however.

Jeff

JrGMan2004

Yeah, some FBs are hard to show... and also a picture shot at a slight angle can make it look like there is a flatspot, when none is present.

Fairlaneman

Thanks for Showing. My memory says this is the first time since being on the forums that a member has shared a Merc collection that was purchased with us.

From this batch of pictures 63/64 looks like the grades. The 16S looks pretty typical for the date with the weakness on the lower reverse. 64FB looks like a fair grade but 63 would not suprise me. . If the 17P, which by the way is a type of 17, was struck a little better it probably would 65. No dice though IMO. The 23 needs a quick shower then maybe 65 for it. The 26P needs a shower also. This is a sneaky hard date in higher grades. A nice number would look good on this coin for you.

Ken

Fairlaneman

Opps.....Lets see the AU 25P.........

Ken

marcmoish

1916-S looks 63FB at best!! And even that is being overly generous the 16's are usually well struck there is either wear or weak strike evident.

1917 should grade 64FB nice dime overall. If those marks on the cheek and tone blotches (I don't like em) on reverse are that obvious it may grade lower imho.

1923 63FB but may go lower for that obvious ugly toning - nice strike though!

1926 looks really nice solid 63 imho - should be FB on most days.



They are really not a bad bunch - the 64, 65 and higher grades are really tough - they are not so easily found. I hope you were not looking for much higher grades, although one must see the coin up front in real life to truly be able to tell. These are only my estimations based on what I see.


Marc

Edited to add: although the 16-S is thought to be weakly struck I've seen more than a few looking really nice - mystery to me.

JustMakesCents

Thanks all!

Ken - 25P later tonight!

Jeff

fcloud

I think the...

1916 won't go above 63, and with the amount of marks it may go 61,
1917 looks pretty good and could go either 63 or 64 (I don't think it will go higher-weak strike),
1923 good strike, but dull, I think it has a shot at MS64 with an outside chance at a higher grade
1926 very nice strike I think it will go 65

Fairlaneman

For comparison. Both are PCGS 66FB Holdered coins.







Ken

marcmoish

now there you have 66FB's indeed - I love the 26 truly a beautiful dime similar to mine except my photo skills are erratic at best



Marc

JustMakesCents

Thanks Ken, Marc, George, & fcloud! Your input really helps.

For what its worth, my grades that I had formulated before posting the pics:

1916-S MS62FB (weak strike, hit in front of nose and on cheek)
1917-P MS64FB (weakness on "Dime" and lower diagonal, lack of hits, luster gave it a bump)
1923-P MS65FB (and I think it may still be after a dip, no hits that I can find, good strike, luster peaking out)
1926-P MS64FB (luster does peak out, not as sharp as the 23-P obv, reverse is strong though, could be 63FB)

So, all in all I was pretty close to the grades you all thought. Of course, the difference in my grades could be from:
1. Me being able to see the coins.
2. All of you being better at this than me.
3. Owner's grade bump.

Probably all three, but most likely the last two!

Thanks again,
Jeff

P.S. More to come - including 25P Ken! - tomorrow

JrGMan2004

Yeah, I didn't take the strike into account on the 1917, otherwise, I think my estimates were pretty close to the others... That's good to know...