Can someone with a good eye for Mercs explain the differences between ms 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67?
LanLord
Posts: 11,714 ✭✭✭✭✭
I have picked up a lot of Mercs over the years, but have never really gotten a grip on the grading nuances.
I'm kinda interesed in the key pickup points that make for a point or two higher or lower.
Thanks.
I'm kinda interesed in the key pickup points that make for a point or two higher or lower.
Thanks.
0
Comments
Ok ok...back under my rock.
Sometimes I think the difference of one point at the 64/5/6 level is which day it was graded ... course that's probably true for all series
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
If you're selling it to me its a 65 to you and a 63 to me. If I'm selling it to you its a 65 to me and a 63 to you. If we send it in for grading it might come back as a 63, 64 or 65 unless you send it to accugrade, then its a 67 or 68. If its in a dealers case its a 66 and if its on ebay its a 65 in a 64 holder, they all claim to be undergraded. Oh, and if you take it to the local coin shop its AU at best.
Any questions?
MS63...usually some bag marks are in the main focal points. If the coin does not show bag marks the luster is weak. Poor eye appeal can put a coin in this grade also.
MS64...sometimes these look just as good as a MS65 dime but if you take a look at the coin closely you will see some slide marks or hailines in the fields or on the neck and cheek of Miss Liberty. Usually the luster is very nice on a 64.
Let me add just a little something about the MS64 Mercs. Many coins fall within this grade for the early dates. Many people will look at a early date Merc and not look for the Hairlines or Slide marks that are on the coin. If the person does not look carefully he will think the grading service is robbing him/her. I guess what I am saying is if you think your coin is 65 or higher you better make darn sure the fields and Miss Liberty are clean from hairlines or slide marks.
MS65...a all around nice coin that may have a couple of bag marks in the main focal points but they will be small. Other marks may also be on the coin but hidden in the devices. In most cases you will not see slide marks on a 65. The luster is almost excellent but not quite.
MS66...usually only a couple of small bag marks on the coin and on the reverse. Sometimes one may be on the obverse but it will be hidden. The luster on a 66 is excellent with no problems at all. If the coin is Toned the luster will blast right through the tone.
MS67...No marks period on the obverse. Strike is usually full for the date on the obverse. I have seen 67's with bag marks on the reverse and of course some of the coins get the grade even if it is not a Full Band coin. Luster and Tone, if there is any Tone, are excellent.
This is what I have seen with PCGS slabbed Merc Dimes. NGC is different because they grade the Mercs just a little different than PCGS.
Ken
I will chip in as generally agreeing with ken overall - I will add it is quite difficult to correctly grade this series by basic pointers as many may grade higher due to super eye appeal or lower accordingly. In MS-65 I will say though I'd expect very very few marks - in fact my 65's are generally pristine - A gem should be a gem - full luster - no marks whatsoever that are obvious at first glance without toning while a 66 should practically border on 67 period with 1-2 bagmarks at most.......this is a tough series to correctly find the rght words - Ken's got it the closest.
Marc
Those of you that provided the entertainment, thank you too. This place wouldn't be nearly as fun without some horseplay.
Caio, gratzie.
I would LOVE to have some of the 58's that PCGS has graded. They are VERY nice dimes and I think to this day they are MS dimes in AU holders
Ok, it works like this
If you're selling it to me its a 65 to you and a 63 to me. If I'm selling it to you its a 65 to me and a 63 to you. If we send it in for grading it might come back as a 63, 64 or 65 unless you send it to accugrade, then its a 67 or 68. If its in a dealers case its a 66 and if its on ebay its a 65 in a 64 holder, they all claim to be undergraded. Oh, and if you take it to the local coin shop its AU at best.
Very well said! Thus the certified coin (certified by a credible service, that is....such as PCGS), put an end to all the old "Low-Ball"- "Five point swing" Game that dealers like to employ when buying raw coinage from Joe Public. They'll convince you that your 63 is AU 58....you give in and sell...come back a little later and sure enough, there is your 58 sitting in a ChBu flip!
I used to be real good friends with the proprietor of a coin shop and hung out at his shop often until I saw him take advantage of one too many people and have never gone back since. I've seen him size people up mostly by what came out of their mouths and he would quote different rates to different people but without fail he always had a reason to lowball EVERYBODY's stuff, no matter what it was!
A guy comes into the shop one day with a huge pile of PCGS and NGC certified coins...some quite rare and played dumb. The dealer knew what he had and quoted ridiculously low prices, basically trying to steal this guy's coins that he claimed to know nothing about...that he inherited from a deceased relative. Well, the guy was setting a trap for the dealer and sure enough it worked. When the guy pulled out his business card and revealed who he really was and that he had just caught this dealer (a PCGS dealer, at that) red handed....well, let's just say that I got my jollies that day! I LOVED it! MONKEY
<< <i>Ok, it works like this
If you're selling it to me its a 65 to you and a 63 to me. If I'm selling it to you its a 65 to me and a 63 to you. If we send it in for grading it might come back as a 63, 64 or 65 unless you send it to accugrade, then its a 67 or 68. If its in a dealers case its a 66 and if its on ebay its a 65 in a 64 holder, they all claim to be undergraded. Oh, and if you take it to the local coin shop its AU at best.
Any questions? >>
Applicable to any coin series!
pull out the bottom 80 coins, those will be ms 60-ms-63.
next 15 coins, those will be ms-64.
that leaves 5 coins. 4 of these will be ms-65, full gem bu coins, and definitely keepers.
finally, that last coin, you lucky dog, that's your ms-66 or better.
this seriously does work - try it!
K S