"finest known" conundrum - example given
dorkkarl
Posts: 12,691 ✭✭✭
suppose pcgs has graded all four of the only known 1933-CC morgan dollars.
#1 is blast white, stunning luster, too many bagmarks, graded ms-65
#2 is blast white, dmpl, above average luster, average bagmarks, but graded ms-64 dmpl
#3 is blast white, well struck, but average luster, graded ms-65
#4 is blast white, average struck, but booming luster, graded ms-65
which is the finest known?
K S
#1 is blast white, stunning luster, too many bagmarks, graded ms-65
#2 is blast white, dmpl, above average luster, average bagmarks, but graded ms-64 dmpl
#3 is blast white, well struck, but average luster, graded ms-65
#4 is blast white, average struck, but booming luster, graded ms-65
which is the finest known?
K S
0
Comments
which is the finest known?
Yes.
Our eBay auctions - TRUE auctions: start at $0.01, no reserve, 30 day unconditional return privilege & free shipping!
U.S. Nickels Complete Set with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes
U.S. Dimes Complete Set with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes
Then again, I am impressed not only that four 1933 dollars ahve been certified, but that they all came from Carson City . . . man I love this hobby!
Note: Sorry, but somebody had to do it!
Seriously . . . the answer is who ever has the best PR person!
Lane
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Kind of twisted, like the way the FTC looks at advertising. If you say your product is "best", that means no other product is better. If you say your product is "better", then you are claiming it is the best.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
i can tell you which are the highest graded and start another esoteric discussion since you included the #2 coin with a designation in addition to a grade.
finest known is a BS term and really means nothing since all can't be known or evaluated at the same time, except for a very few coins.
al h.
Wouldn't it be cool to start a company called "Worst Known". You would specialize in only holed or cull coins.
Our eBay auctions - TRUE auctions: start at $0.01, no reserve, 30 day unconditional return privilege & free shipping!
<< <i>Wouldn't it be cool to start a company called "Worst Known". You would specialize in only holed or cull coins.
You'd get plenty of my business.
Self Indulgence | Holey Coins | Flickr Photostream
The DMPL designation wins out
My posts viewed
since 8/1/6
<< <i>suppose pcgs has graded all four of the only known 1933-CC morgan dollars. >>
that's a real conundrum
“It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” Mark Twain
Newmismatist
At a show in Cincinnati once we had 4 of the 6 known (at that time) 1838 N-16 cents including all three of the Mint State coins. We passed them around and reached a concensus as to the first second and third finest. One of those is now in a PCGS holder and has been trumpeted as the "finest known" in auction catalogs when it comes up for sale. It is actually the second finest as decided by thespecialists who have seen all of the contendors.
<< <i>The specialist collectors that have examined them concur that #2 is the finest followed by 3, 4, & 1. The grades assigned by PCGS are of no consequence.
At a show in Cincinnati once we had 4 of the 6 known (at that time) 1838 N-16 cents including all three of the Mint State coins. We passed them around and reached a concensus as to the first second and third finest. One of those is now in a PCGS holder and has been trumpeted as the "finest known" in auction catalogs when it comes up for sale. It is actually the second finest as decided by thespecialists who have seen all of the contendors. >>
The true 'finest known' coins in any series are typically recognized by specialists (i.e. people who have been researching and studying that particular series or coin for a long, long time, have seen a huge number of them, have researched what really exists, etc.). and in such cases the opinions of the TPGs are almost irrelevant.
I say 'almost' because the TPG's opinions are totally relevant to the 98% of collectors who aren't specialists, and 100% of the dealers, auction houses and others who buy, sell and own coins. And thats a shame.
<< <i>Karl, show me the coins (as in sight-seen) and I'll gladly tell you which is the finest known.
You, of all people, should know better than to expect us to answer without being able to view the coins (in or out of the "plastic")! >>
bingo.
oh, & there is a price for getting the right answer ====>> the winner of this contest will be allowed to enter the final post to this thread!
K S