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here a nice $2 1/2 .what grade would it get???

image

this one going to pcgs this comeing week.it a nice one too 1914 #2 rarest in set.
littlejohn

Comments

  • hi
    its looks much better than the picture.
    littlejohn
  • I have a hard time grading those incuse gold coins in hand. So I don't even bother guessing by photo. One really has to look at the fields for luster and any rubs/hits or whatever. Gold is a forgiving metal to photograph so I don't even try to guess by photo.

    There seems to be a hit above the Eagle's back. Are the fields hairlined? Tough coins to grade...
  • hi carl
    thats for the info. on these type gold coins.
    littlejohn
  • LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,754 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The indian quarter and half eagle are truely one of my favorite US coins. I'll never miss an opportunity to look at them.

    They are so unique in their design and manner of strike, I sure wish the mint would create another all incuse* coin either commem or circulation coin again.

    * okay, I have read that these coins aren't truely incuse in design, lets not get sidetracked there, I'm using incuse as a description since everyone seems to recognize these two by that name.
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,750 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Grading these coins by the MS points is almost impossible from a photo. Luster, marks and the presence or absence of a rub or spot on the Indian's cheekbone and top of the eagle’s wing are all important points.

    I had a piece that I thought would get an MS-63 or 64 from NGC. It came back MS-62, which was very disappointing. Despite the fact that it was very smooth with almost no marks and no rub, I was told that at the piece got a lower grade because of the luster. The surfaces were satiny not bright, which was the way the coin came from the mint.

    Your coin looks satiny from the picture. It might be bright, and if it is, is will get more points DISPITE the marks. I’ve seen this a number of times.

    Good luck! Sending stuff in for grading is a minefield.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • jomjom Posts: 3,529 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What Bill Jones said. image

    The problem with the incuse designs (more so on the $5) is that the luster is an important factor. Photos are great for seeing the strike and, in most cases, the hits but they do a poor job with luster and much of the time with color. Given that the design is already difficult to grade using a photo is next to impossible. I'd imagine your coin is AU or lower MS...depends on the wear. Is there wear on the eagle's shoulder?

    My personal ideas on these: On the $5 Indians I always look for at least some luster bands above (at 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock) eagles head. Luster is VERY rare in obverse fields...generally speaking. The $2.5s overall always come nicer. In fact, you can find really nice ones for most of the dates after about 1912 or so. You can't say that with the $5.

    jom
  • hi
    no wear that i can see,dose have a few hairline in the background.
    littlejohn
  • dorkkarldorkkarl Posts: 12,691 ✭✭✭
    ms-61

    K S

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