What Makes an SLQ a FH?

LeeG

I've been looking at quite a few SLQ's lately and I've been wondering what kind of detail is needed by the Grading Services to designate an SLQ FH. Do PCGS, NGC, and ANACS have different standards for FH designations? If so, can someone tell me what they are? Heres an example of an ANACS MS63 FH. Thanks for the help!! Lee

relayer

According to the strict ANA definition, only a MS70 could be a "Full Head", but each grading company has their own standards.

PCGS gives the FH designation when "the helmet of the head has full detail"

Elcontador

Disagree completely. Maybe 20% of the FH Standers I've seen have full helmet / head detail. In the Type II & Type III coins, look for the 3 sprigs to be visible, with a clearly defined hairline and ear hole. Avoid 'liner' coins.

Most FH coins have some flat spots (and a number of the coins designated FH IMO are not true FH coins), which in themselves, do not preclude a FH designation. The PCGS Grading Book (which came out in 1998, I believe), does a good job explaining the definition of a FH coin.

jom

Here's a tip to new SLQ collectors: Avoid the FH hype. Find yourself nice, high quality pieces and avoid the big jump in price! You'll have a great set at a fraction of the cost.



jom

ER

<< <i>Here's a tip to new SLQ collectors: Avoid the FH hype. Find yourself nice, high quality pieces and avoid the big jump in price! You'll have a great set at a fraction of the cost.



jom >>

MFH

The ANACS SLQ posted is a FH, and as such, deserves a premium over the flat/scooped out heads that are usually found.

A FH is, as Elcondator mentions, only available with three leaf sprigs and an earhole clearly visable. Only the Type 1 of 1916 has different qualifiers for a FH designation.

If you are collecting this series and want a truly nice set without paying the outrageous money true FH's command, there are alot of "borderline" FH examples that look very nice for a fraction of what the FH cost.
Just don't buy a borderline FH coin in a FH holder.

The "helmut" effect mentioned is having the hair line completely raised along side Liberty's cheek. There should be a distinct line and not a gradual sloping of the face into the hair. Be aware that there are many barely FH's in FH holders, however the one's with "ultimate" FH's always receive the most attention when they are available and usually command greater prices than the marginal FH's.

Once you've gotten your feet wet in this series, you'll soon see that certain dates never come with a true FH and that's just the way it is. I have only seen a few 1926-S & 1927-S with a true FH, and most of these two dates whose holders say FH really are just nicely struck coins but not true FH's.

Good luck with one of the most difficult coins to grade and also my absolute favorite coin.

kieferscoins

<< <i>According to the strict ANA definition, only a MS70 could be a "Full Head", but each grading company has their own standards. >>



That is why no one uses the ANA definitions anymore except for lower grade circulated stuff.

Cameron Kiefer

coinguy1

Lee, the images wont be there anymore, but here is a thread I started about Standing Liberty Quarters long ago

LINK

jom

<< <i>Just don't buy a borderline FH coin in a FH holder. >>



And there is the other problem. A coin like this could very well be a GREAT coin but the premium may not be worth it do to the designation. And that is unfortunate....

jom

LeeG

Thanks Guys for the "Awesome" comments and recommendations up to this point!!! Lee

Do you think the ANACS above is borderline FH?

Merc

No, this 1930 is not a boarderline FH. The 1930 is the most common FH. There are more uncirculated 1930 quarters in FH than non- FH. I ahve seen some in FH holders that have the top hair line and the 3 sprigs on the hat, but are lacking the lower hairline from the cheek to the ear. Plus, the ear hole is very, very weak or is missing. These are worth a premium over flat heads, but not the price of a full head.

Elcontador

Just a general comment. Merc is correct in that the 30P is the most common FH coin in series II & series II SLQs. The 17 P is the most common FH type I coin. In fact, if you want a fully struck SLQ, the 17P Type I is your best bet. Note that the FH reqts. for this coin are different than the ones discussed on this thread.

mgoodm3

i think the strike on the shield is just as important and more noticable on most coins.

JxnBoy

In my experience, NGC is the loosest with the FH designation. I have coins in NGC holders that don't meet the FH standards as I understand. As has been pointed out, there's a difference between Type 1 and Type 2 & 3, but here's some photos I have.

I think ANACS is pretty tough. I've seen some coins in ANACS holders that were very close to full head, but no designation. I guess the same could be said for all TPG's for that matter.

Here's some pics:
ANACS FH - this is a no-brainer FH



PCGS Ty1, 63 FH, sorry, the photo's not too good



NGC - Borderline FH, not enough separation along the hairline, but still resides in an NGC AU55FH holder



NGC - Confirming my comment about being looser, this coin is also in an NGC 55FH holder, but there's really no way this is going to go FH again in anyone's holder, including NGC. New holders seem to show a tightening on the designation, but still not as tight as PCGS and ANACS. I guess you could argue that you can see the three sprigs, there's barely a hairline, but there's definitely an earhole, but either way this doens't meet my standards for FH. It actually looks much nicer in hand without such huge photos.

Crackout

This was in an ANACS holder (until I busted it out) - three sprigs, hairline and the appearance of an earhole - but no FH.

MFH

JXNBOY is 100% correct in his assertion that NGC is looser than the other two of The Top Three TPG's.
As we have seen there have been numerous borderline FH's in both NGC & PCGS holders with the FH designation. Yet, NGC seems to be the looser of these two companies. ANACS does seem to the the most stringent of the Top Three TPG's in handing out the FH title.

It all goes back to the old saying, buy the coin and not the holder. You have to be discerning on which coin you buy, as not all coins listed as FH are really FH.

MGOODM3 mentions the full shield. Very few FH's have a full shield - showing all the shield's bosses and full verticals on the inner shield. Occasionally one is fortunate enough to locate a FH with the full bosses on the shield and even more fortunate to locate one with the full verticals.

We all know that this coin is one of the hardest to grade and its the striking characteristics which are the most obvious. Learning the nuances between the grades is what seems to be the most difficult. Trying to assign a grade on this coin simply by viewing it on a computer screen is almost an impossibility.