Standing Liberty Full Head or Not? More pics, Grade?

KurtHorn

I will also tell you this much this issue is known for notoriously weak head strikes... (Sorry for the bad pic - it's from my Digital Blue toy microscope.)



Edited to add: ear hole is distinct.

MFH

Its a weak FH, but I have seen weaker in FH holders. If you had a "borderline" category, I'd have voted for that.

WANNABEDEALER

It is a full head, has all three leaves, seperation along the bun and an opening for the earhole. If it is a common date then you may have to try it more than once, if it is a scarce date in full head it should go first time as the scarce dates full heads do not come very well struck in the head area. Examples of these dates are the 1926-s and 1927-s. While I have seen one or two monster full heads of the 26-s most have the level of detail of your coin or less.

291fifth

Not Full Head. An example of the type of coin that may get a "Full Head" designation but doesn't deserve it. Not the kind of coin you want to own in this market...unless you didn't pay "full head"money.

KurtHorn

It is one of the tougher full head dates... 1929-D. It's a PCGS low grade Unc. I'm trying to decide if I should send it for presidential review...

roadrunner

I had a similar 1924-P that on several different submissions came pack a combination of FH and non-FH grades (65 and 66). And my coin did not have good separation along the bun. Frankly, I wouldn't have called it a full head. But on every other submission it made FH at NGC. PCGS was tougher on it.

I definitely feel your coin would merit a FH and is worth the money a FH coin is listed for. It is one step above a liner. It may not have 100% definition but probably 30% or more of the FH's don't either.
Then you can toss in the shield, eagle's wings and breast, etc. If you want a 100% fully struck coin be prepared to pay dearly.

roadrunner

jom

It's a FH in my book but more importantly (for me) is whether it's full STRIKE. I'll bet it doesn't have all the rivets in the shield.

<start rant>

Personally, I've always found these strike designations idiotic. Why pay a premium for a coin that has a full strike in just one small area when MORE area on the coin is NOT fully struck?

<end rant>

jom

PS: Sorry for the <rant>

KurtHorn

<< <i>It's a FH in my book but more importantly (for me) is whether it's full STRIKE. I'll bet it doesn't have all the rivets in the shield.

<start rant>
Personally, I've always found these strike designations idiotic. Why pay a premium for a coin that has a full strike in just one small area when MORE area on the coin is NOT fully struck?
<end rant>

jom
PS: Sorry for the <rant> >>



It's reasonably well struck - here are a couple of pics. What grade do you think they gave it? I'll post the grade later...

BillJones

In the classic sense, this coin is a "near miss." You really need to have the ear hole to get a full head. In the slab sense, it's a 50-50.

KurtHorn

<< <i>In the classic sense, this coin is a "near miss." You really need to have the ear hole to get a full head. In the slab sense, it's a 50-50. >>



This coin has a full, clear and distinct ear hole.

BillJones

I see what you are looking at, but I don't think that it's enough to make the "full head thing" work.?

Send it in for a "full head" if you like, but I'd call it "75% head" and sell it as such. I've been picked off at time, but I can live with that.

TorinoCobra71

FH - But Barely

TorinoCobra71

veryfine

<< <i><start rant>
Personally, I've always found these strike designations idiotic. Why pay a premium for a coin that has a full strike in just one small area when MORE area on the coin is NOT fully struck?
<end rant> >>



The head is an extremely important focal point on the human form. With this design in particular, the finely-detailed head is so well-executed, that any small piece of missing detail detracts from the beauty. IMO, the shield, chain mail, separation of toes and other details are not as important. However, I would not pay some of the ridiculous prices for the full head detail. For me, a just miss full head is very pleasing with all other details relatively sharp. Naturally, I would like every single detail on the coin to be razor sharp, and for a single type coin, that would be an understandable goal.
But here's another question: How much more would any of you pay for 1/2 full head or near full head coins that are extremely rare with true full heads?

jcping

A borderline Full Head coin. Definitely, NGC will call it FH. Right now, PCGS will also call it FH (non-FH before 1998). ANACS won't call it FH so that buy it when it is in an ANACS holder and cross-over to PCGS and make $$$

pursuitofliberty

Very close, and may get the designation, but close shouldn't count.

A nice looking coin and a tough date to find even near FH.

KurtHorn

This is a recently slabbed coin from PCGS. It was my CC freebie. Anybody want to take a shot at the assigned grade?

Numismanic

MS64 FH

MFH

I'm holding my breath as I type this...It looks like a rock solid MS 64...maybe even a 65...but no FH.

dorkkarl

NOT full head. the 3 leaves are NOT fully outlined!

of course, crappy modern standards allow plastic co's to slab that as fh, but it is DEFINITELY NOT.

K S

mrearlygold

No, no chance by any traditional standards.