PCI I Love You !

Pushkin

Old PCI that is, old green label and 10 digit serial numbers.

At the Virginia Numismatic Association Annual Show yesterday I was fortunate to purchase a 1866 Snow-1 Indian Head cent. The 1866 Snow-1 is one of the neatest varieties and rarities in the entire series. It is listed as a triple die obverse dual MPD by Snow and F.Ind.Ers and as a double die obverse by Cherrypickers (it is a triple die obverse) with misplaced digits in the denticles and a misplaced base of the digit "1" in the necklace. Three neat varieties in one coin and approximately 50 known; this is one of the best!

This will replace my VF-20 Snow-1.

The coin was MS-62 brown in the OLD PCI holder??? It is a solid Red-Brown that I'm sure will cross (cracked out) at MS-64 with just one small mark west of the ear; definitely condition census. Buy the coin, not the plastic!

The colors in the photos are a little off from the original coin, but not enough to make any significant difference.

From the Cherrypicker's Guide

DickyBetz

Very NICE pickup. 62BN??????? I would have graded it 65RB. Very nice. It will definitly cross at 64RB. That variety is really cool too.

kranky

Fantastic cherrypick, Pushkin!

AmericanCopper

Really nice find Pushkin. It does look too clean and sharp to get such a low grade - it appears to be at least 2 points higher. If you decide to crack it out and send it to a top tier TPG, would you please let us know what happens? My experience with PCI graded Red and Red/Brown Indianhead crackouts is a bodybag from NGC 90% of the time for Artificial Color. I had only 1 of 4 1908-S PCI MS65 Red's cross at NGC and then it was MS64 Red. The rest were artificially colored; 2 in green holders and one was a gold label. The one that did cross was also a gold label. I certainly hope you have better luck than I. If that does cross with a red/brown designation, it surely would be condition census. (Then you can sell it to me!)

lordmarcovan

<< <i>PCI I Love You ! >>




<< <i>Old PCI that is, old green label and 10 digit serial numbers. >>

Pushkin

<< <i> My experience with PCI graded Red and Red/Brown Indianhead crackouts is a bodybag >>



AmericanCopper,

The only crossable copper I've found is in old PCI 10 digit serial number slabs. This coin was grossly under-graded IMO. It is also designated Brown and it is definitely RB. I am very selective in the IHCs I buy, since I've mostly limited myself to varieties. I understand your concern with all the AT stuff that seems to be in the newer PCI slabs. I've shown it to several IHC specialists who concur that it is an excellent cross and upgrade candidate. Plastic aside, it is a really neat coin.

AmericanCopper

I sincerely hope it does Pushkin...it's always nice to run into that "special" coin in a series you have an interest in and to score on an upgrade is always a pleasure. (Then will you sell it to me?) I remember finding my first real "error" coin, a doubled reverse dieclash on an 1864 Indianhead and the warm satisfying feeling you get when a minor treasure catches your attention.

koynekwest

Everyone here seems to be so enthralled over the "old" PCI slabs-but-I remember seeing a great deal of overgraded stuff, especially in the circulated grades, ten or so years ago in the "old" PCI slabs. Of course, this stuff looks good nowadays compared to the "new" grading standards currently given. I think we call this "gradeflation," which seems to have become rampant. Learn how to grade on your own and look at the COIN, not the SLAB, regardless of what plastic it's entombed in. Don't be suckered by someone else's opinion-these "experts" are as often wrong as right.

Atlantic

Great Find, You have a super coin there,,,,,,

Pushkin

<< <i>Learn how to grade on your own and look at the COIN, not the SLAB >>



I agree completely and stated that in my post. I think there are some good bargains to be found in old PCE 10-serial number slabs, but I would never buy just the slab, ALWAYS the coin. However, a collector should not reject a coin based on the slab if they know how to grade. As for expert advice, sure they are wrong sometimes, but you can learn a lot by consulting with people who have experience. As you imply, a healthy skepticism is necessary to succeed in our hobby.

ldhair

<< <i>As you imply, a healthy skepticism is necessary to succeed in our hobby. >>


Well said.
Nice find Pushkin.
I love the coin and the old PCI.