Will this 2 1/2 Eagle grade higher?

crazy4coins2005

I had a previous thread about this coin and this time wanted to get your opinions if you think this coin could go higher than MS61 if I sent it in to either PCGS or NGC. Thanks.

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Numismanic

Highly doubt it, looks like wear on top of eagles feathers.

Leiana

<< <i>Highly doubt it, looks like wear on top of eagles feathers.[/q

The Eagle is incuse. That looks like a light reflection. I think it's very much a 61 because of all the scattered marks in the field. There aren't any big hits, though, so it might go 62.

-Amanda

Sunnywood

Indian $2.50 are very difficult to grade in hand. How could anyone possibly claim to make a definitive statement about grade based on a photo???

TheRaven

It is a picture, but I have a PCGS MS-62 that looks much nicer then that coin, imo.....

I don't think it could grade higher.....

If you did not read the thread earlier today, that weak strike on the eagle is a 08 trademark.....

crazy4coins2005

<< <i>Indian $2.50 are very difficult to grade in hand. How could anyone possibly claim to make a definitive statement about grade based on a photo??? >>



I'm a newbie to coin collecting so I didn't realize they were one of the most difficult coins to grade.

TheRaven

The fact that they are a unique design (incused) in american coinage makes them so alot of collectors don't have one of these to study in hand is part of the difficultly I think.....

Numismanic

<< <i>Indian $2.50 are very difficult to grade in hand. How could anyone possibly claim to make a definitive statement about grade based on a photo??? >>



Here is a an image of an MS61 from Heritage. If his coin grades above AU58, I'll pay his grading fee.

Artist

Looks like a 61 to me. I would not consider myself an expert on these, but I do really like them, I own a few, and I've looked at hundreds along the way to collecting the ones I own. In my observation, strike plays a bigger role in how these grade than in most other series, and for 62, I think your coin should be a bit sharper in the area previously discussed and on the eagles leg. Another observation I have made about this series, is that the difference between a 61 & a 62 is not as arbitrary as it seems to be with most other series, a distinction that is very much noted by the price spread between these two grades, and that as such you are less likely to 'score' a lucky upgrade with this coin than you might with some others, (like say a 20th Century $20 Liberty.) However, for what you paid, I think you got a very nice 61 in that there appear to be no major distracting hits or blemishes, and especailly because the obverse looks sharper than average. When the reverse looks as soft as yours does, often the feathers in the head dress are equally mushy, but your coin shows some nice, attractive detail in this area.

GTS

Hopefully the photo sucks

Curley

This is a series I collect and I would be surprised if it exceeded MS60.

crazy4coins2005

The coin in hand looks 10 times smoother than the photos depicts.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

should be a 58

construct

I agree that 61 is maxed out for this one. I might would accept a 60 for it. I don't see any wear.

ccex

My guess is that this MS-61 would make AU-58 today but MS-62 five years ago when prices were lower.

PerryHall

That coin is properly graded at MS61 based on what I've seen in the other top tier slabs.

Barndog

I've seen plenty overgraded by NGC, give it a shot and maybe you get a 62

darktone

the majority( I would guess 99%) of these coins graded MS60-61 earn this grade because of un-original surfaces(cleaning). Not really a hard series to grade if you learn about them- most people just assume they are hard to grade because everyone say's they are and don't explore any farther- luster is the key when trying to determine a grade in mint state on the $2 1/2 & $5 indians- no luster and the best you will do is MS61.

PerryHall

One of the reasons this series is difficult to grade is because there is no raised rim to protect the fields. Unlike other coins, wear often first appears in the fields. I've seen many top tier slabbed MS62's with wear in the fields. If you want a coin with no wear, you will need to buy at least an MS63 which are really expensive these days.

coinandcurrency242

I would say no! But you never know till you try!

DeusExMachina

As stated above this is a tough series to grade. And the '08 is probably the toughest coin in the series to grade. If you look at the image posted by Numismanic, you can see the feathers are "softly struck." Actually, the dies were not made with full feathers. So the full feathers "test" is difficult to apply.

That said, grading a coin like this where you are splitting hairs is difficult to do in person, much less from an image. I hope it crosses but I can't really help you with a grade from the images you posted.

Longacre

I can't tell from the photo. I would think it is 50/50 at best, but I really have no idea. How is that for a definitive answer?