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Easiest/Hardest For You To Grade??


Okay, so which series do you feel comfortable grading,
and which series do you struggle with??

I feel comfortable grading Morgans, and really struggle
with Buffalos.

Your turn.

~


"America suffers today from too much pluribus and not enough unum.".....Arthur Schlesinger Jr.

Comments

  • ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭
    Hardest for me are trimes and Buffs. Easiest for me are probably IHCs when circulated and Morgans in MS.
  • OKbustchaserOKbustchaser Posts: 5,541 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I am competent grading bust material...as for Morgans, I haven't got a clue. This is simply because I never felt the urge to learn anything about such an ugly coin.
    Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    Hardest for me are Mercs and Buffs. I have a terrible time distinguishing between wear and weak strikes on those two series.

    Russ, NCNE
  • Circulated Lincoln wheat cents are an issue for me...(especially is they are really brown!)
  • STONESTONE Posts: 15,275
    Indian $2.50 are the hardest for me, with the easiest being all Barber Coins and Indian Cents
  • BECOKABECOKA Posts: 16,961 ✭✭✭
    Easiest Indian Half Eagles/Eagles

    Hardest: Mercury dimes in the MS range
  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    bust series give me trouble. MS wise, I'm most comfortable with Morgans, just out of shear volume.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
  • LincolnCentManLincolnCentMan Posts: 5,347 ✭✭✭✭
    Three cent silvers are IMHO the most difficult to grade. They are exceedingly small and lack details to judge wear level.

    -David
  • lkrarecoinslkrarecoins Posts: 2,137 ✭✭✭
    I couldnt grade a buffalo to save my life...nor can I grade anything incuse image

    I have some issues with Peace dollars as well because of weak strikes... image

    I'm best with Morgans, Barber coinage, and Seated coinage... image
    In Loving Memory of my Dad......My best friend, My inspiration, and My Coin Collecting Partner

    "La Vostra Nonna Ha Faccia Del Fungo"
  • RollermanRollerman Posts: 1,894 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Okay, so which series do you feel comfortable grading,
    and which series do you struggle with??

    I feel comfortable grading Morgans, and really struggle
    with Buffalos.

    Your turn.

    ~ >>



    My experience is the same as yours, but I have worked with more Morgans for a longer time period than any other...and I think they are a beautiful coin.image

    Best wishes at Christmas,
    Pete
    "Ain't None of Them play like him (Bix Beiderbecke) Yet."
    Louis Armstrong
  • NumisOxideNumisOxide Posts: 10,997 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm pretty confident in grading most seated material but Feuchtwanger Cents give me the most trouble. That's why I'm starting to collect them, I want to learn more about his tokens and one day master the grading of them. I can try, right!image
  • CaptainRonCaptainRon Posts: 1,189 ✭✭
    EZ'est Walkers or IHC's

    Hardest -- Just about everthing else. But I like to pretendimage

    Ron
    image
  • richardshipprichardshipp Posts: 5,647 ✭✭✭
    Even though I'm fairly new at this grading is pretty easy.........

    I just read what's on the TPG label image



    OK, OK, so it wasn't that funny...


    Truly I am still learning but have found that I can pretty closely get the Morgans in MS; Washington's in MS; and do OK on 64 and higher Buffalo Nickels.

    Can't grade worth crap on IH Gold; and any Classic Commem especially if they have toning.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,705 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hardest---Coins pictured on typical eBay listings
    Easiest---Coins in PCGS slabs

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • TheRavenTheRaven Posts: 4,148 ✭✭✭✭
    Circulated Barbers, especially in the lower grades I know.....

    Mint State Morgans I know decently well.....

    Hardest: Buffalo Nickels and probably Peace Dollars.....
    Collection under construction: VG Barber Quarters & Halves
  • RickMilauskasRickMilauskas Posts: 1,985 ✭✭✭
    For me, Morgans and Washingtons the easiest.

    Buffalo nickels and trimes the most difficult.
  • capecape Posts: 1,621
    buffaloes are easy , but the strikes are different date by date.image i guess trade dollars are the hardest for me to grade.
    ed rodrigues
  • BaleyBaley Posts: 22,663 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Easiest by far are Morgans; I can grade them backwards, forwards, upside down, to within half a point.

    Hardest is early copper, honorable mention going to incuse indian gold.

    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

  • Getting good at buffs (though some dates can still throw you for a loop). Also pretty good with Morgans.

    Gold is all impossible... and washington quarters can be tough as heck.
  • ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭
    You know what I think would be really tough if you frequently saw them considerably circulated?

    Ikes. You'd have to grade almost entirely by the reverse.
  • I'm most confident in Morgans. Buffaloes, I have no clue.
    If you haven't noticed, I'm single and miserable and I've got four albums of bitching about it that I would offer as proof.

    -- Adam Duritz, of Counting Crows


    My Ebay Auctions
    image
  • BurksBurks Posts: 1,103


    << <i>Hardest for me are Mercs and Buffs. I have a terrible time distinguishing between wear and weak strikes on those two series.

    Russ, NCNE >>



    I agree. Those two give me fits.

    Easiest are Morgans.
    WTB: Eric Plunk cards, jersey (signed or unsigned), and autographs. Basically anything related to him

    Positive BST: WhiteThunder (x2), Ajaan, onefasttalon, mirabela, Wizard1, cucamongacoin, mccardguy1


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  • FairlanemanFairlaneman Posts: 10,426 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Easiest....Merc Dimes. Hardest.....Modern Stuff.

    Ken
  • ccexccex Posts: 1,188 ✭✭✭
    I can grade Barber coins, especially Dimes, to within various gradations of AG, as well as XF-40/45/AU 50/53 etc.

    Trimes are impossible for me to grade accurately, as are incuse Indian gold and Buffalo nickels.
    "Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity" - Hanlon's Razor
  • mirabelamirabela Posts: 5,092 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Things I feel pretty good with include Unc Jeffersons & Morgans, and circ seated & Barber types.

    Early copper & Indian $2.50's & $5's I'm not very confident with at all.

    There's some more esoteric stuff like bust gold and flowing hair silver that I haven't a clue with.

    Circ classic commems I find pretty tough also, but then again who cares?
    mirabela
  • Easiest Lincolns and Jeffs. Hardest Buffs and seated coins (MS)
  • CoxeCoxe Posts: 11,139
    Morgans are easiest. Peace dollars are the hardest. Incuse Indian gold is not easy either and same with Buffalo nickels.
    Select Rarities -- DMPLs and VAMs
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  • NicNic Posts: 3,400 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hardest in unc. 64+ ... incuse gold. Easiest ... moderns image . K
  • MFHMFH Posts: 11,720 ✭✭✭✭

    Hardest are Buffalo Nickels & MS SLQ's, easiest are Barbers.
    Mike Hayes
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !

    New Barber Purchases
  • jpkinlajpkinla Posts: 822 ✭✭✭
    Very comfortable with $10 Indians & $20 Saints....$5 Indians are tougher.....
  • BigEBigE Posts: 6,949 ✭✭✭
    Easiest is gold for me because of the softness of the metal and luster, the hardest is early commems because each issue is different and so are the wear points-------------BigE
    I'm glad I am a Tree
  • I feel most confident with Buffalos, Mercury Dimes, Walkers and Lincolns.

    Garrow
  • Pretty good with Lincoln wheats, Washington 25c, Roosevelts, Morgans.

    Cannot EVEN do buffs.
    Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

    Apropos of the coin posse/aka caca: "The longer he spoke of his honor, the tighter I held to my purse."

    image


  • Easiest....Seated

    Hardest...Walkers ( I just don't understand the coins I see and the holders they're in???) They all look overgraded to me.
    Saints usually look overgraded to me too.


    Please visit my website prehistoricamerica.com www.visitiowa.org/pinecreekcabins
  • rec78rec78 Posts: 5,825 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Easiest-seated-morgans, lincoln wheats
    Hardest-Walkers image Elwood

    Also hard Peace dollars and circulated moderns- Most circulated moderns can be found in pocket change-There is no need to differentiate between a G and a XF on modern circulated coins that you can get at face value.
    image
  • Most comfortable: Franklins in MS, Lincolns
    Least comfortable: Buffalos.
    “When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.” — Benjamin Franklin


    My icon IS my coin. It is a gem 1949 FBL Franklin.


  • << <i>Circulated Lincoln wheat cents are an issue for me...(especially is they are really brown!) >>



    I struggle with the line between VF and EF. When I feel a tinge of doubt about grading one EF, I just call it a VF. Here's my 1909S VDB. Most folks that have seen it call it an EF. I think it's right on the line and therefore a VF35.

    image
    “When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.” — Benjamin Franklin


    My icon IS my coin. It is a gem 1949 FBL Franklin.


  • << <i>You know what I think would be really tough if you frequently saw them considerably circulated?

    Ikes. You'd have to grade almost entirely by the reverse. >>



    Same deal with Franklins. Those bald guys are tough.
    “When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.” — Benjamin Franklin


    My icon IS my coin. It is a gem 1949 FBL Franklin.
  • homerunhallhomerunhall Posts: 2,496 ✭✭✭

    For me, the easiest to grade are Morgan dollars.

    The hardest...$2.5 and $5 Indians.

    hrh

  • MisterBungleMisterBungle Posts: 2,308 ✭✭✭

    I guess I should add that I feel pretty
    good about net-grading early large
    cents. I've just been doing it so long.

    I don't do it with other people's cents
    though, because no one wants to be
    told that their 45 detail coin nets out
    at 10 because of surface problems.

    ~


    "America suffers today from too much pluribus and not enough unum.".....Arthur Schlesinger Jr.

  • Morgans are easy--I tend to be too conservative on CBHs
    Curmudgeon in waiting!
  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭
    Easiest would be Buffalo nickels and Lincoln cents because they are my specialty.

    Hardest are Indian quarter eagles and half eagles.

    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • 123cents123cents Posts: 7,178 ✭✭✭
    Easiest--Bust Half Dollars
    Hardest--$2.50 &$5.00 Gold Indians
    image
  • mr1931Smr1931S Posts: 6,382 ✭✭✭✭✭
    "Here's my 1909S VDB. Most folks that have seen it call it an EF. I think it's right on the line and therefore a VF35."

    My opinion: It really is EF (not choice, however) but more importantly, it's genuine.

    image

    Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.

  • mr1931Smr1931S Posts: 6,382 ✭✭✭✭✭
    To answer the question of the thread, I have some difficulty with grading gold, especially the incuse issues. I can accurately grade most other coins, if they circulated, needing only a second or so of lightning bolt, however. image

    Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.

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