Are these 1865-S $5's the same? Which one grades higher?

RYK

And, guess the grade...if you dare (remember, cheaters never prosper ).

A.



B.

PerryHall

Looks like XF45 but I bet the grading services would give it an AU grade. They are generous with southern gold.

BRdude

top one definately nicer, maybe AU53? Bottom one maybe XF45?? I don't really know gold.

291fifth

AU50 & XF45.

darktone

AU53 on the first and MS62 on the second one.

ChangeInHistory

First one, AU-50 and a clearer mint mark.

sportsfan007

first: XF 45
second: XF 40

STONE

Top one looks better than the first one. There's too much chatter on the reverse on the second one.

I'd say the first is AU-53 and second is (aw shute) too close I'd go AU-53 also.

cointagious

A is a solid AU 50 with appeal. B is a liner coin that could swing between AU and choice XF. A is more attractive than B and a coin I would be proud to have.

RYK

There is always a lesson. Coin A (PCGS AU-50) is offered by Legend for sale, and coin B just recently sold in the Heritage pre-ANA auctions. When I saw coin A listed on the Legend site, I was immediately interested in it. As always, I go to the Heritage site and checked for comps, and when I saw coin B, as a PCGS XF-45 in an older holder, my first reaction was that coin B was purchased in that sale, upgraded, and is now coin A. For a coin this scarce (total PCGS pop of 40), this is what I would have expected.

Boy was I wrong! They are indeed different coins, and at least by the photos, coin A appears to be the nicer, higher grade coin. I plan on taking a much closer look at it next week. I guess not all old green holder coins are upgrades, are they?

AU50 & XF45.

291fifth, you nailed it!

AnkurJ

Was never good at grading these, but the top one looks like it was cleaned. I would say the top one is AU 50 and the bottom one is AU 58.

Ankur

cointagious

Don't be as concerned with the absolute grade as with the overall appeal. Even in the same numerical holder A has a better look.

darktone

wow- the top one does look cleaned or I would have graded it 55 otherwise. The bottom ones looked Unc. to me. Glad I am not buying from the pics but if the first one looks like the picture I would never be happy with it.

keez

Top one VF
Bottom on XF

keets

the most important thingis probably which coin is best represented by it's picture?? they both look a little too bright to me and they both look like they're suffering the effects of a past cleaning. a more modern and less scarce issue would never get into a holder looking like that.................if the pictures are accurate.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

AU50 and XF45

RYK

<< <i>the most important thingis probably which coin is best represented by it's picture?? they both look a little too bright to me and they both look like they're suffering the effects of a past cleaning. a more modern and less scarce issue would never get into a holder looking like that.................if the pictures are accurate. >>



That's a good point. I see what looks like even, natural coloring on coin A with some scritchiness (is that a real word?) and harilines, but I will have a look in-hand in a few days. The photo of coin B looks washed out.