Grade comparison analysis: Please share your opinions???

dizzyfoxx

These two Liberty Half Eagles share the exact same technical grade of AG03. Can I get some feedback as to how and/or why?



and

Frankcoins

<< <i>These two Liberty Half Eagles share the exact same technical grade of AG03. Can I get some feedback as to how and/or why?
>>



Since the grading services don't use technical grading, who is calling them AG3?

MikeInFL

The first is a solid AG-03.
The second coin looks like it was at one time bent and has been net graded as a result.

All IMHO...MIke

dizzyfoxx

<< <i>

<< <i>These two Liberty Half Eagles share the exact same technical grade of AG03. Can I get some feedback as to how and/or why?
>>



Since the grading services don't use technical grading, who is calling them AG3? >>



Please allow me to rephrase for clarification: They're both graded PCGS AG03. IMO, the 1866-S is likely on mark and the 1872-CC is undergraded. Any feedback on this thought?

Dawg144

IMO, the 73-CC might have been netted down because of the unevenness of the wear pattern. Regardless, I would have given it an AG-3 because of the amount of rim wear. That said, I do agree that it's at least in the upper quality ranges of AG-3.

leothelyon

Obviously, one was market graded while the other was technical graded! Which is which, does it matter?


Leo

NHSBaseball

The second coin is just PQ for the assigned grade.

In all seriousness- there's quite a difference in the amount of wear, there.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

Grading companies don't see enough AG gold to know what it looks like.

TwoSides2aCoin

Interesting Might the first coin be overgraded ? FR-02
Is the second coin under tighter scrutiny due to it's origin ? G-04 or better ...
The incomplete rims probably hurt the CC gold.

19Lyds

From PCGS's site:

AG-3 Worn rims but most lettering is readable though worn
G-4[/ b]Slightly worn rims, flat detail, peripheral lettering nearly full
G-6Rims complete with flat detail, peripheral lettering full

Steve27

You might argue that the first one is an FR2 while the second is an AG3, but with the rim worn down such that several of the stars are almost invisible, the second doesn't rate G4 IMO.

coinkat

The first coin is AG3 and there is something different about the second coin. I would rather see that one out of the plastic and in hand before even attempting to grade it. I just can't help thinking that after taking a close look at the coin, there may be some explanations for the pattern of wear. The second coin could have had an irregular planchet.

nicetoning42107

I once owned a Draped Bust Quarter with a similar uneven wear look like your 73-cc, worn into the lettering and all but still retaining about VG details in the central parts where there was no "bend". PCGS had the DBQ at VG8! So they don't always go by the rims. Maybe the 73-cc was net graded for something else. If the 73-cc is a no problem original coin, I think it has a shot at G4, maybe G6 if it's a good enough day. That VG8 DBQ was one of the biggest gifts I've ever seen, and if lucky enough your 73-cc could land in as high as a VG8 holder.

What one grader might see as a bend and net grade the coin, another grader might interpret as just honest, uneven wear or a planchet flaw and give the coin the maximum grade? You better believe it happens!

Broadstruck

How did the 1866-S loose 100% of the obverse rim in circulation, but still obtain roughly 70% of the reverse rim

Frankcoins

The old school technical grading for these would be

Fair/AG (obverse Fair, reverse AG)

and

G6 details, bent and straightened

that decribes the COINS

but grading as practiced by grading services is market
grading which tries to determine the market value of the coin, then
find the column in the price guide that represents the VALUE, then look
at the grade for that column, and then call the coin THAT GRADE.

Thus both coins are supposedly WORTH AG3 money, but the AG3 grade on the slab
really doesn't tell you anything about what the coin LOOKS like...yet
the whole third party grading system was set up to permit SIGHT UNSEEN
coin dealing.

That's why collectors trying to grade a coin on technical standards such as
the ANA grading guide just want to blow their brains out trying to figure out how
a weakly struck, heavily nicked, but attractively toned 19th century coin gets
graded MS67 but a better struck, mark free coin that is white gets graded MS63.