Augsburg Taler - Grading question

Zohar

I am by no means an expert grader and one area which is a challenge is weakness in strike vs. wear.

I just received this dark chocolaty piece which I really like. Some wear/weakness in high points yet well above average for this type. I like the color and detail




I pulled a few other similar piece graded mint state and wondered if the pros here can provide guidance as to grading nuance in the 58-62 range. Thanks in advance.

MS-62



MS-62



MS-62



MS-61

EVillageProwler

Very often, superb AU58 pieces are interchangeable with MS62 pieces. The distinction between the two is often due to something too nuanced that we can't see from an image.

The good news is that if you buy a true slider 1642, then the holder adds negative value and you have nothing but upside potential. However, if you buy a butt-ugly MS65, then you have nothing but downside.

I had a chat last night with Greg Margulies about holder numbers impacting value... He feels that it is extremely unlikely for either of two big TPG services to put out a high/top-pop grade (for the issue) unless they were darn certain. As for the lesser grades, well, good luck!

TDN likes to talk about the notions of negative value and positive value in terms of holder impact to market value. If your 1642 talks like a 62 ad walks like a 62, then some day it just might become graded as a 62. For now, the holder adds negative value and that's a good thing as long as you paid 58 money for it.

Sorry if this doesn't directly address your precise question... Nice coins, btw.

EVP

JCMhouston

The reverse is the key to me. Although I agree that the difference between a 58 and a 62 is often just the day of the week theflatness on essentially all of the reverse high points would lead me to the 58 grade on this one. Note that the 61's and 2's exhibit more or less similar flatness on "some" of the reverse points, but none are quite so prevalent as on the 58.

Zohar

Jeff, I agree with you. Other question is related to hairlines/light cleaning in fields and impact on grade.