A tale of two 1904 $20's NGC MS-66 from tonight Heritage sale
RYK
Posts: 35,800 ✭✭✭✭✭
Coin A
Coin B
One game I like to play when viewing auction lots is comparing identically graded coins and seeing if I can rank them. Like many others, I am looking for the one that is high-end for the grade (or even undergraded) and looking to identify which coin is low-end for the grade or overgraded. I believe that the cumulative experience of doing such helps make one a more discerning collector and helps you make the correct decision when you do not have a number of coins immediately in your hand to rank and choose between.
During my lot viewing this week, there were many examples of coins of identical grade that were very difficult to choose between and many pairs that were identical twins. In some cases, there were trade-offs where the strike was better in one and the luster better in the other or one had scattered small marks and the other had a singular larger mark--you get the idea.
The pair above hit me like a ton of bricks. Coin A had a decent luster but to my eye would have been in the 65 ballpark as a grade whereas Coin B had a blinding luster that I found to be very attractive. I was not in the market for such a coin, but if I were, Coin B was the obvious winner. The skeptic will say that Coin B has a sticker, and so that's how RYK knows which coin is better but again, like the other example I posted tonight, if you broke both of the coins out of the holders and had to rank them, Coin B is far nicer than Coin A, and in this example, I think it is quite evident from the photo. I had no idea how the bidding was when I looked at the coins, nor did I look to see the prices realized until I started this thread, but I would have been shocked if Coin A sold for anywhere close to Coin B, and I still think someone overpaid for Coin A.
Coin B
One game I like to play when viewing auction lots is comparing identically graded coins and seeing if I can rank them. Like many others, I am looking for the one that is high-end for the grade (or even undergraded) and looking to identify which coin is low-end for the grade or overgraded. I believe that the cumulative experience of doing such helps make one a more discerning collector and helps you make the correct decision when you do not have a number of coins immediately in your hand to rank and choose between.
During my lot viewing this week, there were many examples of coins of identical grade that were very difficult to choose between and many pairs that were identical twins. In some cases, there were trade-offs where the strike was better in one and the luster better in the other or one had scattered small marks and the other had a singular larger mark--you get the idea.
The pair above hit me like a ton of bricks. Coin A had a decent luster but to my eye would have been in the 65 ballpark as a grade whereas Coin B had a blinding luster that I found to be very attractive. I was not in the market for such a coin, but if I were, Coin B was the obvious winner. The skeptic will say that Coin B has a sticker, and so that's how RYK knows which coin is better but again, like the other example I posted tonight, if you broke both of the coins out of the holders and had to rank them, Coin B is far nicer than Coin A, and in this example, I think it is quite evident from the photo. I had no idea how the bidding was when I looked at the coins, nor did I look to see the prices realized until I started this thread, but I would have been shocked if Coin A sold for anywhere close to Coin B, and I still think someone overpaid for Coin A.
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Comments
<< <i>One game I like to play when viewing auction lots is comparing identically graded coins and seeing if I can rank them. Like many others, I am looking for the one that is high-end for the grade (or even undergraded) and looking to identify which coin is low-end for the grade or overgraded. I believe that the cumulative experience of doing such helps make one a more discerning collector and helps you make the correct decision when you do not have a number of coins immediately in your hand to rank and choose between. >>
What a fascinating observation, RYK. Thanks for sharing it. I will try it on a few coins a bit closer to my collecting area to see how I do....Mike
p.s. I would presume you've done your viewing of these two coins in-hand, but even doing it online would be beneficial if a bit more problematic and error-prone.
<< <i>
<< <i>One game I like to play when viewing auction lots is comparing identically graded coins and seeing if I can rank them. Like many others, I am looking for the one that is high-end for the grade (or even undergraded) and looking to identify which coin is low-end for the grade or overgraded. I believe that the cumulative experience of doing such helps make one a more discerning collector and helps you make the correct decision when you do not have a number of coins immediately in your hand to rank and choose between. >>
What a fascinating observation, RYK. Thanks for sharing it. I will try it on a few coins a bit closer to my collecting area to see how I do....Mike
p.s. I would presume you've done your viewing of these two coins in-hand, but even doing it online would be beneficial if a bit more problematic and error-prone. >>
Absolutely, in hand. Otherwise, I would not presume to know which coin is really the better of the two.
<< <i>Point is???? >>
Hmmm...let's see. You can draw numerous conclusions, but the overall point would be that comparing two coins with the same slab grade, side by side, can make you a more critical grader, the secondary points are that coin B is better than coin A and that buying expensive coins, relying solely on pictures and not evaluating the coins in person can be hazardous to your wealth.
The nicer one was clearly identified and i agree, the other still seemed a touch high
there is no doubt at all that Coin B has got a massive edge in eye appeal! The luster
and color are truly beautiful on that piece.
BTW, I too like to compare "identical" coins both during auction lot viewing and also on
the bourse floor. Highly educational.
<< <i>
<< <i>Point is???? >>
Hmmm...let's see. You can draw numerous conclusions, but the overall point would be that comparing two coins with the same slab grade, side by side, can make you a more critical grader, the secondary points are that coin B is better than coin A and that buying expensive coins, relying solely on pictures and not evaluating the coins in person can be hazardous to your wealth. >>
I don't have an opportunity to attend a lot of shows. When I do I always drink, whoops..............When I do attend a major show this is exactly what I do in lot viewing. Look at coins in my discipline in the same grades to compare. It's how I was trained by my mentors. I try to mentally lay them out by first to last. Then I go one to the next grade and do the same. Most of the times the top coin in the next lower grade is better then the lowest coin in the higher grade. You know where this can lead.
MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......