Coins with no MS Examples graded by PCGS
rhedden
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U.S. business strike coins with zero examples graded mint state by PCGS are few and far between. This thread is designed to be a compilation of such issues in different series, with apologies if this has been done before on this forum. Everyone who is interested and able should post an example from one of their favorite series (no photos required, but would be nice).
I will start off with the 1860-S quarter dollar. The finest graded by PCGS is a single XF45! There are allegedly finer examples in NGC holders, but who knows why PCGS did not want to grade them? Here is my cleaned, uncertified F15 example, which is surely one of the top 25 finest known for the date. A PCGS VF35 just sold for slightly under $10k on Heritage.
I will start off with the 1860-S quarter dollar. The finest graded by PCGS is a single XF45! There are allegedly finer examples in NGC holders, but who knows why PCGS did not want to grade them? Here is my cleaned, uncertified F15 example, which is surely one of the top 25 finest known for the date. A PCGS VF35 just sold for slightly under $10k on Heritage.
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<< <i>There are allegedly finer examples in NGC holders, but who knows why PCGS did not want to grade them? >>
How do you know they were rejected or even submitted to PCGS? Perhaps their owners wanted them in NGC slabs.
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"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
The "curl 2" 1829 dime is indeed a good example of a major variety with no MS examples graded by PCGS. I would love to own that VF35, or better yet, dig up an AU with the help of a metal detector!
<< <i>but who knows why PCGS did not want to grade them? >>
Probably because they never got the opportunity to grade them since the owner sent them to NGC would be an obvious answer. Do you honestly believe NGC is the only top tier TPG that has misgraded coins in their holders?
World Collection
British Collection
German States Collection
Edited to add:
From Coinfacts:
David Hall: The Smithsonian example is a 45/50 coin, and very attractive for the grade.
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David Akers (1975/88): Without question this is one of the rarest and most famous of all Double Eagles. It is by far the rarest CC-Mint twenty and it is surpassed in overall rarity among all regular issue Liberty Heads only by the 1861 Paquet, the 1856-O, and the business strikes of 1882 and 1886. The 1870-CC is similar in rarity to the 1854-O and business strikes of 1881 and 1885 and just a little less rare than the proof-only 1883 and 1884. From the standpoint of condition rarity, the 1870-CC is one of the rarest, if not the rarest, dates in the entire series. I have never seen a full AU and the typical 1870-CC is only F or VF with a heavily bagmarked, prooflike surface. Q. David Bowers ahs written that ha handled a mint state 1870-CC many years ago and so that specimen is undoubtedly the finest known example of this rare date by a considerable margin.
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Empty Nest Collection
1878-CC $5 PCGS VF30
1878-CC $10 PCGS VF35
The 1802 is not a surprise. It is a mega-key date, and a key date among all US coins. 1805 may surprise some people. The early Type aficionados on the board will appreciate that the 1805 H10c is much, much tougher than the common variety dimes, quarters, and halves of the same year. However, the general collecting public probably does not know that PCGS has only certified 58 of them in all grades, and none are higher than AU58.
I have (lousy photo of) a slightly diseased 1805 to share, but the 1802 is a pipe dream at this point. I'm sure Bill Jones has a great 1805 in PCGS plastic, if he's around to read this.
The old time collectors used to say that the 1805 half dime was "overrated" with respect to rarity, but the coin is a solid R-4 with something like 125 to 150 known. Although that is three times as common as the 1802, which has a population of 45 or so, it's still a tough coin which Sheldon would call "rare" since it's an R-4. I bought this one many years ago from Sheraton Downey via a Coin World ad who said he didn't know what to do with it since is one tenth the size of his usual offering.
The finest known examples of this date are in AU, which seems to be getting a little more common. I've seen a couple of them in AU at some major shows over the past few years.
<< <i>I don't know, but NGC sometimes grades Type coins with obvious wear spots as "MS", so they have to be left out of this analysis, unfortunately. >>
Are you sure ATS is the only one that market grades?
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
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1858-s..........1859-s..........1860-s...........1861-s
Are the 4 dates that readily come to mind that from what I've seen are still not graded in true MS60. For a couple of these dates there are no MS grades in anyone's holder.
The 40-0 wd lg O and 43-0 large O may also be on this list. But keeping track of varieties is much harder. The 42-0 sd shows a PCGS MS61 but it's pretty rare to find any early
seated quarter in that grade that has full luster and no friction (ie not unc). For these early dates you really need a MS63 or better to really have a full mint state coin. At least
one that wouldn't have been called AU 30 years ago. I'd also add the 42-0 sd to the list as well. But probably someday a real unc will come out of the closet.
I believe you fully, but it's got to be in the PCGS Pop. report to eliminate the coin from this thread.
1807 Bearded Goddess AU55
1812/1 Large 8 AU53
1817/4 AU50
I am looking for one collector to eventually own all three. He already owns the last two, but his Bearded Lady is one of the four AU50 examples, with none at AU53.
Highest Graded is AU58. It is owned by fcloud.
I am in NEED of a high mint state (full band preferably) example!!!!!!!!
Pleeeeeease, someone find me one!!!!!!
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
<< <i>One coin for which there are no mint state examples graded by PCGS is the 1870-S half dime. Oh, wait. There is one graded MS-63 by PCGS, but how can that be? The only known example is just an AU-55, exactly as it was in 1978 when it was discovered. How is it possible that an AU-55 coin can later become an MS-63? Is there a double grading standard for 'rare' coins? Or is it just another example of the wonders of plastic. Hmmmmm. >>
Stephen do you think the grade on the holder has any true baring on the value of that coin? And if a coin can be net grade down why not up? Also if we buy into true market grading doesn't that mean letting go of the logic rules that govern technical grading?
So then what is the purpose of getting a coin graded? If the number on the insert is not intended to express 'technical grading', but is intended to express 'market grading', then why are the grades not expressed in dollars and cents? The grade of the unique 1870-S half dime is $453,000.
And by the way, I, for one, have not bought into market grading. I have seen the unique 1870-S half dime up close and personal, and I have studied it closely, and its grade is AU-55. Its value is something else entirely, and these two numbers should not be confused.