Grading the Israel 1949 500 Prutah / GTG batch!

LochNESS · March 15, 2013 9:40AM

Hi gents and ladies. I've been trying to improve my grading skills on the Israel 1949 500 Prutah coin.
Thought you might wish to do the same, as they bring a nice slab premium compared to raw prices.
Think of this as Photograde for the type.

What I have here for you today - and just in time for Shabbos!

- is a batch of slabbed examples currently on eBay.
After the weekend passes I'll update with TPG data:

For GTG fun, I've cropped out the grades. Most are NGC, some PCGS. Hint: the finest-known at both TPG's is MS67

#1)

#2)

#3)

#4)

#5)

Disclaimer: none of these coins are mine, nor did I take the photos. simply used for edumacational purposes

coinkat · March 15, 2013 11:13AM

Nice coins- how tough are they in 66 and 67? Does the same hold true for the 250 Prutah?

Zohar · March 15, 2013 11:51AM

#1 - 64
#2 - 62
#3 - 67
#4 - 64
#5 - 65

Here is my 67

LINK

LochNESS · March 15, 2013 12:57PM

Coinkat, I've seen a couple in 67 on eBay so they can't be that tough however 67 is the highest grade allotted thus far. Regarding the 250 Prutah, I have a 67 and it is top pop but it's not alone in that grade. I don't know the NGC stats as I'm not registered with that service (I just happen to know 67 is the top at both TPGs). edit: there are three varieties for the 250 as you likely know, and I only have the no-pearl, and the H mintmark varieties. Hard for me to say the toughness of those in higher grades but I feel it's a little easier than the 500 denom. because of mintage figures.

Zohar, I was hoping you would post!

I don't want to say how close you are *yet* because nobody else has GTG but I will say that there's a 66 in the bunch

coinkat · March 16, 2013 6:21AM

I do not collect these even though I likely own one or two- the third coin is the best from where I sit and 66 or 67 seems reasonable

LochNESS · March 16, 2013 7:10AM

Coinkat, if you have a raw 500 in BU let me know

Most raws I've seen have been 55-63, even right out of the mint set.

marcmoish · March 16, 2013 11:38AM

#1 65 or 64
#2 62
#3 66
#4 64 (can see it in 65 too
#5 63 (maybe 64)

hard to tell to be honest these are guestimates - pics aint that ...

Zohar · March 16, 2013 12:56PM

LochNESS I may have another NGC MS-66 if you are looking for one.

lordmarcovan · March 16, 2013 6:24PM

Ugh.

Do I have to try grading those?

I'd rather eat brussels sprouts.

Actually, I don't mind brussels sprouts. It's alfalfa sprouts that make me gag. But I digress. Again.

Seems we've got yet another discussion about grading minimalistic designs.

Israel and Belgium seem to rule the roost when it comes to stark, low-relief, simplistic designs. Which can be kind of interesting, in a modernistic way. But they give me nightmares when I think about trying to grade them.

Heck, just thinking about distinguishing where there's enough rub to tell a nice AU slider from an MS coin gives me the willies, let alone trying to distinguish micro grade points like 66 versus 67, etc.

I wonder if in fact the emperor has no clothes, and there's a numbered dartboard on the wall of the grading room.

"Oh, hey, here's another Israeli coin that looks Mint State. Which drawer did you leave the darts in?""Second one down on the left.""Thanks." *pffft* "Ha! I got MS67! Let's see how you do!"*pffft* "I got MS65.""Eh, OK. Let's split the difference and call it MS66.""Next?"

LochNESS · March 17, 2013 2:45AM

<< <i>LochNESS I may have another NGC MS-66 if you are looking for one. >>

My game is to buy a batch of the nicest choicest raws that I can find, estimate their grades, and submit the top two for TPG. I disagree with Lord M's dart theory (respectfully, of course!

). Once you know the grades and view in order the differences become apparent.

LochNESS · March 19, 2013 6:12PM

Alrighty here's the answers:

#1) PCGS 64

#2) PCGS 62

#3) NGC 67

#4) NGC 66

#5) NGC 65

Zohar, the one you graded 64 is in a 66 slab! Otherwise you were spot-on!

Grading the Israel 1949 500 Prutah / GTG batch!

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