Newp: 1865 two-cent piece (w/grading poll)

lordmarcovan · April 22, 2013 5:34PM

This is my thirteenth purchase for the 19th century VF-XF Basic Type Set.

It was brought to my attention by Jcarney, who was apparently looking for 2c pieces on eBay for his own 7070 set. He had coincidentally just looked at my collection and noticed this piece had a resemblance to the 1879 Indian cent I have in my set. He pointed this coin out to me, and the BIN price seemed fair, so I pulled the trigger. It arrived very promptly and the seller got good feedback from me. Jcarney also gets my thanks for pointing it out to me. Now that it is in hand, I like this one, for the money I paid. It was not an expensive coin, obviously.

We'll see how this poll goes. Like the aforementioned Indian cent, this one might not get any love, but I'm content with it.

Unfortunately neither the seller's pictures nor my own are ideal.

Here are mine. (Yep, out of focus on the reverse. Sorry.)

Here are the seller's.

Larger obverse picture

Larger reverse picture

PCGS/Photograde standards

Index of similar grading poll threads like this

lordmarcovan · April 22, 2013 5:38PM

For the record, I voted the Neutral option in the poll.

BustHalfBrian · April 22, 2013 7:51PM

Pretty dark and some grime here and there, but it has at least XF details

lcoopie · April 22, 2013 9:00PM

XF

Jcarney · April 22, 2013 9:10PM

I like your pics better than the sellers. It's difficult to get good pics of dark copper.

Since I kinda know what look you're going for and I'm actively searching for my own type set, I'll keep my eyes open for other coins.

ricko · April 22, 2013 9:24PM

Fits your search, I am in the VF crowd.. Cheers, RickO

BillJones · April 22, 2013 10:36PM

EF details, but the piece is lightly corroded which would net it down to the lower levels of the VF grade.

lordmarcovan · April 23, 2013 12:38AM

The coin is in TPG plastic, though I won't say whether it is first-, second-, or third-tier plastic, or how old the plastic is.

I'll reveal that after the poll reaches 25 votes, though many may guess it beforehand.

AnkurJ · April 23, 2013 12:39AM

XF details. Environmental damage.

silverpop · April 23, 2013 12:46AM

EF40

lordmarcovan · April 23, 2013 12:54AM

I expected some "details" grades, and "environmental damage" assessments.

Figured we might be in for a replay of how my bronze IHC went down, though this coin is getting a little more respect than that one did.

Y'all naysayers could be right, too, but I have this one in hand and it is totally acceptable by MY standards. Yes, there's a touch of grime here and there, and yes, the coin is a bit dark in places. On copper, coins with that look are often on the precipice of being problem coins.

But many are not.

I do not personally believe this one is a problem coin at all. Like I said, it is already in TPG plastic, though not PCGS plastic. You can't see it in either set of pictures, but in hand the surfaces have that smooth, glossy look of healthy copper, and no apparent porosity. It looks 100% problem free from where I sit. It's the pictures here that are most likely the main issue. But I guess the jury will have to remain out on that until I can produce a better set of images.

Again, it's a relatively cheap coin. I'm in this one for a touch under $45, which is probably what, high-VF or low-XF money, at least by Numismedia trends.

SamByrd · April 23, 2013 2:17AM

the coin in question has AU50 details imo. The color will perhaps be best brought out if imaged in natural light. Take the coin out side and take a few pictures. I doubt the coin looks like either set of images as far as surface color. The moto is so strong on the coin as is the ribbon. 2 centers are often seen with weak or uneven strikes this coin has a ton of detail on the obverse. Cool addition to the type set.

Jcarney · April 23, 2013 2:33AM

<< The color will perhaps be best brought out if imaged in natural light.. >>

The only way I was able to get an accurate photo of my dark 2 center was to shoot it in natural light.

BillJones · April 23, 2013 3:11AM

Take this advice for you think it might be worth. Avoid buying problem coins.

The photo here can't really lie. There are minor green spots inside the curl of the "2", to the right of letter "F" in "OF" and at the bottom of the wreath among other places. Overall the color is not what one would expect of a choice bronze coin from the 1860s.

I don't know how much under $50 you paid, but for that amount or a little less you should be able to find a piece with nice color and no defects in EF-40 or 45.

I know you might consider me to be an elite collector, but I've been in type coin game for over 50 years. As a young collector in the 1960s the pieces I put in my Library of Coin albums were in grades similar to what you are collecting now, but with no defects. I did upgrade those coins, and I made money on almost every one of them despite the fact that I paid retail prices when I bought them. The reason was that they were all nice for the grade.

I don't have a photo handy of a Two Cent piece in EF, but here is one in EF-AU. This is the sort of look that you should be striving for in your collection.

steveben · April 23, 2013 3:20AM

i think it's xf...but it's too dark. it might be genuine. i am not a copper expert by any means, but i think it's been treated with oil or lacquer or something like that. i think it should look more copper brown instead of black/brown. the details are nice.

robkool · April 23, 2013 3:45AM

XF40...

originalisbest · April 23, 2013 3:53AM

<< Take this advice for you think it might be worth. Avoid buying problem coins.

The photo here can't really lie. There are minor green spots inside the curl of the "2", to the right of letter "F" in "OF" and at the bottom of the wreath among other places. Overall the color is not what one would expect of a choice bronze coin from the 1860s.

I don't know how much under $50 you paid, but for that amount or a little less you should be able to find a piece with nice color and no defects in EF-40 or 45.

I know you might consider me to be an elite collector, but I've been in type coin game for over 50 years. As a young collector in the 1960s the pieces I put in my Library of Coin albums were in grades similar to what you are collecting now, but with no defects. I did upgrade those coins, and I made money on almost every one of them despite the fact that I paid retail prices when I bought them. The reason was that they were all nice for the grade.

I don't have a photo handy of a Two Cent piece in EF, but here is one in EF-AU. This is the sort of look that you should be striving for in your collection.

>>

What Bill has to say. The OP coin is a problem piece in my view, regardless of what any plastic has to say.

roadrunner · April 23, 2013 6:55AM

I'd call the coin AU details too. Appears to be some luster "fuzzing" on the reverse.

There are some 3-D spots on the coin that could lower it a grade too.

To the person that graded this VG8: please offer me all your raw coins when it comes time to sell your collection.

lordmarcovan · April 23, 2013 7:38AM

<< the coin in question has AU50 details imo. The color will perhaps be best brought out if imaged in natural light. Take the coin out side and take a few pictures. I doubt the coin looks like either set of images as far as surface color. The moto is so strong on the coin as is the ribbon. 2 centers are often seen with weak or uneven strikes this coin has a ton of detail on the obverse. Cool addition to the type set. >>

<< The color will perhaps be best brought out if imaged in natural light.. >>

<<

The only way I was able to get an accurate photo of my dark 2 center was to shoot it in natural light. >>

Yeah, I found myself wishing for some sunlight last night when I shot those. It was night and so I had to do it indoors under artificial light.

We have 37 votes in the poll now, so here is the slab.

Old PCI green, ten digit. I've done well with those in the past before.

Newp: 1865 two-cent piece (w/grading poll)

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