What's the most difficult US coin to grade in mint state?
As we all know, the differences between a point can be minute and subjective, though with big bucks on the line. So what's the most difficult series to tell the differences to grade in mint state?
Early American Copper, Bust and Seated.
Comments
-
Indian Head half eagles and quarter eagles. The incuse design makes grading more challenging for me. There are also lots of counterfeits.
Member: EAC, NBS, C4, CWTS, ANA
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]8 -
Capped Bust Halves.
"Vou invadir o Nordeste,
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."0 -
Indians----incused . I also have a hard time with buffalos.
2 -
The Standing Liberty Quarter seems to be up there. Between the weak strikes and the often missed rub on the knee, I've seen a fair number of Mint State graded pieces I'd call "sliders."
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?3 -
@Sonorandesertrat said:
Indian Head half eagles and eaglesYes, and also the quarter eagles
0 -
Some Buffalos are weak struck and are a bit taught to grade some will sell as AU and they are MS65's.
Hoard the keys.2 -
According to most dealers, any coin I want to buy
5 -
I'd go with all draped bust silver.....as 80-95% of the coins graded mint state all have rub and minimal luster in the 61-62 grades. They'd grade XF/AU if they were Morgan dollars. If that doesn't make it hard I don't know what does. But right behind those are the capped bust halves.
1 -
I struggle with Buffalo Nickels and Mercury Dimes.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
0 -
1815 Large Cent
4 -
$2.5 and $5 Indian gold.
3 -
Give me a round disk of metal and I can grade it.
Any coin, any series,any country.Whether anyone will agree or not...that's a different deal.
1 -
Buffalo nickels seem tricky.
1 -
By far Washington quarters are tough for me
3 -
Peace dollar
Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. - Bastiat
1 -
I join in the majority... incused Indians.
Some refer to overgraded slabs as Coffins. I like to think of them as Happy Coins.3 -
1792 Birch Cent
Successful BST deals with mustangt and jesbroken. Now EVERYTHING is for sale.
0 -
@Ronyahski said:
I join in the majority... incused Indians.Yes.
2 -
1933 $20 gold.
In all seriousness, buffalo nickels.
Every date and mint, need to be treated as individuals.
Successful BST transactions with: jp84, WaterSport, Stupid, tychojoe, Swampboy, dragon, Jkramer, savoyspecial, ajaan, tyedye, ProofCollection, Broadstruck x2, TwinTurbo, lordmarcovan, devious, bumanchu, AUandAG, Collectorcoins (2x), staircoins, messydesk, illini420, nolawyer (10x & counting), peaceman, bruggs, agentjim007, ElmerFusterpuck, WinLoseWin, RR, WaterSports, KeyLargRareCoins, LindeDad, Flatwoods, cucamongacoin, grote15, UtahCoin, NewParadigm, smokincoin, sawyerjosh x31 -
I find SLQ's to be tricky... not the reverse though....Also, it has not been a series that has really interested me, so likely I have not spent much time looking at them. Cheers, RickO
2 -
I'm with the incuse Indians.
Oh yeah, also CC Morgan's that have seemingly transcended type in their consideration.14 scrapes, dings, and hits? 65 then.
0 -
Buffalo Nickels are a challenge for me. Indian head eagles (incuse) are nearly impossible for me.
1 -
Washington quarters, hands down.
I'm addicted to exonumia ... it is numismatic crack!
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸1 -
Peace $ especially SF issues... some look AU but are just very weakly struck.
0 -
SL Quarters.
So many MS 65's and better with no full heads...so many lower grades with full heads. The point is the strike is highly variable, and polishing affects a lot of the intricate detail.
"Just because you were born on 3rd base doesn't mean you hit a triple"
1 -
$2-1/2 and $5 Indian gold are easy if you take the time to learn. Most just glance at them at shows and never really learn. Field luster is the key.
1 -
1892-o Morgan Dollar.
bob
Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com0
Leave a Comment
Categories
- All Categories
- 520.1K Coins and Currency - PCGS
- 328.6K U.S. Coin Forum
- 14.8K PCGS Set Registry Forum
- 5.2K Q & A Forum
- 41.4K World & Ancient Coins Forum
- 3K U.S. & World Currency Forum
- 96.4K Buy, Sell, & Trade - U.S. Coins
- 7.3K Buy, Sell & Trade - World & Ancient Coins
- 1.5K Buy, Sell & Trade - Currency
- 61 Random
- 246.2K Trading Cards, Autographs and Memorabilia - PSA
- 90.3K Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
- 1.7K Autographs Forum
- 16.4K PSA Set Registry Forum
- 22K Sports Talk
- 115K Buy, Sell & Trade - Cards & Memorabilia
- 663 Buy, Sell & Trade - Autographs
- 2.2K Stamps
- 1.5K Stamps Forum
- 670 Buy, Sell & Trade - Stamps
- 83 Coin Shows
- 83 General Coin Show Information and Discussion
- 11.9K Misc
- 11.9K Testing Forum












