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1842-O Quarter Eagles - A study in early branch mint gold. - GRADES POSTED at the end.
REALGATOR
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So here we have 2 PCGS graded 1842-O Quarter Eagles
Both have numeric grades. Without going to Coinfacts or other resources, how would you grade these? No cheating!
61
53
2
Comments
I'll guess XF35 and AU55
The top one has a very soft strike which makes it look like there is more wear than there is...but there looks to be some rim damage...the lower one shows a lot of detail on the reverse eagle feathers but again a soft strike on the obverse makes it look like there is more wear than there is...
Love your coins!!!
The first one looks poorly struck, hard to pin a grade down without seeing in hand and observing the luster. I will take a wild guess given the luster in the image that it is a poorly struck 58...........
The second one looks almost identical to mine in terms of wear which is a 53, again depends on luster and it could be anywhere from 50 to 55, but the reverse to me looks 55 if all of the luster is there, so I will again post a wild guess at 55.
Best, SH
Number 1, 30 or 35, I'll probably be surprised when you reveal the grade.
Number 2, 55, a great looking coin from the picture.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
I see a fully lustrous coin with a horrible strike in the first one. 60.
The second one is worn a little, but has a better strike, with fully defined hair on the top of the head. 50.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
From the pics...
I would say high AU on the first piece. Possible claims to mint state, but looks like some crud in the devices so I would go with 58.
Second piece would be in the XF range. Maybe 45.
Personally, I much prefer the first piece. Better surfaces and fantastically crude. Much more character than the second piece. When it comes to crude or poorly made issues, sometimes I ask myself if I would prefer a wonderfully representative example, or an exceptionally well made example. Both have their own merits, but I guess I am just more intrigued and fascinated by poorly made pieces.
55 on first, 45 on second
63, 53
62, 53
Agree with the general consensus of an AU/MS first coin and an EF/AU second coin. The 42-O. Ones with a notoriously weak central strike making grading from pictures quite difficult.
Latin American Collection
40 & 55. I'm probably way off though
MS61 for the first coin and AU55 for the other. The first coin is just poorly struck but it has luster.
Perhaps a trick question?
I'm gonna guess both AU50.
?62 and 55? Maybe subtitle the thread "A study in quality control," LOL
A few more hours for the morning crowd.
First coin - can't tell from the photo - could be uncirculated but weakly struck.
Second coin - EF - far too much wear and loss of luster for AU.
First coin is MS - 61 or perhaps 62. Clearly an MS coin, but the very weak strike keeps it out to the '63 realm, and the obverse rim issues may have relegated it to an MS Details/rim damage holder. The 2nd coin has a much better strike, but visible wear... I'd go AU-53 on that one.
'dude
Where do you see the "visible wear" on the second coin? Thanks
XF45 and MS62.....Cheers, RickO
58 and 50
i think the first one is a higher grade...maybe mint state...with a weak strike. so i'll guess au58 to play safe. the second is au50.
*** GRADES REVEALED ***
CharlotteDude nailed it.
Here are the grades for those who just want the goods....
1st coin: MS61
2nd coin: AU53
My take:
As expected most were able to deal with the 2nd coin, the actual grade was the most popular guess here: AU53. A really good strike for this issue (of course, not full) and a touch of wear but not quite choice AU. This was the distraction for the 1st coin which is what caused me to post. I was on PCGS Coinfacts and the 1st coin is their top graded photo: MS61. My first thought was ok, I know the 42-O has notoriously horrible strikes but look at all of the problems with the obverse rim. There are 3 separate nasty defects. Also, the reverse shows a bit of dirt just like the AU53, so its possible this coin may have seen a bit hand to hand combat. Anyway, with all of this "Stuff" how does this get a grade above 60? I don't care how booming the luster, there are just so many things here for me. I realize for many that may be the appeal as shown in some of the responses. Clearly some prefer #2 and others #1. Thanks for playing.
50 and 50.
Interesting, I was not too far off.....
Best, SH
"For those who just want the goods....
1st coin: MS61
2nd coin: AU53"
Good guess. Considering the differences, I don't get it / understand the difference, but, well done.
Haven't looked: 62&55
Thanks for lesson
If one were buying these, how would value be estimated? The 2nd coin is fairly easy -- an upper end EF value. But the first coin, while being uncirculated, is an inferior specimen. (Aside from the obvious damage.)
It would be interesting to read some opinions.
I replaced a poorly struck 1842-O in VF 35 a few months ago. The combination of center weakness and circulation wear gave it the look of an F12 - but with remaining luster. My replacement AU53 is well struck in comparison.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907/publishedset/15628
March of Time - 27 Centuries in Gold
https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=36590
I was looking on Coinfacts and these are the two most recently auctioned PCGS 61's dating back around 2010. Both of these coins are much better struck. Originality might be lacking at least on the second coin.
I believe Doug winter says that 75 to 85 percent are poorly struck
What were the prices?
The 2nd coin immediately above is not close to being uncirculated. Will have to presume the 1st one is correct.
03/10 $9488
11/11 $8625
03/10 $9488 --->A bargain every day of the week.
11/11 $8625 --->I'd rather take a sharp AU for 5 grand less every day of the week.
the first one ill go with a 30 the second maybe a 50 or 53
Price for first one (better struck "MS-61" seems fair. Second one.....well.....nope
Excellent thread - very educational. Thanks for posting!
Well I was way off on those... need to get brush up on these....
Cheers, RickO
RickO - don't feel bad I was equally off on #1...
Why was the production quality of the quarter eagles at the New Orleans mint so poor during 1842...their half eagles during the same year weren't so bad...
The Quarter Eagles were produced during Mardi Gras.
The Half Eagles were produced during Lent. or vice versa