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Liberty nickel rare date
logger7
Posts: 8,117 ✭✭✭✭✭
I had this 1886 Liberty nickel certified by PCGS about a month ago, I felt it was a little over-graded based on what a local dealer thought, calling it a fine, but CAC approved it. You have three graders and a finalizer then the top pros at CAC. It was hard to get good images with the coin. I still like it.
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I sure don't like it for the grade......unless it is a bad pic.
From the picture I would say F-15. It could be better in hand
LIBERTY isn't complete so that VG to VG+ to me
That grade was a gift.
I would say Fine 15 the liberty is full. The coin is weak for a vf. The link is a random VF its more typical of VF even for this date.
http://www.caratcoin.com/p-BZ100.html
Most of LIBERTY looks visible. Might be more so under 5X magnification. The strike looks a bit weak. Considering the surfaces are decent looking it could have been bumped from Fine+ to VF20. In any case the price spread between F12 to VF20 is rather small. The market will figure it out.
I agree with the comments but cac stickered it.
From that angle, basically a full LIBERTY and showing closer to VF detail. OBV carries it.
I don't see the "I" in "LIBERTY." In the old days that precluded the Fine grade specifically. In the "new days," I guess it doesn't.
If that was a 1912-S everybody would call it a VF-20, but not an 1886.
IMHO.
no way a VF.
That was a gift
BHNC #203
Looks stronger in the second photo, so not as far off as I originally thought.
But so much for the rumor that "the services" being "tight" now....
If they can't get it right, over graded is better than under graded, the hobby is not looking for new collectors. Also, a nasty gouge under chin. I'd rather have an XF 12-S with a hole in it.
@BillJones - Another one for your archive of CAC errors.
If CAC did approve if, there is not a photo showing the whole slab with the sticker to prove it.
I have been building a file, but when a piece is up for auction, I don't think I should post pictures until the piece comes down. Counterfeits are fair game for such posting; grading errors are are a bit murkier.
The second picture makes it look better, but still no visible 'I' in Liberty.... Cheers, RickO
My, how grading standards have changed. Used to be a Fine required a full liberty.
If you go here: http://www.caccoin.com/look-up-your-coins/
and then type the cert number 84271863 then you will see that it does have a cute green bean. A photo of a slab with a pretty sticker is not really necessary. Photos were likely taken prior to the sticker process.
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
I'm with the no "I" camp.
"If you go here: http://www.caccoin.com/look-up-your-coins/
and then type the cert number 84271863 then you will see that it does have a cute green bean. A photo of a slab with a pretty sticker is not really necessary. Photos were likely taken prior to the sticker process."
Maybe that says something about the worth of these "beans."
That's how the grading has migrated on v nickels in this grade range over the past several years. Still a Fine at best IMO
Unfortunately It's been that way for many years for key date collector coins in the circulated grades. In the old days you needed a full "LIBERTY" for an 1877 Indian Cent in Fine, and full vertical lines on the ax for a 1916-D Mercury Dime in VF. You don't need either of those details for those grades these days.
Thanks for the tip. It is now noted in my files.
VG coin -- Was it pulled from a bag of "average circulated" nickels?
In the second photo I see the I but it's very, very weak. In the first photo I see just a hint of it...but it does look like it's there.