What grade should a TPGS give this Silver Eagle? What grade do you give it if different?
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The ONLY imperfections (marks, hairlines, spots, etc.) of any kind on this coin are shown it the partial image (12X) of its obverse. Should the "reed" mark be considered as one hit or three individual tiny marks? Please consider this a common date piece.
Many collectors/dealers claim they don't use the ANA standards personally. Many also say the TPGS do not either. Nevertheless, the ANA Grading Guide gives the following suggestions. Since the coin is not a perfect MS-70:
MS-69: 1 or 2 miniscule; none in prime focal areas.
MS-68: 3 or 4 miniscule; none in prime focal areas.
MS-67: 3 or 4 miniscule; 1 or 2 may be in prime focal areas.
MS-66: Several small; a few may be in prime focal areas.
Remember, the coin is PERFECT except for the mark shown.
I should grade it MS-67. I think a TPGS would be MS-68 at the minimum. I have heard that MS-70's bring good money and MS-69 generally carry a very slight premium. Anything below is bullion at melt. What do you think a proper grade should be based on its commercial value?
Comments
To me, that's a MS69
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Something to consider aside from the number and placement of imperfections is the amount of metal moved by those imperfections. I realize the ANA standards are quoted as "minuscule" and "small", but what that may mean to one person might not be the same to the next. Milling marks that cover an area approximately the same size as the letter I in IGWT aren't minuscule, in my opinion.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
MS67 tops
Keep in mind, too, that the point of grading is to differentiate the quality of coins of the same type and/or year from each other.
So, it wouldn't shock me if that "miniscule" mark actually dropped it 3 or 4 points on the grading scale, simply because there are SO MANY that don't have that imperfection. I'm kind of with GRANDAM giving it a 67. You certainly wouldn't be happy with that mark if you bought a 69 or 70....and 68 is pretty questionable.....
Probably TPG MS68.
I had a very choice bust half with such a milling mark on Liberty's neck....it was the only mark of note on the coin...graded MS65. Without it and it was a 66/67. That ASE mark in a wide open obv field is a prime focal area, and a big distraction. I'd grade it 67 max. Bullion no matter how you look at it. Your listed definitions above of 66/67 describe the marks accurately....several miniscule in a focal area....or the equivalent of one big one.
Makes sense. Your grade?
My gut feel is that it would be an MS67 to me as I would likely see it every time the coin was rolled into the light. However, on a coin like this (bullion and modern) I don't think I would sweat it too much.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
68 tops.
I have a 1990 no S cent with one pinprick in the obverse field the size of the leftmost mark in the OP. No other issues. PCGS graded it PR68dcam.
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Minus 1 for each prick.
How distracting is it in hand? For me personally, it would be MS67 tops if there were no other marks.
Of course, my original comment assumes that the grading services actually look at all the silver eagles that it grades. Although that theoretically happens, sometimes I wonder.
I'll go with 67.
A numismatic grade on bullion American Eagles is irrelevant unless one collects labels. It's value as a good ounce of silver from a reliable source is unchanged by the ticks pictured.
I grade it $19.50+ in the retail market.
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Let's see the whole coin under normal light.
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MS 67.
And it shows someone who doesn't know how to put bullion in tubes. That coin was probably at the bottom of a tube and somebody dropped the next one in.
You're supposed to stack them on the table and slide the tube down onto them, so these reed marks don't happen.
67 for me too.
Don't need it. Cannot do it. I'm surprised you have never seen a perfect, blast white, frosty, fully struck SE before. Just close your eyes and put a reed mark on the coin. So far the grade seems to be MS-67.
@derryb said: "A numismatic grade on bullion American Eagles is irrelevant unless one collects labels. It's value as a good ounce of silver from a reliable source is unchanged by the ticks pictured. I grade it $19.50+ in the retail market."
Let's imagine this is an educational exercise for me and all the "label collectors" without the experience and knowledge you have shown.
For MS-68 even the ANA guide excludes hits in a prime focal area.
With those hits above IWGT it's probably a 67.
If those hits were hidden below IGWT it's probably a 68.
MS67.... and even at that, I would not buy the coin..... If it happened to a raw one I owned, I would sell it... likely for a tad above melt.... Cheers, RickO
Are you referring to contact marks or forum members?