grading mint set coins with toning
jesbroken
Posts: 10,815 ✭✭✭✭✭
I've wondered this for a long time. How do TPG's grade coins with a great amount of toning. For example here are two coins I removed from a 1955 mint set. I don't want grade opinion, I just would like to know how they grade them. What is it they look at or for to make a informed decision. I have never been able to grade coins such as these.
Thanks,
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
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Comments
luster, strike, marks, positive or negative toning for eye appeal.
If you submit them, apologize for not doing all the work the top two TPGS's require to put your coins is a "proper flip" and send them as is in the package to avoid a "details" grade.
I have no call to submit them, just cannot see lustre, marks(only if after the toning), even strike is hard to make out legitimately on some toning. I have seen extreme toning almost brown grade ms66 and maybe even higher, can't remember for sure of a 67, but I am sure it can be done, I guess that's where the talented part comes in.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Can't tell what the grade is, but they will not win any beauty contests. The quarter reverse isn't too bad.
I read an article on lustre and it mentioned the cartwheel effect on toned coins. Mainly that it would still be there when the coin was rotated in the light. Now most of you are MS collectors and obviously well educated in the aspect of toned coin lustre and grading, while I am not. Due to funds and copper coins, I have always collected, bought and sold AU55 and AU58 coins for the most part and while some AU58 coins I currently have do show some broken lustre, they are not toned. I have taken all the coins I have left from the 1948 and 1955 Mint Sets and have held them in the light and turned them while slightly rocking them side to side and damned if I don't see the lustre. I have always did this with Morgans and Peace Dollars but never considered the smaller coins and as I said for the most part were AU coins. Thank you for your help.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Get a brighter light bulb and turn off the room lights. The plastic over the coins is not helpful.
Good post, Jim.
I've often wondered how hard it must be to spot small marks and defects on coins with this
speckled toning. I guess after a lot of training and time spent doing it, it gets a little easier.
I use florescent light and a stereo zoom microscope set at low power - around 7X. Works like a magic charm.
The grade is the same regardless of tarnish - providing there's no damage. However, the desirability of unattractive tarnish will substantially reduce value of the coin.
Don’t submit those coins. They have zero eye appeal and even if they grade selling them will be difficult. Apologize if this seems harsh but save your money.
rainbowroosie April 1, 2003
@rainbowroosie Don’t submit those coins. They have zero eye appeal and even if they grade selling them will be difficult. Apologize if this seems harsh but save your money.
You missed the point, I stated that I had no intentions of having them graded or even asking for grades. I presented them just to get the info of how the grading companies graded tarnished coins.
Thanks,
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Lighting, angles and magnification.... Of course, really dark tarnish can hide some issues... and to me, those coins are ugly... No surprise to anyone here...
Cheers, RickO