Which U.S. coin type (in CIRCULATED condition) do you think is the most incorrectly graded? Why?
Insider2
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IMO, the 3c silver pieces are the most incorrectly graded coin type once they drop out of the Proof or MS-with rub condition. I believe the main reason for this is the coins are so small. Soft strikes also make grading difficult. Very many in circulated condition have been abused or are dull. Finding an original coin with any trace of mint luster must be a very difficult task.
What do you think?
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Possibly early large and half cents given striking issues?
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I believe 3c silver pieces. Not only are they difficult to grade in circulated grades, but I think they are difficult to grade in MS grades as well.
I can't argue with any of the series suggested here, but will also add incuse gold to the list.
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It's not because they are so small. It's because they are struck on extremely thin planchets. You see this same issue with the Type 2 and Type 3 gold dollars.
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Standing Liberty Quarters
There are a fair number of high end AUs that are called Mint State, but my grading issues come when coins have obviously lost a lot of mint luster. When I look at the surfaces of many pieces that get called “EF,” I am thinking Choice VF. I constantly under grading these coins compared to the assigned grades.
Standing Lib Qtrs
Buffalo Nickels
20c pieces
Hard to discuss the comments in this thread w/o images. Here is what I find on small gold dollars. Since the same leeway given for all sizes of gold - loss of original surface due to friction wear on the high points is often ignored - a majority of these coins are correctly "commercial" graded. Therefore, I see no issue with these coins. When I pick up the slab the grade is usually understandable. With the other denominations of Liberty gold IMO, the middle grades are pushed up a little.
It's the large number of circulated 3c silver coins that IMHO are not close to what they should be. Coins graded XF to AU w/o even a tiny flash of mint luster or original surface. Look at the F-12 image in the ANA Guide. Coins as this are commonly graded in the VF+ to XF range! It is very frustrating.
Let's save some time, and say I posted something I thought, and the OP contradicted me.
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Early half dimes.
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
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@Baley said: "Let's save some time, and say I posted something I thought, and the OP contradicted me."
LOL. The
is an equal opportunity BS detector. Opinions are one thing but nonsense and misinformation posted as "dogma" should be corrected by all of us immediately.
IMO, it is a darn shame that you did not have the time to share what I can only suspect is your extensive numismatic knowledge on the subject we are discussing. I learn from folks who know more than me. Now, how about posting your thoughts about coins.
WHY? Of the three you posted, I only agree with the Buffalo nickels. I find these are mostly under graded in the lower grades. Example: IMO, the AG, G, and VG images in the ANA Grading guide.
The big problem with well circulated early half dimes is that they are often damaged along with the wear. Many of them are bent or scratched. Back in 1981 I bought one from former Maine dealer, Norm Pullem,
that I graded, “Gem Fine-12.” It had the wear but no problems at all. It has never been cleaned, was on a flat planchet with ever wear, and no marks. Today it’s in a VF-20 holder.
I have had 3c pieces get graded both VF and AU by different services; as well as one I cracked out of a PCGS slab as an MS63, that NGC called AU details, and when sent into grading at PCGS again came back the same grade!
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Let's not forget Buffalo Nickels and Standing Liberty Quarters as well!
Half and large cents. There’s a lot of coins that were not fully struck and the services probably just do not see enough of them
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trying to learn new things while I start arguments for my personal enjoyment.
In the 1990's when I worked for PCI, we upgraded 70% of the 3c nickels and Shield nickels graded by the two major TPGS. By the end of the 1990's, that was no longer the case.
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