Give a grade to this 3CN coin
PTVETTER
Posts: 6,028 ✭✭✭✭✭
What grade would you give this
Pat Vetter,Mercury Dime registry set,1938 Proof set registry,Pat & BJ Coins:724-325-7211
0
Comments
Hard t judge the luster and surfaces in the pictures. Depending on luster XF or AU.
Appears to be attractively toned. Wear is showing on the high points. I'd say AU50.
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
XF45. Might be higher if the luster is there showing a weak strike.
AU
Collector, occasional seller
AU Details - Cleaned/Rubbed.
I'd grade it PASS. A common date that is very poorly struck and has abrasions on the obverse.
XF.
This.
50ish, weak strike.
55
I was concern with the weak strike?
Was in a cardboard filp
A solid F-12. Going from Coin World's Making the Grade book. Extremely accurate using actual detailed photos with specific description criteria covering ever grade.
A solid F-12. Going from Coin World's Making the Grade book. Extremely accurate using actual detailed photos with specific description criteria covering ever grade.
that probably isn't a good way to learn how to grade coins.
XF and pass. Just do not like the look of that one.
AU with scrape on cheek.
Nice typical clashing.
Many dies for this series are unable to create the full vertical lines on the III.
I think its actually technically better than you think, more like a 55
that may be correct. with the reverse die clash the over-polishing of the die probably reduced the detail in the numerals but I don't see much clashing on the obverse that would account for heavy polishing and loss of detail. the obverse just looks circulated.
better pictures would help, but the date is so common it really doesn't matter. find a nicer one.
55/58
Might have been cleaned, might not have been....tough to tell from the image.
Let's have a teaching moment... when you approach a coin for grading, first, think about the minting process at the time the coin was struck and the metal being used. Mid 19th Century and striking a "new" tougher metal... nickel. These coins (3cn) were notoriously hard on dies... lots of cool die breaks, clashes, strike throughs, etc...
The coin in the OP is a very interesting piece. If you look at the reverse, you can see Ms. Liberty's profile (clash) and the weakness in the detail in the middle romantic numeral III. However, other details are very apparent and there's even a bit of what looks to be mint luster in the devices
Technically , I'd grade this piece XF45 or AU50... in reality, I'd "grade" it exactly as 291fifth did... pass!
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The coin looks like a weekly struck AU to me, though possibly an AU details example.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
You’re confusing striking weakness for wear and/or way off, for some other reason. The coin is far better than Fine.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I looked at this coin several times before @lkenefic comments and never noticed the die clash. Great catch!!
Still learning from these “learning moments”
Thanks
DiggerJim
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I'm going to agree with the sentiment that, "It probably grades much higher than your initial reaction." Somewhere in the mid-AU range?
Against forum norms, I'm going to post a pic of a "similar" PCGS graded coin:
I think the OP's coin probably hints at more luster than this coin. This one has a slightly better strike. But I think one could be forgiven if your "initial reaction" for both was in the XF area. But if you look closer, the sharpness of the center of the leaves on the reverse of both kind of give you a clue that they haven't been subjected to the wear your first impression probably assumed.
55 indeed imho.