New Kentucky Token to show off….and a reholder/regrade question
MEJ7070
Posts: 858 ✭✭✭✭✭
I went to the Richmond Coin Club show yesterday. Had a great time and was able to pick up some awesome coins.
I met Ed Hammond and did some business with him. A first class gentleman through and through. I have long sought the “right” Kentucky token as my mother’s entire side of the family is there and my attachment to the areas where my grandparents grew up will always be strong.
Pop 2/0 (in RD)
I love this example because of the strike, the wonderfully original surfaces, and the total lack of any PVC which I’ve found to be prevalent on some of the other high grades examples on the market.
While I’m not a very experienced EAC collector, I do generally feel like I can tell the difference most of the time between a coin that should grade RD Va RB. Frankly, I consider this coin to be more RB than RD. Am I wrong? Or is there just a much wider birth given to 18th century tokens such as this one when TPGs assign RD vs RB.
I wanted to have this coin reholdered and Truviewed anyway (you all see my awful pics). I’m generally someone who’d much rather have my coins undergraded than overgraded. I generally do not seek RD graded copper coins and didn’t buy this one because of that assignment. I bought it 100% for eye appeal.
My question is, should I send this coin in for strictly reholdering as a 64 RD, or regrading/reconsideration (perhaps seeking a 64+ RB grade which I think would potentially be appropriate.
Any thoughts/opinions/comments are welcome. Sorry my pics aren’t better when I’m soliciting opinions!
Comments
That looks more BN than RB, maybe it turned in the holder. I'd leave it as is.
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There’s the answer. Neat piece.
Making an assessment based on an image, I see your concerns on coming back red-brown should you have it reholdered. I'd question the obverse but find the reverse accurate even going by an image only. Either way, that's one fine example!
In my opinion, you have to call this coin Brown, not Red. I think that it is a push to call it R&B. It must have changed on the holder or maybe there was a mechanical error. It is Uncirculated and very nice, but I don’t agree with the color. If you go for a redgrade, don't expect to get back a "Red" graded coin.
I handled this one when I was dealer and it was graded "Brown."
The Virginia Half Penny is graded "R&B."
Have you seen the truviews that PCGS puts out today? If you want quality photos send this to one of the quality coin photographers, several of whom are members of this forum. You will actually get good photos that accurately represent the coin for less money and no risk.
As to the coin the holder is from the time when + grading had already started so I think the chances are you will get back a coin in a shiny new holder with the grade MS64RB shot BN with the usual horrible photos. Nothing about the scenario of sending to PCGS seems to be in your favor.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Beautiful coin.
Nice catch, and you prove it is worth waiting for the exactly correct (for you) coin to come along.
Congratulations! Nice token!
No, you’re not wrong in thinking that the coin looks more RB than RD, as it looks close to (if not) BN. I hope you didn’t pay a price commensurate with the “RD” designation.
If you’d prefer it in a 64+ RB holder, you could submit it as a regrade with a minimum grade of 64+ (and included in bold - “RB”). As back-up, I’d recommend including a note, repeating the 64+ RB minimum grade.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Appreciate all the comments/suggestions all. Thank you.
It’s not that I care about the premium associated with RD. I paid a premium above BN…..and I’m comfortable it was a fair one….but certainly nowhere near what I think a clean RD would command. I like the color (obverse isn’t nearly as flat and dull as my pics make it look), and bought it in large part due to the color’s impact on overall eye appeal….but not because the label said RD.
It’s more that I just tend to be a stickler/nerd about the coins/tokens in my collection being as correctly graded and attributed as possible.
I may go with @MFelds advice, and will keep mulling it over. I wasn’t sure about the mechanics of reconsideration submissions and I appreciate the expertise.
Again thanks to all who’ve chimed in.