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Coin with prominent black spot.

Do you believe a coin with a prominent black spot can be MS64 or higher? Do think it would be tough to get all the money on it (discounted)?

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    IkesTIkesT ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Cougar1978 said:
    Do you believe a coin with a prominent black spot can be MS64 or higher? Do think it would be tough to get all the money on it (discounted)?

    What?

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    spot like that are localized terminal toning. so i think it could be a 70.

    i expect, in the presence of non-spotted coins, to get less

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
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    Cougar1978Cougar1978 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 12, 2026 10:11PM

    I guess an online auction starting around melt would be the vehicle to get rid of C coins (black spots).

    I don’t like black spots on coins. My advice look at what your bidding on and review carefully both sides spots, for major marks, dark spots, hairlines, etc. check both sides of the coin carefully.

    Investor
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    @Cougar1978 said:
    Do you believe a coin with a prominent black spot can be MS64 or higher? Do think it would be tough to get all the money on it (discounted)?

    Problematic at best. Doubtful at worse.

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    Need a picture.

    JA will not CAC a coin with a black spot.

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    @MsMorrisine said:
    spot like that are localized terminal toning. so i think it could be a 70.

    Any coin with a "prominent black spot" will never get a 70 from a major grading company. Of course, a coin graded 70 could develop a black spot after being graded and slabbed.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

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    @Cougar1978 said:
    Do you believe a coin with a prominent black spot can be MS64 or higher? Do think it would be tough to get all the money on it (discounted)?

    You definitely can't get "all the money" if it is discounted.

    Easiest question ever asked. We don't even need pictures.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

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    @Cougar1978 - You must mean something like this? 😂 🤣

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    Those spots almost certainly appeared after the coin was certified. It should be sent back to PCGS for them to honor the grade guarantee.

    Official PCGS account of:

    www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com

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    MFeldMFeld ✭✭✭✭✭

    @TallahasseeCoinClub said:
    Those spots almost certainly appeared after the coin was certified. It should be sent back to PCGS for them to honor the grade guarantee.

    I don’t believe that the PCGS guarantee covers spotting.

    Here’s what I found for their guarantee: https://www.pcgs.com/guarantee

    And among the exclusions to their guarantee, they state:

    “ Coins exhibiting environmental deterioration. The PCGS Guarantee does not apply to coins exhibiting environmental deterioration subsequent to PCGS grading and encapsulation. This deterioration may include, but is not limited to, spotting, hazing, PVC contamination, changes in color, and corrosion.”

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

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    TallahasseeCoinClubTallahasseeCoinClub ✭✭✭✭
    edited August 13, 2026 6:24AM

    @MFeld said:

    @TallahasseeCoinClub said:
    Those spots almost certainly appeared after the coin was certified. It should be sent back to PCGS for them to honor the grade guarantee.

    I don’t believe that the PCGS guarantee covers spotting.

    Here’s what I found for their guarantee: https://www.pcgs.com/guarantee

    And among the exclusions to their guarantee, they state:

    “ Coins exhibiting environmental deterioration. The PCGS Guarantee does not apply to coins exhibiting environmental deterioration subsequent to PCGS grading and encapsulation. This deterioration may include, but is not limited to, spotting, hazing, PVC contamination, changes in color, and corrosion.”

    Look here at an old David Hall post and check out the commentary on the 1899 cent.... The OP quarter was certified even before that comment was posted.

    I am advocating for the OP's situation and hope PCGS will kindly assist, even if the current guarantee does not require it.

    Official PCGS account of:

    www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com

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    @Cougar1978 said:
    Do you believe a coin with a prominent black spot can be MS64 or higher? Do think it would be tough to get all the money on it (discounted)?

    If it's prominent enough, a black spot should yield an environmental damage details grade. I'm not sure what "all the money" on such a coin means. I think in that case, you're just happy to make it go away.

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    MasonGMasonG ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:
    Easiest question ever asked.

    Not if you can't look it up in the greysheet.

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    Cougar1978Cougar1978 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 13, 2026 6:42AM

    Yes I would start it at melt (auction). See if it can even get that. About a $160 coin. So probably take a hit on it.

    Investor
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    TallahasseeCoinClubTallahasseeCoinClub ✭✭✭✭
    edited August 13, 2026 6:43AM

    @Cougar1978 said:
    Yes I would start it at melt (auction). See if it can even get that. About a $160 coin.

    Greysheet suggests a $15 - $20 spread between wholesale and retail on that 1956 example shown above, FWIW.

    Official PCGS account of:

    www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com

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    @TallahasseeCoinClub said:

    @MFeld said:

    @TallahasseeCoinClub said:
    Those spots almost certainly appeared after the coin was certified. It should be sent back to PCGS for them to honor the grade guarantee.

    I don’t believe that the PCGS guarantee covers spotting.

    Here’s what I found for their guarantee: https://www.pcgs.com/guarantee

    And among the exclusions to their guarantee, they state:

    “ Coins exhibiting environmental deterioration. The PCGS Guarantee does not apply to coins exhibiting environmental deterioration subsequent to PCGS grading and encapsulation. This deterioration may include, but is not limited to, spotting, hazing, PVC contamination, changes in color, and corrosion.”

    Look here at an old David Hall post and check out the commentary on the 1899 cent.... The OP quarter was certified even before that comment was posted.

    I am advocating for the OP's situation and hope PCGS will kindly assist, even if the current guarantee does not require it.

    The OP is not the OP. Cougar never showed us the coin he's talking about

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

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    Yes I take GS / digital version and buy mag version from them now and then.

    Investor
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    @MasonG said:

    @jmlanzaf said:
    Easiest question ever asked.

    Not if you can't look it up in the greysheet.

    Even if you can't. You can't get full price if you "discount" it.

    To your point, you can't discount it if you don't know full price. You also can't know full price. So, it's a bit of a conundrum.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

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    It will be interesting to see what it really goes for lol.

    Investor
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    I'd bid on it.
    What is your Facebook marketplace handle?

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    Not in my book.

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    There are spots which can be caused by impurities in the alloy. Since they were part of the manufacturing process, they will have less weight on the grade, but, if severe, will lower the grade and will preclude a very high grade.

    Post mint damage, like the spots on the former MS-65 quarter shown above, are serious. I have no doubt that those spots were not on the piece when it was graded. It that had been there, it would have been a “details grade” now or gotten a “body bag” in the rattle holder era. Much less severe spots will lower a straight grade. And, no, such a coin cannot be an MS-70.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
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    No way that would grade 65 in today’s market!

    Pat Vetter,Mercury Dime registry set,1938 Proof set registry,Pat & BJ Coins:724-325-7211


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    At MS 64, those type of spots are ‘overlooked’ and straight graded. However, they are a difficult sell, especially, if they are common dates and easily replaceable.

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

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    @ProofCollection said:
    Need a picture.

    JA will not CAC a coin with a black spot.

    On the contrary.
    This has a Green Bean.

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    @LeeBone said:

    @ProofCollection said:
    Need a picture.

    JA will not CAC a coin with a black spot.

    On the contrary.
    This has a Green Bean.

    As does this one with big patches of terminal toning.

    chopmarkedtradedollars.com

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    I was naive in the beginning of CAC's evolution in believing CAC coins were attractive.
    How I was disheartened to learn that simply is nowhere near the truth.

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    leothelyonleothelyon ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 14, 2026 7:53PM

    Here's a coin with a black spot. Or maybe a chuck of dirt. Whatever it is, I just don't understand. If you have the ability to blow this coin up to gigantic proportions, like with a 15 inch screen laptop, you'll see what I mean! You'll actually have to have one if you love looking at high quality coins! The number of people who actually held this coin before it was encapsulated, they all had to see this piece of crud. From the seller to the owner and so on. All it would have taken was a toothpick, a study hand and about 3 seconds. Obviously, no-one had either and likely have crud between their teeth all week! lol ! I will eventually get around to cracking the coin out and remove the piece of debris myself when I get tired of looking at it. lol And find a new home for it in a 2x2 Capital holder similar to what I did for a 1964-D Jeff that graded ANACS MS64. The spot itself was also a flake of some sort, practically falling off the coin when I moved it with a toothpick. So now it's a MS65 5 Steps coin. Every time I look at that 1942-S, I just shake my head in disbelief.

    Leo

    The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

    My Jefferson Nickel Collection

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    @RedRocket said:
    I was naive in the beginning of CAC's evolution in believing CAC coins were attractive.
    How I was disheartened to learn that simply is nowhere near the truth.

    Same here.
    I remember looking at an early date walker I needed, in a 58 holder, green stickered. Thought it was a good candidate, until I saw the reverse, and it was riddled with dark toning spots.
    Original, yes. Eye appealing? Not to me…

    Successful BST transactions with 177 members. breakdown, scotty1419, mattniss, bigjpst, onlyroosies, Manorcourtman, guitarwes, Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
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    @lermish said:

    @LeeBone said:

    @ProofCollection said:
    Need a picture.

    JA will not CAC a coin with a black spot.

    On the contrary.
    This has a Green Bean.

    As does this one with big patches of terminal toning.

    Investor
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    Cougar1978Cougar1978 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 15, 2026 4:27PM

    Thanks for sharing - it got green bean.

    I believe the dark areas will get darker as time goes on. That seems reaction to the atmosphere, heat over time.

    However I buy coins that meet my standards not beans. I do have substantial CACG material but sold out of the sticker material awhile back.

    Investor
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    @leothelyon - You lost me. Where exactly on this coin are you talking? I see a lot of black spots.

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    @Cougar1978 said:
    Thanks for sharing - it got green bean.

    Yes.

    chopmarkedtradedollars.com

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    @lermish said:

    @Cougar1978 said:
    Thanks for sharing - it got green bean.

    Yes.

    I done got green beaned back in college.
    Still have nightmarish memories of that experience.

    :|

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    @LeeBone said:

    @ProofCollection said:
    Need a picture.

    JA will not CAC a coin with a black spot.

    On the contrary.
    This has a Green Bean.

    It should not have gotten a green bean if the spots were there when CAC approved of it.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
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    ProofCollectionProofCollection ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 15, 2026 3:58PM

    Interesting. My statement was based on getting at least two coins back where I asked for feedback and JA specifically said no because of the spots.

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    @ProofCollection said:

    Interesting. My statement was based on getting at least two coins back where I asked for feedback and JA specifically said no because of the spots.

    Some spots are more spotty and spottier than other spots.
    -Animal Farm

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    MFeldMFeld ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BillJones said:

    @LeeBone said:

    @ProofCollection said:
    Need a picture.

    JA will not CAC a coin with a black spot.

    On the contrary.
    This has a Green Bean.

    It should not have gotten a green bean if the spots were there when CAC approved of it.

    Do you feel that way, regardless of the assigned grade?

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

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    MFeldMFeld ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ProofCollection said:

    Interesting. My statement was based on getting at least two coins back where I asked for feedback and JA specifically said no because of the spots.

    I’ve seen plenty of CAC coins with spots. That’s not a criticism of CAC and it’s not necessarily inconsistent with the feedback you received. A coin with a spot or spots can justifiably be considered solid for the grade at one grade level but not at a higher grade level.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

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    @MFeld said:

    @ProofCollection said:

    Interesting. My statement was based on getting at least two coins back where I asked for feedback and JA specifically said no because of the spots.

    I’ve seen plenty of CAC coins with spots. That’s not a criticism of CAC and it’s not necessarily inconsistent with the feedback you received. A coin with a spot or spots can justifiably be considered solid for the grade at one grade level but not at a higher grade level.

    Whether inadvertently or not, @RedRocket has a nugget of truth in his comment above as well. The nature of the spot does have something to do with it as well. Not all spots are created equal.

    chopmarkedtradedollars.com

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    MFeldMFeld ✭✭✭✭✭

    @lermish said:

    @MFeld said:

    @ProofCollection said:

    Interesting. My statement was based on getting at least two coins back where I asked for feedback and JA specifically said no because of the spots.

    I’ve seen plenty of CAC coins with spots. That’s not a criticism of CAC and it’s not necessarily inconsistent with the feedback you received. A coin with a spot or spots can justifiably be considered solid for the grade at one grade level but not at a higher grade level.

    Whether inadvertently or not, @RedRocket has a nugget of truth in his comment above as well. The nature of the spot does have something to do with it as well. Not all spots are created equal.

    Even if all spots were created equal, since spots don’t result in detail-grades, that means that at some grade, spots are acceptable and other higher grades, they aren’t.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

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    Cougar1978Cougar1978 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 15, 2026 4:35PM

    For me coins with major dark spots - black, tarnish are a no go for me whether bean or not.

    Investor
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    Cougar1978Cougar1978 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 15, 2026 4:47PM

    Many of them with dark horrible tarnish above likely damaged during reaction with the atmosphere, heat, humidity over time,

    As far as valuation - start them (auction) at melt (or some pct below bid) and see how far these damaged coins will go.

    Investor
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    @MFeld said:

    @lermish said:

    @MFeld said:

    @ProofCollection said:

    Interesting. My statement was based on getting at least two coins back where I asked for feedback and JA specifically said no because of the spots.

    I’ve seen plenty of CAC coins with spots. That’s not a criticism of CAC and it’s not necessarily inconsistent with the feedback you received. A coin with a spot or spots can justifiably be considered solid for the grade at one grade level but not at a higher grade level.

    Whether inadvertently or not, @RedRocket has a nugget of truth in his comment above as well. The nature of the spot does have something to do with it as well. Not all spots are created equal.

    Even if all spots were created equal, since spots don’t result in detail-grades, that means that at some grade, spots are acceptable and other higher grades, they aren’t.

    Agreed. But (as I'm sure you are well aware, mostly thinking out loud here) it's not always as clear cut.

    I just got a coin back from grading by our hosts on Wednesday that is a VF25. It's a lovely circulated coin with a big spot in the obverse field that I believe is the remnant of corrosion. I sent it into CAC stickering but I don't expect it to pass because of that spot.

    Whereas the trade dollar I posted above is essentially one giant spot but, due to its more natural origins (Euro felt tray), it stickered as a MS61 which was the result I expected.

    chopmarkedtradedollars.com

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    MFeldMFeld ✭✭✭✭✭

    @lermish said:

    @MFeld said:

    @lermish said:

    @MFeld said:

    @ProofCollection said:

    Interesting. My statement was based on getting at least two coins back where I asked for feedback and JA specifically said no because of the spots.

    I’ve seen plenty of CAC coins with spots. That’s not a criticism of CAC and it’s not necessarily inconsistent with the feedback you received. A coin with a spot or spots can justifiably be considered solid for the grade at one grade level but not at a higher grade level.

    Whether inadvertently or not, @RedRocket has a nugget of truth in his comment above as well. The nature of the spot does have something to do with it as well. Not all spots are created equal.

    Even if all spots were created equal, since spots don’t result in detail-grades, that means that at some grade, spots are acceptable and other higher grades, they aren’t.

    Agreed. But (as I'm sure you are well aware, mostly thinking out loud here) it's not always as clear cut.

    I just got a coin back from grading by our hosts on Wednesday that is a VF25. It's a lovely circulated coin with a big spot in the obverse field that I believe is the remnant of corrosion. I sent it into CAC stickering but I don't expect it to pass because of that spot.

    Whereas the trade dollar I posted above is essentially one giant spot but, due to its more natural origins (Euro felt tray), it stickered as a MS61 which was the result I expected.

    Of course it’s not always as clear cut - that’s the world of grading. ;)

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

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    @MFeld said:

    @BillJones said:

    @LeeBone said:

    @ProofCollection said:
    Need a picture.

    JA will not CAC a coin with a black spot.

    On the contrary.
    This has a Green Bean.

    It should not have gotten a green bean if the spots were there when CAC approved of it.

    Do you feel that way, regardless of the assigned grade?

    Yes. To me CAC means superior for whatever the grade. Those spots would make item an instant pass. The spots. would forever “bug me.”

    For me a CAC stickered coin should never “bug me.” It supposed to be a superior coin for the grade.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
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    @USSID18 said:
    @leothelyon - You lost me. Where exactly on this coin are you talking? I see a lot of black spots.

    The first photo of yours shows the mark. The other dark areas are shadows from the TrueView photo. They are not on the coin in hand but all the small specks are. The coin is beautifully toned regardless! Hopefully, you'll find yourself again. :wink:

    Leo

    The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

    My Jefferson Nickel Collection

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