I'll agree with Russ, that the strike on the obverse could be better, looks like Kennedy has a Mohawk in the photo, but this coin is nick free on both sides, with strong luster.
I have to believe because of the weak obverse strike it would go 65 at best. I do not see any crease in his neck and he almost looks bald on the side of his head. The shield also appears to have hits as well as a decent hit on Liberty. The fields, however, seem very PQ. If it is 67 I'll have to scratch my head on this one. I have numerous 70's and 80's Kennedys exactly like this one in 65 holders. OK....what's the grade?? We assume it's in a PCGS holder........PCI MS68 maybe??
If that coin is in an MS69 holder, NTC should increase their scale to a modified-Sheldon 80 scale.
The very ugly hits on the sheild and the overall extremely weak strike should keep this coin from going anything over 64 in any holder offered by a respectable grading service. MS69 is just plain pathetic.
<< <i>The very ugly hits on the sheild and the overall extremely weak strike should keep this coin from going anything over 64 in any holder offered by a respectable grading service. >>
If the coin has full luster, it would easily grade MS65 at PCGS. If the luster is eye popping, it might very well grade MS66. The shield hits are actually very minimal for this issue, the fields are excellent, and the portrait is nearly mark free. As for the strike, these are normally weakly struck on the obverse.
Just to let you all know, in case you missed my post above,
Airplanenut is right....... It is in an NTC MS69 holder,
However, there are no nicks on the shield, what you see in the picture are scratches on the slab and the fingerprint is on the slab,
I have looked at the coin with a 10x and 30x loupe and it is a nick free coin. The strike is weak on the obverse I will say, but I still think the luster and lack of hits on it, make it at least a MS66. That is my opinion although that doesn't count for squat!!!
Luster will not get you from 65 to 66 at PCGS on MS Kennedys without a strong strike. MS Kennedys are very cut and dry between 65-68, technical grading is not a matter of luster.....it is a matter of strike and # of hits. MS69NTC, MS68PCI as I called it...what's the difference. NTC will get you 3 points, PCI will get you 2 points......very pathetic nonetheless. Good thread, thanks. Don't waste your $$ by sending it to PCGS....it will grade 64.
I am going to send this coin to PCGS in a couple days along with some others. When it comes back, I will post the results. I believe Russ is correct in that nicks are not the primary grading aspects in a coin. It is apparent from seeing other coins in holders, that are beautifully toned, obtain higher grades than other coins of similar aspects. I truly believe that this coin will come back in a 66 holder from PCGS.
Comments
Russ, NCNE
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
I'll go MS64.
The name is LEE!
Looks alittle flat in the pic.
The name is LEE!
It is graded NTC MS69
But it is a nick free coin, the obverse strike is weak, I would give it a 66/67 just for no nicks and great luster though.
The very ugly hits on the sheild and the overall extremely weak strike should keep this coin from going anything over 64 in any holder offered by a respectable grading service. MS69 is just plain pathetic.
<< <i>MS69 is just plain pathetic. >>
I didn't say I agree. I just think it is an NTC holder, and I guessed their grade.
<< <i>The very ugly hits on the sheild and the overall extremely weak strike should keep this coin from going anything over 64 in any holder offered by a respectable grading service. >>
If the coin has full luster, it would easily grade MS65 at PCGS. If the luster is eye popping, it might very well grade MS66. The shield hits are actually very minimal for this issue, the fields are excellent, and the portrait is nearly mark free. As for the strike, these are normally weakly struck on the obverse.
Russ, NCNE
Airplanenut is right....... It is in an NTC MS69 holder,
However, there are no nicks on the shield, what you see in the picture are scratches on the slab and the fingerprint is on the slab,
I have looked at the coin with a 10x and 30x loupe and it is a nick free coin. The strike is weak on the obverse I will say, but I still think the luster and lack of hits on it, make it at least a MS66. That is my opinion although that doesn't count for squat!!!
<< <i>Luster will not get you from 65 to 66 at PCGS on MS Kennedys without a strong strike. >>
Of course it will. With PCGS, blazing luster will overcome a lot of flaws.
<< <i>MS Kennedys are very cut and dry between 65-68, technical grading is not a matter of luster.....it is a matter of strike and # of hits. >>
If PCGS actually graded strictly on a technical basis, there's no way in hell this coin would have graded MS66:
Strike and number of hits are only one part of the grade and, at PCGS, are not necessarily the most important elements in many series.
Russ, NCNE
Thanks to all who contributed to this thread.