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
well if thats not corrosive spots then I like that one. Id venture a 66 but I am in no way versed in gold. I do however see something maybe? I love gold, and I have seen many with what appears to be splotches or patches of orange color, which IMHO looks so good on gold.
anyhow, If your interested in this puppy, Im sure its spectacular
The color looks a bit washed out... some marks on both sides... I would say 65... could be low, but looking at it with that magnification makes the marks jump out. Cheers, RickO
Admittedly, I am not very knowledgeable in grading this particular series, let alone the particular date. However, I'll relate how I see the coin. Foirst thing that I noted was that the obverse was weak: the ray ends, hair ends, center, ... Could be a weaker strike. But then there is the coloration and surface roughness on the upper obverse. Could be the planchet and the uneven alloy toning found often enough on gold. In hand, I would definitely check the luster for breaks. The nose also looks like it took a good hit. The fact that it (edit>> it=the nose) is not toned much at all makes me wonder if it was mishandled. I would WAG it as AU55.
The 1908-S is a very common copper spotted coin and it is NOT a takeaway at all...however this one has no coper spots.
Coxe....you're way off, bit that's OK.
This is a picture that Heritage took of this coin. It's an MS66 and I have seen ALL of the 66's and this is the finest. I was intrigued at the was it photo'ed.
here's Mike's pic....and I guarantee you this coin could be in a 67 holder as easily as a 66.
You have to realize that the markon the sun is about 1/32 of an inch. It has no effect on the grade.
Why isn;t it a MS67?
My guess is that the 67's tend to be flashy. This coin has the classic "early date" look, that is not so flashy but carpeted with an amazing orange skin. It's very similar to the best 1909's in that respect.
The 1908-S was one of the best struck dates of the entire series. It was the first year of SF Saints and they did an amazing job. I have seen one in particular that could have been the 1st coin to be minted. I say this because it's the most dramatic Saint I've ever seen! Brilliant headlight lustre, a blood red copper ring around the periphery and a strike like a proof. It's graded MS67 and it should be a MS68, IMO. My guess is that this coin was taken right from the dies by the director of the mint, possibly for John Clapp or another prominent collector..
Those shots show the coin almost completely differently, even better struck. Still, the marks on the breasts and sun are mildly distracting. But it is gold and it marks really easily. You know your saints. I expected it would be a high grade. BTW, what was with the nose, as seen bette rin the first pic you posted? Is that a hit or what?
Now remember, I dont know the series. That mark on the sun was the first thing I saw on the reverse. I thought that on MS coins every mark counted.
Im not trying to be a pain but I just want to learn. Why would a mark on a focal point like that, not carry any weight on the grade? even if its small.
I personally love this coin and the color. I even like the black eyes. I just want to learn about the grading aspect here.
Thanks for clearing that up for me. I knwo this series is very fun, but may be a bit outta my price range right now. As to the pictures, I have no idea. Im just learning how to shoot coins. I like the first one better.
I like when a pic shows all of the +'s and the -'s.
Does not count!!?? Why do Saints have an entirely different grading standard than any other coin? Any mark, I dont care the issue, should have an effect on the grade. The mark an the reverse makes this coin a MS66 and not better.
I keep telling myself the bag mark in the field of my Antietam Commem Half should not keep it from a MS66, but PCGS has told me im wrong. I dont think it should count because that coin is too damn beautifull.
Besides the mark on the sun and a couple light spots on the reverse, it is has beautiful color and the obverse is as good as the come. I would be happy with the MS66.
I know you will tear me apart for what I have said, but I dont care.
Does not count!!?? Why do Saints have an entirely different grading standard than any other coin? Any mark, I dont care the issue, should have an effect on the grade. The mark an the reverse makes this coin a MS66 and not better.
I keep telling myself the bag mark in the field of my Antietam Commem Half should not keep it from a MS66, but PCGS has told me im wrong. I dont think it should count because that coin is too damn beautifull.
Besides the mark on the sun and a couple light spots on the reverse, it is has beautiful color and the obverse is as good as the come. I would be happy with the MS66. >>
Nice rant, but you failed 'Comprehension 101'.
<< <i>I know you will tear me apart for what I have said, but I dont care. >>
I'm glad I didn't see this thread until after Mike's image was posted because otherwise I would have commented on the unnatural bluish haze seen on the image in the OP, and the possibility that the coin wasn't quite right.
(Mike - Do you acetone all coins before shooting them, or only the ones that need it? )
Andy Lustig
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Comments
-Paul
Nice coin.
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
P.S. Nice to see your Wife let you come out to play on the weekend!
I'd venture she's a 66 with some claim to 67.
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
<< <i>AU, not 100% original. >>
You're joking, right?
Im not trying ta be funny here, its just I see spots on the rev and I am not sure what it is I am seeing.
Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
<< <i>Jay am I seeing corrosion spots on the rev? >>
No. Not at all.
<< <i>Jay am I seeing corrosion spots on the rev?
Im not trying ta be funny here, its just I see spots on the rev and I am not sure what it is I am seeing. >>
Me either, copper spotting perhaps????
Beautiful strike!!!
Those Heritage images suck. Do you have any Mike Printz images yet?
anyhow, If your interested in this puppy, Im sure its spectacular
Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
Digital images are no fun on this one... you need to mail it out for show-n-tell!
NSDR - Life Member
SSDC - Life Member
ANA - Pay As I Go Member
Coxe....you're way off, bit that's OK.
This is a picture that Heritage took of this coin. It's an MS66 and I have seen ALL of the 66's and this is the finest. I was intrigued at the was it photo'ed.
here's Mike's pic....and I guarantee you this coin could be in a 67 holder as easily as a 66.
With that said, it seems my assumptions correspond with yours. W/out the scratch on the sun, it would b an easy 67.
--Severian the Lame
Why isn;t it a MS67?
My guess is that the 67's tend to be flashy. This coin has the classic "early date" look, that is not so flashy but carpeted with an amazing orange skin. It's very similar to the best 1909's in that respect.
The 1908-S was one of the best struck dates of the entire series. It was the first year of SF Saints and they did an amazing job. I have seen one in particular that could have been the 1st coin to be minted. I say this because it's the most dramatic Saint I've ever seen! Brilliant headlight lustre, a blood red copper ring around the periphery and a strike like a proof. It's graded MS67 and it should be a MS68, IMO. My guess is that this coin was taken right from the dies by the director of the mint, possibly for John Clapp or another prominent collector..
Edited to add: Two pubic hairs on the reverse (7 and 8 o'clock) that cuts it down two grades.
NSDR - Life Member
SSDC - Life Member
ANA - Pay As I Go Member
Im not trying to be a pain but I just want to learn. Why would a mark on a focal point like that, not carry any weight on the grade? even if its small.
I personally love this coin and the color. I even like the black eyes. I just want to learn about the grading aspect here.
IAgain...I was more interested in the photo by HAG than anything else.
I like when a pic shows all of the +'s and the -'s.
Does not count!!?? Why do Saints have an entirely different grading standard than any other coin? Any mark, I dont care the issue, should have an effect on the grade. The mark an the reverse makes this coin a MS66 and not better.
I keep telling myself the bag mark in the field of my Antietam Commem Half should not keep it from a MS66, but PCGS has told me im wrong. I dont think it should count because that coin is too damn beautifull.
Besides the mark on the sun and a couple light spots on the reverse, it is has beautiful color and the obverse is as good as the come. I would be happy with the MS66.
I know you will tear me apart for what I have said, but I dont care.
<< <i>A mark on the sun does count
Does not count!!?? Why do Saints have an entirely different grading standard than any other coin? Any mark, I dont care the issue, should have an effect on the grade. The mark an the reverse makes this coin a MS66 and not better.
I keep telling myself the bag mark in the field of my Antietam Commem Half should not keep it from a MS66, but PCGS has told me im wrong. I dont think it should count because that coin is too damn beautifull.
Besides the mark on the sun and a couple light spots on the reverse, it is has beautiful color and the obverse is as good as the come. I would be happy with the MS66. >>
Nice rant, but you failed 'Comprehension 101'.
<< <i>I know you will tear me apart for what I have said, but I dont care. >>
(Mike - Do you acetone all coins before shooting them, or only the ones that need it?
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
It's not the acetone; the trick is in the lighting . . . .
Nice coin Jay!
You know, I'd bet your syrupy gold would look far, far better in even a dimly lit steakhouse than under Heritage's cameras.
Love that coin.
"Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."
~Wayne