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Learning to grade - seeking opinion on 1904 1C

This has turned into a little weekly series to help the neophite (er, that would be me), learn some tips on grading IHC's. In the last month or six weeks, we have covered the following coins.

1863 1C consensus of XF-45 with PVC contamination
1859 1C consensus of VF-25
1909-S 1C consensus of VG-8 with crud, gunk or verdigris or maybe just covered with waxy deposit.
1907 1C consensus of AU58 (unless it happend to grade MS-63) (a so called AU-63 coin).
1902 1C consensos not reached. Estimates of AU-55 to MS-63 with a "BB retoned" and "BB PVC" tossed in.

I've tried to keep the titles of the posts consistent for easy review and searchablilty. A search on this forum for "learning to grade" will show all of the threads. Links listed above (just click on a date).

Today, I'm looking at another indian head. My estimate of grade is AU-50. There isn't any red left. To my eye the detail looks better than the 1863 XF-45 we looked at in the first post. There are some marks or scratchs on the face. There is waxy gunk on the reverse like we saw on the 1909-S.

I would be interested to see, and grateful for, other opinions. I am new enough to this hobby that I have a lot to learn and am just having a blast with the subject matter.

Comments welcome. Any additional images of IHC that show different grading levels also welcome.

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Comments

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    lope208lope208 Posts: 1,960 ✭✭
    Hmm I'll venture a guess of XF-45 based on the pics.


    Edited:
    Just looked at your 1863 and this coin DOES appear to have more detail.
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    tjkilliantjkillian Posts: 5,578 ✭✭✭
    Your 1904 is uncirculated, but only grades MS-62BN due to marks on her cheek and the luster breaks due to stacking and rolling.
    Tom

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    jdimmickjdimmick Posts: 9,944 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That coin is any where from Ms-61Bn to Au-58, har dto tell from photo!
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    BarndogBarndog Posts: 20,525 ✭✭✭✭✭
    the green spot might benefit from some acetone
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    rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    AU55 - 58.... Cheers, RickO
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    FilthyBrokeFilthyBroke Posts: 3,518


    << <i>That coin is any where from Ms-61Bn to Au-58, har dto tell from photo! >>




    I have a feeling there is some luster in that one, just doesn't show well in the pics.

    I agree with the grading estimate, probably Au58 to MS62BN, I'd vote 62.
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    STONESTONE Posts: 15,275
    I agree, from the picture it looks like a 58, but there also looks like there's some hidden luster and thus could be a 62
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    ElcontadorElcontador Posts: 7,740 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The lowest curl has wear; the coin is a slider. There's either a verdigris or PVC spot on the obverse. The protected areas on the reverse being much darker than the obverse tells me that the coin at some point was recolored. I don't think it will slab and I don't like it. Problem-free coins of this ilk are cheap; I'd get another one.
    "Vou invadir o Nordeste,
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    zeebobzeebob Posts: 2,825
    >The lowest curl has wear; the coin is a slider. There's either a verdigris or PVC spot on the obverse.

    Nice catch on the wear! I didn't really notice that before. Thank you for the observation.

    > The protected areas on the reverse being much darker than the obverse tells me that the coin at some point was recolored.

    In hand, it looks to me like the protected areas just have gunk starting to accumulate. I hadn't thought about "recoloring," but I suppose it could be from that.

    > Problem-free coins of this ilk are cheap; I'd get another one.

    I lucked in to these, didn't have to buy them. I thought I'd take the opportunity to post them on the forum and solicit comments so that I could (and other beginners could) learn about some of the things to look for on coins. Grading being one of them, but as I'm learning, there are a lot of other more subtle things to be aware of also.

    Thank you very much!

    Bob
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    tightbudgettightbudget Posts: 7,299 ✭✭✭
    55
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    CocoinutCocoinut Posts: 2,553 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'd give it a 55 as well.

    Jim
    Countdown to completion of my Mercury Set: 1 coin. My growing Lincoln Set: Finally completed!
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    seatedcoinsseatedcoins Posts: 1,096


    << <i>AU55 - 58.... Cheers, RickO >>



    Rick is considered the expert in Indian Head and Flying eagle cents. Here's a good read on examples of Indian head cents with photos at each different grade.

    Rick's guide
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