Looks like someone was submitting there whole 1/2 cent collection. Sorry about there luck. I have known collectors to walk away from the hobby after receiving grades like that..
Give the laziest man the toughest job and he will find the easiest way to get it done.
That looks a lot like my large cent collection. The coins may not always grade, but I'm satisfied with their eye appeal and I like the idea of owning some 200+ year old coins. Goes well with my modern widgets.
Whatever you are, be a good one. ---- Abraham Lincoln
I once worked with a guy who was selling off his entire collection, so his heirs wouldn't have to. He had a complete set of Indian cents, XF or better. He'd been buying them off eBay for the previous 10 years, and every one of them had problems he didn't know about. The 1875 was a spark-erosion counterfeit, to boot. I convinced him to submit the keys and semi keys to at least get them authenticated, and when they came back cleaned, etc., his attitude was that the grading service had made a mistake.
You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.
I understand people's comments that it isn't that bad given the many issues with early copper but I would hope I could do better. However, you don't find much copper that isn't either problem, slabbed, or in an EAC dealer or collector inventory with the problems well described. Anyway, here are 3 of my 50'ish half cents, all in PCGS plastic, 2 cac stickered and the 3rd CAC worthy but never submitted. Sorry for the poor lighting. I need to give up and give a bunch of my coins to a pro to photograph:
I collected half cents by die variety a one time, and I had a fairly decent collection including some rare ones that had a population of 20 or fewer known. If I had submitted that entire collection to be graded, it would have been a bloodbath. The grading services are brutal on early copper and more than a little inconsistent. Coins that are among the finest known in the condition census info that EAC members maintain would get body bags at the grading services. Early copper is the one area in which the third party grading has not made huge inroads.
For example I once owned the 1802 over 0, new reverse half cent that came from the Garrett Sale collection. It was light brown and had smooth surfaces which unusual for an 1802 half cent because they were all made from rejected clipped down large cent planchets that weren’t good enough to be issued as large cents. The coin made it to Breen half cent book condition census as a VF. Still NGC body bagged it.
No, I think that if many collectors, who understand early copper, saw this half cent collection, they would like 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 ... ?
Out of 18 early copper coins that I have submitted, two have bodybagged (actually three, but I resubmitted the third and got it holdered.) I don't think early copper is any more difficult than any other series, you just have to learn what PCGS will and will not certify before you go submitting everything under the sun. Early copper has more problems than other materials, so the pickings are slim, this may be another reason there are so many coppers that get bagged...one just doesn't find them problem free.
From what I have noticed (and I am far from expert on such matters) PCGS is more likely to forgive a small amount of damage than anything else IMHO (especially rims.) They are toughest on Altered Surfaces and cleanings. Pitting and Corrosion is are somewhere in the middle, they will forgive a small amount...the amount being commesurate with the grade of the coin (the lower the grade, the more forgiving they are.) If you understand the difference of what constitutes granular surfaces, corroded surfaces, hard surfaces, pitting and localized granularity, (etc.) you are a long way toward understanding what PCGS will forgive and what they will not. These are qualitative terms that early copper people tend to use when describing the surfaces of a copper coin. PCGS will not certify a coin that is corroded, but may certify a coin that has granular surfaces. (etc. etc.)
As far as early copper and half cents are concerned that submission looks pretty successful.
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It seems that there are also a lot of PCGS large cents that get sold by EAC member dealers that get an EAC grade lower than what is on the slab. So while PCGS is reluctant to slab a lot of early copper, what gets slabbed is sometimes considered over-graded by the EAC. Personally I like the coins raw and graded by EAC standards over TPG grading.
In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
When I submitted a few large cents, I asked Doug Bird to look them over and give me opinions beforehand. He advised me exactly which few would certify, and all the ones that passed his muster did certify.
Previously, I'd submitted a few others ATS and been disappointed with the results. On those coins, Doug pointed out the problems that I hadn't seen.
I'm really glad that I got good advice the second time around.
Mark
The Secret Of Success Law: Discover all unpredictable errors before they occur.
Comments
Edited to add - EAC grading is much tighter but they are more accepting of coins with issues.
You can't fault this person for the effort here.
Maybe these coins were family treasures he wants encapsulated.
Who cares? Why judge?
"Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."
~Wayne
Sorry about there luck. I have known collectors to walk away from the hobby after receiving grades like that..
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
<< <i>Looks like someone submitted a not wholly bad but pretty average album set. Whats the problem? >>
Maybe I was a bit strong in my statements.
I wish the submitter all the best!!
Whatever you are, be a good one. ---- Abraham Lincoln
<< <i>Poor guy. From what I understand early copper is tough. >>
Without a doubt!!!!!!
I am picturing that 1804 Plain no stem as a nice AU55 with an
old light cleaning.....
Many have minor problems that are acceptable in the market place, but not at PCGS.
Different standards for different people. All in all great selection of 1/2 cents.
For example I once owned the 1802 over 0, new reverse half cent that came from the Garrett Sale collection. It was light brown and had smooth surfaces which unusual for an 1802 half cent because they were all made from rejected clipped down large cent planchets that weren’t good enough to be issued as large cents. The coin made it to Breen half cent book condition census as a VF. Still NGC body bagged it.
No, I think that if many collectors, who understand early copper, saw this half cent collection, they would like it.
Out of 18 early copper coins that I have submitted, two have bodybagged (actually three, but I resubmitted the third and got it holdered.) I don't think early copper is any more difficult than any other series, you just have to learn what PCGS will and will not certify before you go submitting everything under the sun. Early copper has more problems than other materials, so the pickings are slim, this may be another reason there are so many coppers that get bagged...one just doesn't find them problem free.
From what I have noticed (and I am far from expert on such matters) PCGS is more likely to forgive a small amount of damage than anything else IMHO (especially rims.) They are toughest on Altered Surfaces and cleanings. Pitting and Corrosion is are somewhere in the middle, they will forgive a small amount...the amount being commesurate with the grade of the coin (the lower the grade, the more forgiving they are.) If you understand the difference of what constitutes granular surfaces, corroded surfaces, hard surfaces, pitting and localized granularity, (etc.) you are a long way toward understanding what PCGS will forgive and what they will not. These are qualitative terms that early copper people tend to use when describing the surfaces of a copper coin. PCGS will not certify a coin that is corroded, but may certify a coin that has granular surfaces. (etc. etc.)
Good luck, it's all just a learning game!
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
and give me opinions beforehand. He advised me exactly which few would
certify, and all the ones that passed his muster did certify.
Previously, I'd submitted a few others ATS and been disappointed with the
results. On those coins, Doug pointed out the problems that I hadn't seen.
I'm really glad that I got good advice the second time around.
Mark
Discover all unpredictable errors before they occur.