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A grade for this German States beauty?

tewcdtewcd Posts: 245
in World & Ancient Coins Forum
I got this beautiful, detailed Hesse-Kassel 1771 1/4 Thaler from a seller (his pictures here -- my camera isn't sensitive enough). Just got it in hand today, and this thing brings tears to my eyes. Snowy white on the front, I can see the expression on the lion's face, not to mention his candy-striping; the reverse is clear, with minor blemishes, and has great orange and blue toning.

I've never submitted a coin to a TPG before, but I'm wondering if I should with this one. Since y'all appear to be experts on grading, what could I expect out of this one? Still not sure if I want to holder it, since it'll then be separated from the rest of my great Hesse-Kassel collection. Anyways, I'd love to hear your thoughts. I won't be offended if there's bad news. It may have been dipped, but honestly I can't tell if there's any tarnish anywhere on it.

Obverse
Reverse
Yes, I do sell on Ebay

Feel free to ask for my BST references!

*I reserve the right to change the direction of my collection at whiplash-inducing speeds.

Comments

  • tewcdtewcd Posts: 245
    No grades?
    Yes, I do sell on Ebay

    Feel free to ask for my BST references!

    *I reserve the right to change the direction of my collection at whiplash-inducing speeds.
  • coinnerdcoinnerd Posts: 492 ✭✭✭
    The photos don't lend themselves to grading the coin. The coin looks well struck but in the photo it looks flat and plain, which according to your discription it is not.
    I couldn't feel comfortable even guessing.
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,889 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The images do not help the cause for the grade. It has been either dipped or enhanced in some way to the point where it does not looking promising that it will grade- it will likely be classified as geniune

    Unfortunately, I am unable to be more optimistic

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • tewcdtewcd Posts: 245
    Well, the pictures aren't great scans, but the coin doesn't appear to be dipped, in all reality, at least compared to dipped coins I've seen. It has a nice, clean luster, and the toning on the back looks natural in normal lighting. This is the only good picture I can take of it with my POS camera:

    Terrible Pic

    Looking at it, there are no brush-marks, no polish marks, no chemical toning, no pvc, no environmental damage, a few hairlines, some rim-dings (although the rim on this is primatively reeded, causing some of the marks), and the detail is all there. I'm skeptical that this would be body-bagged, given what I've seen come out of both PCGS and NGC in German States' silver.
    Yes, I do sell on Ebay

    Feel free to ask for my BST references!

    *I reserve the right to change the direction of my collection at whiplash-inducing speeds.
  • PokermandudePokermandude Posts: 2,713 ✭✭✭
    EF/gEF? Looks to me like there is wear on a lot of the highest points.
    http://stores.ebay.ca/Mattscoin - Canadian coins, World Coins, Silver, Gold, Coin lots, Modern Mint Products & Collections
  • tewcdtewcd Posts: 245
    coinkat, coinnerd, pokermandude -- thank you for your replies! I'm a collector who collects for historical interest more than anything else, so when it comes down to it, dipping, wear on the finest points, etc., are things that are of minimal importance to me. I was going to submit this if it would get anywhere above EF, but given that it's sitting at EF -- and there's a question as to whether or not it was dipped, I don't think I'll waste the $60.00 to submit a $135.00 coin.

    I still think this has some of the finest detail of any coin I own -- I have a lot of Hessen-Kassel coins, that principality being at the center of my collection, and I can attest as to how rare it is to find a lion in this good shape. I like the look of it so much I've made it my avatar!

    If anyone can make a case as to why I should submit it, I guess I might, but otherwise I've already flipped it and put it in my Lighthouse binder.
    Yes, I do sell on Ebay

    Feel free to ask for my BST references!

    *I reserve the right to change the direction of my collection at whiplash-inducing speeds.
  • PokermandudePokermandude Posts: 2,713 ✭✭✭
    I agree it is a nice design. I quite like the German States coins, after buying a small "hoard" about a year ago. Link for pics Links to each state are on the bottom right of the page.

    There were a few Swiss Cantons/Austrian/other coins in there, but mostly it was German states. A few in pretty nice shape.
    http://stores.ebay.ca/Mattscoin - Canadian coins, World Coins, Silver, Gold, Coin lots, Modern Mint Products & Collections
  • olmanjonolmanjon Posts: 1,187 ✭
    You might try taking another picture. Tip the coin more up right and tone down the brightness of the light. The bright light is hiding any details. Would like to see a better pic. Thanks
    Olmanjon
    Proud recipiant of the Lord M "you suck award-March-2008"
    http://bit.ly/bxi7py
  • tewcdtewcd Posts: 245
    This any better?
    Yes, I do sell on Ebay

    Feel free to ask for my BST references!

    *I reserve the right to change the direction of my collection at whiplash-inducing speeds.
  • candy2012mustangcandy2012mustang Posts: 479 ✭
    I'd say XF details: Cleaned - looks "dipped out" to me
  • tewcdtewcd Posts: 245
    If XF books at $135 USD, what sort of a decrease are we talking? 50-75%? I have a few dipped coins that look like they were drained of all gleam and attractiveness. If this was dipped, it wasn't harsh. It gleams like a BU dime in hand.
    Yes, I do sell on Ebay

    Feel free to ask for my BST references!

    *I reserve the right to change the direction of my collection at whiplash-inducing speeds.
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