Grade My Pocket Piece

In what way has this coin wronged you that it deserve such an awful fate?

A pocket piece is a coin that means something to you, or you just like to look at it. I say, nice piece and enjoy it. =)

I think the difference is your coin and the OP's coin are not of the same grade. Yours looks more like a PR-55/58 to me while the OP's is more like a PR-25/30. From what I have seen, when a business strike grades below a EF, the coin usually has no remnants of the original surface even in the most protected of areas. Even though this is a proof, I think the same would apply. A proof coin worn to this grade, I would expect to look just like a business strike worn to the same grade with the exception of a couple signs that indicate what it once was. If you take away the S and the sharp rims, the coin would look like a perfectly normal circulation strike.

I looked at a picture posted earlier, just to compare. I would have graded that a PR-35. I will be eagerly awaiting future periodic updates.

DNA, The coin does have a little bit of reflectivity left near e-pluribus unum, but otherwise the tone and look of the coin looks similar to my other clad pocket pieces.


That was kind of the point of this thread, I wanted to share the progression of my pocket piece(s) over time. I think I'll revisit this in a couple months, in addition to posting my other favorite coins.

Kennedy looks a little chubby...

That's why I suspected a "not just circulation wear" cause for its appearance, such as media blasting or chemicals.

A local dealer has a P-12 Barber Proof Dime, and its fields still look noticeably different than the typical Fine business strike Barber dime.
Like a very fogged mirror, but a richer silver color than a Fine-grade business strike Barber.

This coin is the opposite, much flatter and duller coloration than the typical VF business strike JFK, almost like a cast counterfeit's color (but I highly doubt anyone would counterfeit a 1995-S JFK).

Or bleach!

I do NOT torture my coins.