I Sent Twelve Modern Coins To PCGS And Now In Encapsulation Does That Mean Something?

so far

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[/Based on your numbers your 10 years older than me, I've looking at coins since I was 7 so 45 years and while I still get it wrong most times I am usually in the ball park and I wouldn't grade a coin unless there is some upside possible. Your doing common coins that are hard to see the upside. I agree spending $5000 for an education is cheap but getting a good camera would let us help you more in the long run. Look you seem like a really nice guy and I understand where you are going but sometimes it's make sense to listen to others. T-Bop has double the experience I have and if he agrees with me that's usually means it's probably good to listen to us. And hey I get it wrong sometimes also. I thought this was at least XF 45 and would straight grade.]

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[/As a collector of OBW Lincolns I'm glad to hear you are obtaining your coins from those rolls , your bound to find a few MS-67's]

First hfjacinto, You were the first member to post and try to help me. I remember that and thought this is a guy who really gives me sound advice. I never forgot that! You kept telling me if it doesn't look right, it more than likely isn't right. Since then I have only purchased early wheat Lincolns' that were already slabbed. (Lesson learned there). As to purchasing a high-quality camera, I am not sure it's worth it. My only use would be to post pictures for you guys to help grade coins for me. As with most collectors this started out as getting only the early wheats (1909 to 1934). Then I told myself why not slab all the way to 2021. I already had an obw roll of every year back to 1949. One day I had the bright idea of finding these coins raw then slabbing them myself at 19-20$ a pop (the price I would have to pay (at the least) for every date to thru 1982. Granted I want at least ms-66 for every coin. Would you agree this would be more challenging than just purchasing from ebay? I found that I really am enjoying the hunt. I hope TBOP reads this along with the other helpful members and give their opinion on the fact that a picture is two dimensional and even with a clear picture you would not be able to see hairlines. All I can tell you is the pictures I try to post do not have hairlines.

When I open an obw roll, the coin must first catch my attention and I put reverse side up , marks in the prime focal areas are put back in roll. Second I check for a full strike, then swirl around for hairlines and check the secondary areas for marks. I repeat the process on the obverse. I keep telling myself that the coins won't be perfect but they better be close (if perfect then ms-70 right?). If the coin passes muster, I put in a coin snap, wait a day or two then repeat process in sunlight and again under 100 watt desk lamp. After all that I try to find picture on computer of that date and match my coin to the picture. I don't know what else to do?

All in all it boils down to the subjectivity of the grader and that's where the problem comes in. If I don't send these coins in, I will not know if I am on the right track. So that's where I am at. Would love for some of you to weigh in. MS-67 coins are nowhere to be found on ebay or if there hundreds of dollars. I am confident the 12 I sent in are ms-66 but my logic is MS-67 will have the grader take a closer look. Time will tell. Last thing, I counted 0ver 80 coins I have slabbed for reference material so I am doing my homework. I Appreciate all of you letting me say all that! If I am wrong I will man up and post, integrity means a lot to me. You guys are awesome!

Excellent thread, thanks for starting it! This is good information not only now but for new members.

Good Luck!

I have to agree with the others and I totally understand your points. BY FAR, to simply learn, I recommend buying coins already slabbed. Slabbed Memorial cents are CHEAP on ebay and everywhere else. They are typically from collectors and some from dealers that made "mistakes". I've seen these for under $10 on occasion.

I also recommend making friends with your LCS. They can be an invaluable ally in building your collection when they know you. I made friends with a owner of a local shop just by frequenting there, buying some stuff and shooting the breeze. FORE WARNING: Many of these dealers have tough exteriors. However, most of them are awesome once you break though it and they see you are not wasting their time. Bring a roll of cash so they see it when you checkout, it really gets their attention! LOL

You don't have to spend gobs of money on a camera! For under $50 you're in business. This is what I'm using, owned it forever, has a great macro mode:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nk...+is&_sacat=0

My pictures aren't "pro level" but they good enough for use on the web. One of the absolute keys for good pictures is LIGHT. This is what I use ($28):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...e=UTF8&psc=1

Here's what a $50 setup can do. These were even shot through an airtite holder.

Does not mean much, except
that the grade is easily agreed upon, if you wish to sell them.

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[/Here's what a $50 setup can do. These were even shot through an airtite holder.]

Hey BadThad, great advice, I did purchase a Canon Rebel XTI with all the bells and whistles for 100$ it came with nice carrying case tripod and two different types of lens. I think the carrying case is worth more than the camera (LOL). That's a whole new ball game, since I spent so many hours studying how to grade and now another month to figure out the camera. Guys understand that three months ago it took all I had to post a topic. John1 kept telling me how to put in quotes and patiently explaining step by step on how to do it. Hfjacinto has been there right from the start encouraging me and telling me to slow down it takes years to master this. TBOP, coinfrog, oldfordman, nick10, and Badthad , the list goes on each pointing out altered color and unacceptable toning. With so many way more experienced than me telling me the same thing a bell goes off and a voice in my head kept saying listen idiot these guys know what they are talking about.

I realize these are common date Lincolns yet still somewhat elusive in high grade. My problem may be that I might be technical grading instead of market grading. I have 80 slabbed Lincolns already as teaching tools. Most ms-66 Lincolns from NGC have marks and I would not consider submitting. Most of the coins I sent in have numerous die polish lines making the coin very attractive.

Will PCGS see it the same way (who knows). If I submit 4 coins of the same date with a pop report of 25 at ms-67 will I get any at 67 or all 4. Is PCGS aware that the value will drop when more show up in the pop report? I challenge some of you to go to ebay when you get a chance and and type in ms-67 PCGS Lincoln wheats with different dates (possibly the first three that show up that also have an enlarged picture. Then count the marks and die clash marks. And while you are at it type in PCGS ms-67 Lincoln memorials before 1983 and see how many are there. Then come back and tell me I am full of "s?t". Which no one has even implied by the way!.. Last thing 1 coin at modern value 52$ then shipping . 12 coins same deal 241$ and shipping. I will post either way. Guys keep me on the straight and narrow.

As of Monday 11/29 those 12 coins are still in encapsulation from 11/24. This was the day before Thanksgiving. PCGS still has them in encapsulation but the magnifying glass in the order details is yellow which I hadn't noticed before. This may mean that none of them made it to ms-67. I realize that we were in the holidays . I don't remember seeing yellow before.