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Looking For Hints N Tips On Grading A 1936 Penny

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LostnFound's Avatar
Australia
55 Posts
 Posted 02/07/2012  8:31 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add LostnFound to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Any help appreciated, this is an exercise for me, and any other newby's like me too I guess, to try and learn grading and valuation basics.
Here is a 1936 penny for the exercise. Where should I start?

Looking-For-Hints-N-Tips-On-Grading-A-1936-Penny

Looking-For-Hints-N-Tips-On-Grading-A-1936-Penny
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enworb's Avatar
Australia
4411 Posts
 Posted 02/07/2012  8:59 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add enworb to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I would:
1. Look for verdigris and general toning. - this one looks to have quite a bot of verd or dark uneven toning on the obverse.
2. Look at the band in the king's crown - this one has 8 pearls with the second pair showing some wear.
3. Look at the general field of the obverse, are there any significant scratches/indents? - this one doesn't look too bad although there is quite a few scratches.
4. Look at the rims on both sides - this one seems to be free of rim nicks, other than that at approx 8 o'clock on the reverse.
5. Look at the beads and scrolls on the reverse for wear (a weak strike can often look like wear so be careful.

This particular coin probably has detail to gVF-aEF on the obverse and around VF on the reverse. Because pf the undesirable toning and or verd I would be more comfortable calling it VF-gVF overall. I think retail it might be around $5.
Valued Member
LostnFound's Avatar
Australia
55 Posts
 Posted 02/07/2012  9:24 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add LostnFound to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks Enworb, great hints n tips. Just what I was hoping for.
So at number 1 am I correct in assuming I should consider the general appearance or what I've seen referred to as eye appeal?
Tip no.2, look for the known wear spots for that type of coin? (I'm sure there is a proper terminology for this I just dont know what it is yet lol)
Tip 3, General fields, is that where nothing is printed?
Tip 4, I see the rim damage you mentioned, are you saying the size of that is ok and not a downgrade because it is slight? I do see a much smaller nick on the rim on the other side of the coin at about 8 o'clock as well, is that one so slight as to be ignored?
Tip 5, I do notice what looks like wear just above the 36, is this the weak strike possibility you mentioned.
Thanks again for your help.
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enworb's Avatar
Australia
4411 Posts
 Posted 02/07/2012  9:51 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add enworb to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
You have interpreted what I said well. I try to avoid rim nicks when buying coins. I think theyre very ugly and detract alot. The one on the reverse is decent enough to be taken into consideration when grading. The one on the obverse is quite small. Below is a photo of my 1936 penny. It is around the aUNC grade with about 75% lustre, much of which doesn't show up on the photo. You will notice that even on this coin with no wear the beads around the 36 are weak and I am happy thinking this is the strike not wear.

Looking-For-Hints-N-Tips-On-Grading-A-1936-Penny
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LostnFound's Avatar
Australia
55 Posts
 Posted 02/07/2012  10:17 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add LostnFound to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thnx M8, very helpful stuff.
Valued Member
LostnFound's Avatar
Australia
55 Posts
 Posted 02/07/2012  10:19 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add LostnFound to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Nice looking penny too
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