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Posted 01/21/2013 3:02 pm
This coin is probably valuable enough that it would be worth sending it in to get graded. The OP should try it.
I know the official ANA standards are not the end all of grading, but it is as good a guideline as we have. Here is the breakdown for VF-20;
"Three-quarters of details still show in feathers."
I really only see about 2/3
"Hair is worn, but bold" and "some details in hair braid are visible"
the word "some" is open to too much interpretation, but there is nothing bold about anything on this obverse.
"wear shows on two diagonal bands, but most details are visible"
it falls short, most details are not visible
"all vertical lines are visible, details in branch are clear"
branch looks fine, but all vertical lines are not clear, particularly between the midpoint and lower diagonal.
in addition; VF-30 on that one matter has "all vertical lines are sharp"
that's obviously not true.
This coin simply should fall short of VF-20 and come in at F-15. That being said, with the grade inflation and with this being a key date I do think NGC/PCGS would call it a VF-20. If the OP sends it in, I'd make a friendly wager with anyone that it doesn't see VF-30 (or higher). Such a grade would be plain wrong on this coin.
I know the official ANA standards are not the end all of grading, but it is as good a guideline as we have. Here is the breakdown for VF-20;
"Three-quarters of details still show in feathers."
I really only see about 2/3
"Hair is worn, but bold" and "some details in hair braid are visible"
the word "some" is open to too much interpretation, but there is nothing bold about anything on this obverse.
"wear shows on two diagonal bands, but most details are visible"
it falls short, most details are not visible
"all vertical lines are visible, details in branch are clear"
branch looks fine, but all vertical lines are not clear, particularly between the midpoint and lower diagonal.
in addition; VF-30 on that one matter has "all vertical lines are sharp"
that's obviously not true.
This coin simply should fall short of VF-20 and come in at F-15. That being said, with the grade inflation and with this being a key date I do think NGC/PCGS would call it a VF-20. If the OP sends it in, I'd make a friendly wager with anyone that it doesn't see VF-30 (or higher). Such a grade would be plain wrong on this coin.
