| Author |
 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,192 |
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I'm toying with the idea of starting a sticky thread for grading ancient coins. This would give us a chance to post our coins and have us give you a gradethem. Similar to what is being done in other sections of the forum. Do you think that would be something that you all would be interested in?
Let me know what you think.
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4964 Posts |
i would be interested I think, don't know if id participate (not my thing), but would look.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Give it shot. I think we could learn from each other and see some gnarly coins.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
I like it!  I will need a Grading 101 for ancients primer. I am ok at grading US Large Cents using both TPG grading and EAC grading, but know little of grading ancients. I think I have seen an NGC holder that graded both the strike and surfaces on a 1-5 scale. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
There are quite a few extra factors to consider, when grading ancient coins:
Completeness of flan,
completeness of the legends,
quality and depth of strike,
presence or not of tooling, and to what extent this affects the grade
patination
corrosion
skill and style of the celator
presence of cracks
presence of edge clipping
presence of silver crystallization
missing chips
porosity of the alloy
quality of the alloy.
All of these in varying combinations prevent a grading by scale, such as the Sheldon system.
None of these factors affect the grading of modern coins. More often they contribute to detracting comments, and even then, are usually not present.
Is the coin a contemporary fouree? (usaually affects the value only).
Most ancient coins require treatment in some form other, after recovery. This can also affect the grade.
It's not just a matter of the amount of wear, scratches or patination.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I like it too! What we really NEED to do, is put up a picture of an ancient coin for ALL to offer their grading opinions. I expect we may get a wide variation of opinion, but that doesn't matter. What DOES matter is that every opinion is properly appreciated and assessed. It is out of such a process that we can ALL learn. That includes me. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
I would be interested. It seems very subjective. I usually disagree with most of the gradings I have seen, I would like to learn more.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
 Lets take this Thrace Messembria AE 22mm 8g For an example. My opinion of its condition: Dark Black Patina, well centred on a round and complete flan. EF details though reverse shows significant tooling marks where the flan was filed flat and there is wear on the high points of the design of the reverse. Small crack on edge though I don't feel it detracts from the coin. Now this is a fairly straight-forwards coin, but I couldn't assign any sort of number to it that would enlighten you more than the description I gave in words. I am not sure how I would grade it or if there is any advantage in doing so. I wonder if grading will become a thing of the past now we have access to decent images and hard-drives capable of storing as many images as required. An image and a description tells me far more than a grade. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3442 Posts |
A grading system for ancients can never be a formula which you simply add up a set of numbers and come out with a precise figure. But it is possible to be very general and assign them to something like 1,2,3,4 ranks perhaps. If you had the pick of say a very large dealers stock of the Messembria AE22. It would be easy enough to narrow down your 'pick of the litter' to a few examples even if he/she had perhaps 100 on display. The same although much larger for the bottom end stuff (no. no. no !). It is all those pesky ones in the middle somewhere that are so very arguable/debatable. Nice 'green' patina (my favorite) vs 'no' patina. Cracked flan (I like these too) vs perfect stamping. We all know a XF+ when we see it ...... and bargain bin stuff (woof)
...... is usually pretty easy to spot.
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I've started the thread knowing that grading ancients is more difficult than grading modern coins. I've included some general guide lines established by noted collectors and authors which should help with the grading process. Hopefully the thread will be used.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
My opinion (for auction) on the grading on your Messembria AE22 is
EF / VF, some striking weakness on the reverse with tooling (filing) marks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actually, it is a rather attractive coin!
|
| |
Replies: 10 / Views: 1,192 |
|
Posted 12/16/2013 10:02 pm
