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 Replies: 475 / Views: 52,828 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
How do you guys treat surface damage, ship wreck effect, deposits and the like on your grades? How would you grade this? I would guess VG.  Tarsos, Cilicia Satraps of Cilicia & Cappadocia Datames as Satrap (378-372BC) AR Stater 9.78 grams Obv.3/4 facing bust of Arethusa Rev. Head of Ares (Mars) beared with crested Athenian helmet.-Aramaic Script-TRDMW "Datames" ref:SNG Lev79v.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
Antoninus Pius Sestertius: I will say VG+ because of the reverse and partial legend. Attractive.  Tarsos, Cilicia Satraps of Cilicia & Cappadocia: Fine details, corroded surfaces with encrustations Cool coin BTW |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
Quote:
I am somewhat surprised by the "cracked and damaged" assessment !
Flan cracks start becoming more common from the late 2nd century onward. A direct consequence of the recycling of the older coinage and insufficient 'new' alloy being added to the mix (evaporation of zinc content and too much lead I am told). Personally I like a nice crack as it is a good indicator of the coin being authentic (while I certainly agree 2 may be one too many !)
But damaged is a bit of a stretch. Some minor scraping is allowable in certain cases and while not desirable it should not be confused with 'tooling' which is the actual remaking of the surfaces. The patination on this coin is very thick on the fields and the scraping has not penetrated the surface layer. I am unsure but perhaps you are using the rules of your Early American Coppers grading which prohibit anything which alters a coin in anyway other than removing the 'dirt' by washing. On ancients the 'dirt' is literally petrified onto the surface and can usually only be removed by some method of soaking and abrasion (preferably with a toothbrush or toothpick).
But I don't take it personally ! FR, Perhaps I am being to harsh. Your points are valid. I am not 100% positive when to describe an ancient coin as damaged. I am here to learn and with learning my opinion will change accordingly;) In the case of the coin in question I was seeing what I thought was cracks that are post mint damage. If that damage happened during the minting process then it I would most definitely not call it damage. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
Probus, Please grade   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
Tough one to grade ..... Heavy silvering which is unusual for the period. Usually the silver is so thin it is best described as a "silver wash". Still it obviously can't be too worn over a large extent of the surface. We do have some roughness over the bronze areas and the style is less than 'standard' for this emperor. Probus has some very high quality portraits which is unusual for their realism (he looks every bit the part of a military man).
I would give it an F+ - F ...... despite the small 'bite' missing on the reverse
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Moderator
  United States
23731 Posts |
With the amount of wear on the AP I would say VG.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
On Anoobs coin I would grade it at Fine due to the surface pitting.
The Probus I would also grade at Fine due to the chip and edge corrosion.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
The primary reason I was curious about how people might grade AP is that I purchased it unattributed off ebay. Being a big AP fan (his coinage tends to be very reasonably priced !) I checked my handy SEAR Roman Coins & Their Values ...... I very nearly fell off the floor. Graded in F this coin is given an astoundingly high valuation by Mssr Sear. Much more than I would ever pay ! It may be because I believe the reverse type represents the earliest appearance of Britannia seated in her very recognizable pose. The image was no doubt the proto type for the modern British penny reverse. The only AP type given a higher valuation by Sear is the similar one which actually spells out BRITANNIA. Personally I feel that Mssr Sear might be smoking something ! But if anyone cares to offer me an astounding sum ........ Please feel free to do so ! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
FR, cool info on your AP!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
Thanks for your grades on my Probus!:) I would grade Probus, Fine, details, break in rim, silvering mostly intact.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
The Probus to me is very nice. Most of the silvering remains which is huge in my book. The chip does take away from the grade bust I would argue for a VF- Chipped. The emperor's ear has not yet to be worn in to the hair line so that IMO would keep it higher than F+
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
What about this oldie but goodie? (I knew I had one lying around somewhere... Corinth, Corinth AR Stater 345-307 BC 8.44 g x 19.5 mm Obverse: Pegasus flying left. Archaic Greek- Koppa beneath. Reverse: Athena Wearing Corinthian Helmet; Astragalas game piece behind. Ref: Ravel 1039 (Astragalas)  |
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
Getting back into Ancients, I will be here as well. Colonials (my main collecting interest) are much different than regular Classic U.S. coins to grade (for different factors). Therefore, I am wanting to see how ancients compare.
I'll have another double-struck to share soon.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
The details that are on the coin are Fine+. but because some of the details are missing I would give this coin an overall grade of VG-aF. Actually it would be a nice Christmas present to a friend.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
Ancientnoob, I am seeing VF for wear. With the off flan strike I would net this coin at about Fine. Just my guess:) |
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Replies: 475 / Views: 52,828 |
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Posted 12/20/2013 11:22 pm
