| Author |
 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,927 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2850 Posts |
"Buy the coin, not the slab" There's just no way this dime is MS66 with those gouges in the obverse. It appears PCGS has given this coin a very optimistic grade and this might be one of the most overgraded coins I've seen. What say you? http://www.ebay.com/itm/1937-MERCUR...em565c10b600  |
|
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
The reverse of that coin is stunning from the pics on the ebay listing which has to be considered. Has a great luster as we'll. Bag marks wouldn't do that to the coin so that has to be some defect that happened during striking. Considering there's not really a real price difference between 65/66 and even a minimal one at 64 it's in the ballpark. I'm actually fine with it as a 66 since it's a defect for the biggest gouges. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Yep! Fortunately enough, it's easy to see, and the beholder can make his own fair assessment.
Won't help the reputation of PCGS, though.
8 major dings and 5 scuffs.
Slab does not appear to be tampered with.
I'll betcha the reverse is as graded, and that's what they looked at.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2111 Posts |
I'm surprised its a 66. Sometimes I think they should do an undercover investigation on these grading companies. Someone should take some of these companies highest graded coins, photograph them, make sure they are well documented before removing them from the slabs and then take them out and send them back to the grading companies and see what percentage of coins come back with the same grades. I would watch that report, there is a lot of money going to these companies. Call me crazy! I have trust issues LOL
"LOVE THE HUNT!"
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Actually, none of my 4,500 coins ancient to modern, are slabbed.
I figure best off to do it yourself, if you can.
UNLESS, you have high grade American coins that you wish to sell.
But I ain't sellin' anyway.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Australia
7096 Posts |
If this was an Australian coin with that many bag marks and dings it would be battling to make MS 64 let alone 66.
The neck, back of the head and the date are pretty severely dinged up and scuff marks at the bottom of the obverse would most certainly preclude a MS65 Grade and in most cases a MS63 grade.
There are no images of the reverse but even it the reverse is FDC PCGS doesn't apply Split Grading and the lowest common denominator is used as the grade.
They have most certainly "Dropped the Ball" with this one
|
|
Pillar of the Community
968 Posts |
The reverse looks 5FB quality to me and the obverse looks 2. I'd net it at 63. The only thing I can think of is mechanical error.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
656 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
basebal, really? Come on now. 6 distinct GOUGES on the back of her head. The Jack the Ripper scars on her neck. The scuffs in the fields. And did someone take a chisel to the date?
It does not matter if the reverse is DMPL. The ENTIRE coin is supposed to be taken into consideration. And short of that reverse being DMPL, I dont see how it could make up for an obverse that should be lucky to make 64 on a great day with all the planets aligning and garner a 66.
Not sure exactly what defect could do that to the coin, but I have certainly seen coins bag marked near to death. This one isn't near to death, but it is right into a wheel chair.
Shame though, otherwise I love the luster on this coin and the general look of it. The eye appeal on it IS awesome aside from the gouges.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Smoke there's no way those are bag marks. Ike's can't even do that type of damage, dimes certainly aren't heavy enough unless they were shot at it out of a rail gun. Check the date too looks like part of it is ripped off. Plus if it was taking that kind of damage from other coins I have a hard time believing the rest of it would be unaffected. The reverse is beautiful and basically untouched just a small mark or two which do look like a hit. The neck,date, and big gouges on the back of the head had to happen during the strike though. It looks like pieces were literally ripped off or maybe the die had some metal stuck to it.
Whatever it was it took a lot of force to get that deep.
Like you said though the eye appeal and luster is great. The reverse looks the same minus the gouges and fb lines you can see from across the table.
If they were bag marks I'd agree with you no way it's a 66, I just don't believe there's any way another dime could have done that in a bag.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
OK, maybe not bag marks. Regardless, that is PMD, not any error, not that I have ever seen. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
With that luster something would have been dulled or disturbed if it was pad. Planchette flaw maybe but there'd be marks in the fields if that was PMD. Look at the date close half is there half got ripped off. I have a hard time imagining anything could do that while leaving every other surface completely untouched besides the press when it was struck. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Australia
7096 Posts |
It would take a huge leap of faith to see this as anything BUT PMD. If this was listed on ebay as a "rare error" it would be torn apart in an instant. It looks like it was dropped in some hard grit then stood on. New impacts on a coin develop their own "Lustre", Hit a penny with a sharp hard object and have a look how lustrous the impact mark looks  |
|
Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
The hits are all in recessed areas though. It's impossible to apply the force needed leaving the reverse and cheek pristine if it was a rock or something. Not to mention just how deep the gouges are that's the type of force you could apply and not have it deform in the back unless the same force. was applied in the back and a collar holing it in place.
There was an insane amount of pressure involved the not many things are capable of. I'd be give calling it an error, it is in a sense. A machine had to do that and only the press during the strike could leave no mark anywhere else with a lustrous back and high points
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5854 Posts |
I think this coin would be a good candidate for a downgrade if only the value between grades were greater to make it worth it to send it in. Some of the patches by In god we trust and the designer's initials could be from something else other than PMD. I just have a hard time imagining something that would cause damage so close to the lettering but not damage the lettering. I do believe what is seen on the neck and the wing are marks. The difference in texture in the depression, sharp edges, and displaced metal on the bottom edge indicate to me that it received a blow of some kind. I don't know what caused those marks since they are quite severe for a dime but it could be possible that it made contact with several heavier coins like half dollars and/or silver dollar while in a bag or maybe in someone's piggy bank during a time when silver still circulated. If I were in the market for one, it won't be this one since there plenty to choose from. |
| |
Replies: 14 / Views: 1,927 |
|
Posted 03/21/2014 12:47 am
