Found My Raw 1860 IHC For My 7070

Stunning coin! I go with MS-65. I notice a scrath on the neck and some sort of blemsih above the 'E' in 'states' on the obverse and a small dot or do here and there--all minor compared to the overall beauty of this coin. Where you pick up/how much for such a beauty?

--Gary

I'm guessing it's fully UNC. I don't know about the luster though. Anywhere between 62-64.

Beautiful coin.

Beautiful photos.

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this coin without the hit on the neck, this coin would be pushing a MS-69, MS-70 grade.

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Since you are looking for a learning experience, here ya go

Heritage Auction Galleries has sold over a half billion dollars worth of coins. They have only auctioned 5 MS68 IHCs and 103 MS67 IHCs and some of those are bound to have been reauctioned over the years. That means those lofty grades are incredibly rare and when you look at those examples, this one doesn't come close(not a slam on the coin as it is quite nice, just not $10,000+ nice). There are a few scattered carbon spots and small nicks with the most noticeable being on the neck. The tips of the feathers and diamonds on the ribbon are not quite fully struck. On the reverse, the leaf veins and shield lines are slightly weak and a few random small nicks and carbon spots are present.

Full sharp strikes are necessary if you are grading MS66+ and carbon spots will keep a coin from that level as well. However, Nelrak's coin is a very nice example for those of us not on a millionaire's budget. I would grade this coin MS64 which is still a pricey coin but one most of us could afford without taking out a second mortgage.

When you go above MS64, it becomes very nit-picky. Mint luster, eye appeal, strike and small minute details become big criterias when searching for perfection. I also used a bit of Rick Snow's Photo Seal standard as a basis in grading your coin.