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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,316 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5953 Posts |
Ok here we go first the back ground I bought this coin on ebay. the Pictures were bad the description was vague the seller from AUS and a newbie to ebay. This was by far my biggest gamble on ebay to date. I have very few nice 1871 2 Cents. I placed a max bid of $190 and won the auction for $172. The coin arrived safely while I was offshore and sat at home for a few months. When I got to see it I was very pleased. It went of to see what PCGS though of it. Mom told me yesterday what the grade was. I personally think they were at least 2 points high. This is not a contest but should some one get the exact grade PCGS assigned it along with a detailed description of how they arrived at their grade I will send them a cull 2 Cent from my box. Sometimes you win sometimes you loose and sometimes you hit the jackpot.... One things for sure if I ever get the urge to sell this one its going to have a disclaimer on the grade.... Grade away   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
Ok, I'll bite. Let me preface these thoughts with "I do not know these coins at all"..  Having said that, my guess is you thought you may get yourself a high AU low MS coin for a decent price. Problem I have is with your thoughts on the grade. It looks like some kind of rub above the shield, but I'm thinking it's my eyes or the photo. I guessing in hand you are thinking a MS62 and it came back MS64. I say this high for two reasons: 1. The only real big hit I see is on the right hand border of the shield and into that "leaf?". A minor scrape under the NT of CENT. Those are the only two that jump out to me. 2. On the reverse, I don't ever think I've noticed the little droop the leaves have to the right and left of the "2" kind of in the open fields on the inside of the wreath. I do not see these coins very often and have never studied them per se, but your coin just shows these so clearly to me for some reason. Regardless of how bad I stink at grading, that's one nice looking piece Richard!! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2335 Posts |
The only hint of rub I'm seeing is on the middle leaf to the left of the sheild. I'm going to assume that's an artifact of the photo & that this is an MS coin. Based on the other coins I have seen you grade I think you gave it an MS62, & that PCGS assigned MS64. Maybe you should have let me submit it, it might have got an MS66.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5953 Posts |
trdhrdr007
The Middle leaf on the left is one of the high points of this design its usually the first to suffer along with the motto. Its also very prone to retaining grease. The center vein would extend all the way down the leaf on a perfect strike. As the dies wear this is also a point that suffers. The crack from the U of United to the the ribbon should give you a fair indication of the die state. Thanks for reminding me of one of my crazy moments when I parted with one of my kids. Why don't you give me a paper cut and pour lemon juice in it while your at it.... :-)
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Judging from the value you assigned, you're thinking it was a decent AU55 or so. I can see that - almost every high surface (lettering, leaves, arrowheads) has luster worn off.
My guess is PCGS got distracted by the color, assumed a weak strike because of the die crack, and called it a strike-limited MS62RD. There aren't a whole lot of these things in Mint State slabs, and the value climbs quickly. Hence, the "jackpot."
Me? I think the strike is great, the luster is well-preserved even though it's seen circulation, and the coin deserves AU58RD as a "market" grade.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5953 Posts |
I agree with your thinking to a point SuperDave but My photo skills are not quite up to yours on your worst day. So the coin looks better in hand.
However I look at it PCGS goofed big time on this one. I really want to send in a couple I would call 66 just to see if this was a fluke..
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Valued Member
United States
201 Posts |
I am just a novice but I would tend to agree with SuperDave. It looks more like an AU58 but may have graded MS60RB - thrown off perhaps by the color. That's just based off the pictures.
Edited by Steamwalker
07/08/2008 11:37 am
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Rest in Peace
United States
5375 Posts |
If it graded UNC, it's definitely much better than MS60
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5953 Posts |
last I checked the population in the Grade PCGS assigned was way less than 50 but that was November last year
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Valued Member
United States
201 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2335 Posts |
That is a pretty good sized crack & I did notice it. I guess I didn't go further & consider the implications as far as die state/wear due to my beginner status.
Sorry about the lemon juice, the paper cut was semi-intentional. I don't know if this will make you feel any better, but the coin in question is still one of my favorites.
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
It's MS 69, but I can't give away my secret M.O.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5953 Posts |
PCGS Says MS64BN Last to sell at Heritage went for $527 not a bad return on my investment even after taking grading fees into account. I still firmly believe this coin only warrants a 62.
tights24 & trdhrdr007 pm me your snail mail and I will mail your 2 Cents as soon as I get home.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3234 Posts |
Richard, if you pictures are accurate, why do you feel it warrants only a 62?
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Rest in Peace
United States
5375 Posts |
If it's an UNC, I don't see a problem with 64 either.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5953 Posts |
OK
Lets start with the OBV
there are two significant dings on the right of the shield. One extending into the horizontal lines. there is also a small ding on the bottom left of the shield.
The Tops of the arrows are flattened and show rub. The first 1 and the 7 both have scratches.
The strike is not that great as can be seen by the vertical lines in the shield they should be sharper separated and well defined.
The two middle leaves should have clear well defined central veins runn ing the whole length of the leaf.
The R of Trust has a ding on the bottom. There is a scratch on the top left of the shield.
The strike alone would prohibit it reaching anything over 65 in my book. take the other stuff into account and you have a solid 62.
The REV
Nice but several contact marks in the fields around the 2. The Center ribbon shows some rub and there is a small ding on the left. The C of America has a small gouge. And again a weak strike. The row of corn ears on the bottom left of the ribbon should be as defined as those on the bottom right.
Call me Picky but its no better than the ones I already have in 62 holders and its certainly no match for the 64 I have in an NGC holder.
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,316 |
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Posted 07/08/2008 09:30 am
