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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,433 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
This 1903 Barber quarter has been graded MS-66 by PCGS. It is a stunning coin, but I'm wondering about the marks (?) running from Miss Liberty's eye to her lips. I would think that like this would eliminate a grade as high as MS-66. Is this a planchet or striking issue which PCGS would have taken into consideration with grading the coin and which would not lower the grade or did the PCGS graders miss something? It's a $5,000+ coin in this grade. Thanks for your opinions.    Paul Bulgerin
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Must agree, these scratches and a large gouge are clear to the eye. Seems overgraded by a full point at least.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
The possibility that the dents on the cheek behind the nose are post strike damage cannot be instantly dismissed. Patination over these dents, and surface texture within the dents, same as the rest of the coin.
Is sad old Liberty actually crying?
Numismatically speaking, could this be an unpublished variety?
Other minor dents nearby by themselves, suggest a 64 or 65 grading to my way of thinking.
The coin shows up at about 7x on my monitor. A TPGrader should have found these on the coin, hand held, under the standard 10x magnification which they use.
Very nice and interesting coin, anyway.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4680 Posts |
I agree Sel, it does have the same surface texture/ luster as the rest. Maybe a strike through.
Regardless, it is distracting and takes away from the eye appeal, I would say MS 65, 66 is being pretty generous.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3654 Posts |
Paul, I think those are contact marks. The trail of marks starts in the hair directly below "E" in LIBERTY, with two divots. It continues with a gash in the eyebrow. It then becomes the pictured trail below the eye. They all line up.
No way this is a 66. I'm thinking it is MS-63 obverse, MS-65 reverse, blended MS-64. It's not a particularly sharp strike, either.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7621 Posts |
My guess it's just another example of "what" it grades is all dependent on "who" sent it in.
Regular Joes like us would get a 62/63 out of it; the big auction house, with loads of contacts and a big account at the grading company, will finagle the coin into a 66.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36777 Posts |
They sure missed it on this one. If it ever gets cracked out, it becomes an MS-64 or 65 at best.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4989 Posts |
Very rare in this grade, and few examples, so it is unlikely PCGS made a mistake. Guessing it is die related and a known variety.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
What kind of "variety" could it be though? I was thinking die clash with feathers but I can't line it up, and for two deep parts of dies to clash there seems unusual. I have seen O from ONE clash behind the ear on dimes though. Is there a cert# for higher resolution images?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
I have been looking online but can't find any real information on die or other varieties for the 1903.
Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1448 Posts |
If it's damage, very inconsistent of the TPG to not slap a details grade on the coin. The scratches look fairly deep. I've had coins with less damage come back details after submission! |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,433 |
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Posted 06/06/2020 8:47 pm
