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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,480 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5177 Posts |
How accurately would you be able to grade a coin without the help of a loupe, a Hastings Triplet, or an enlarged photo? Just using your eyes at normal distance to the actually coin in hand?
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
In my opinion, grading should be done with the eye only (glasses and contacts okay) if eye appeal is paramount, and for me it is.
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Valued Member
404 Posts |
Depends on the grade range - the threshold for grade ranges is looser in the lower grades (ie: expected dings, etc). It also depends on the type of coin - more crudely struck ancients have a surface as well as detail qualification to take into consideration. So... I guess my answer is: it depends.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5393 Posts |
It used to work really well ........ 45 years ago ! Loupe now mandatory ! In all seriousness , TPG use loupes so should we all . |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5239 Posts |
For far sighted people, you can't grade at all.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8938 Posts |
I grade the way I was taught, by an Ex NGC Grader. First you use no magnification, generally your first impression of a coin is most accurate. After you've formed an impression based off that then you use magnification to examine fine details (on a mint state coin to determine final grade) or to check if a coin is a counterfeit.
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
Quote:
First you use no magnification, generally your first impression of a coin is most accurate.  Quote:
use magnification to examine fine details (on a mint state coin to determine final grade) or to check if a coin is a counterfeit. I cannot argue against that advise. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5177 Posts |
It seems nobody has answered the question yet: How accurately would you be able to grade a coin WITHOUT the help of a TOOL (e.g. loupe, etc.).
For instance, you have a small cent in your hand and you look at it at a distance of about 6 inches from your eye. Can you distinguish between MS63 and MS64? Or only between say AU and MS? Or not even that and you can only do say between Fine and AU?
Edited by NumisEd
11/25/2020 2:22 pm
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Valued Member
404 Posts |
@Dieuwer - in a way we have all responded succinctly - it depends... Your question is far too vague to illicit a specific response. As per your follow up example - I would be quite inaccurate without assistance on a classic US type in MS grades, but between fine and AU or AU and MS (but not always, as I tend to be very strict with MS grades) I would have no problem with. This being said, grades of Canadian, Commonwealth, British, French, German, Spanish or Polish UNC coins, I could probably nail within a couple of points either way (owing to volume handled)... It largely has to do with an intimate understanding of the history / minting process, or circumstances for each. Perhaps others can clarify based on that follow-up.
Edited by norantyki
11/25/2020 2:51 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
It all depends on you present eye sight . When I was a young collector I had no problem grading without magnification . Now at 71 , I need high mag plus my reading glasses under bright LED lights . Go figure .  |
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Pillar of the Community
4628 Posts |
Anything circulated very well, otherwise it would be hard with grades of Mint State.
I like to think I grade well and fairly.
Sorry to caress my own ego - but coin grading is something I am a student of and a passion. When I get bored I go through random coins and grade them.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
With practice I would say accurately up to at least MS-65. Above that I would think would be questionable without at least a low power glass. Especially at the 68, 69, ad 70 level.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1613 Posts |
Absolutely into the lower MS range. Which I've done before and it came back one point lower than my own estimate. Probably could have nailed it with optics, but I don't own any.
ANA member - PAN Member - BCCS Member There are no problems only solutions - the late, great John Lennon
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,480 |
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Posted 11/25/2020 11:22 am
