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 Replies: 18 / Views: 2,417 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
787 Posts |
Just received my first Mercury dime, a 1941 D. I know it isn't an earth shattering item or worth a "mint" (rimshot) but the first time I saw one I said I needed one. Now... since I am new to all this, I peeked at my Red Book and tried to see what grade it is. I am thinking somewhere around EF-40? I see that the "diagonal bands" are important (still visible) but the "braids and hair before ear" are throwing me off a little as I am not 100% sure I know where the ear is supposed to be! After all... there are big ears, small ears... corn ears... and most people do NOT have wings on the side of their head!     |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
940 Posts |
Nice coin, Nells! I like the strong rims. The Mercury dime is one of my favorite designs. I agree with EF-40. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
787 Posts |
:-)
I was looking and looking and rarer dates with tons of wear still go for some money, so I had to choose a more common year to get something that hadn't been worn to metal tissue paper!
So according to my book, at EF-40, I paid a fair price for it. That's good. Someday I'll pick up a nicer one but I am happy with this little one for now.
I like lots of detail in small packages!
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Valued Member
 United States
397 Posts |
Nice coin @Nells. Good looking example. Many of these get the ugly black tarnish from circulation and / or poor storage conditions.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
940 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
787 Posts |
Weeeellllll... I confess... I DID wash it with soap/water as it was dusty! I hope I didn't break TOO MANY coin-collecting rules!
;-)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
787 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
940 Posts |
As long as you don't rub it with anything. Rubbing it with a cloth will put hairline scratches on the surface.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Can't really tell it's been cleaned but reframe from doing that again . It has a trace of underling luster , I can see it as EF-45 .  |
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Pillar of the Community
2145 Posts |
Quote:Just received my first Mercury dime, a 1941 D. Congrats! Solid XF40 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
EF-40 sounds about right.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7068 Posts |
Check out PCGS.com/photograde...pick the denomanation and series type, start at MS-70 and view the photos working backwards to see the amount of detail lost to equal the grades....This should help you in your grading skills, also particate in the posts of "you vs. PCGS/NGC...ect" in the grading forum and don't be afraid to post your opinion. Helps out on the learning curve. Good luck on future pick-ups and have fun...  Edited: remember no more soap and water..  ...only acetone and learn(experiment) on crummy coins before trying on the nicer ones. Edited by Greasy Fingers
02/25/2021 12:53 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18696 Posts |
I'm in at XF40 on this one
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4469 Posts |
The example has luster remaining in the protected areas. The coin has hairlines in the fields. It looks like it has been cleaned. XF Details Cleaned
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Pillar of the Community
United States
787 Posts |
Hmmmm... re: scratches in field... can't that happen just by being in pockets for decades?  (passing the buck... I... know... NOTHING!) Incidentally, if a simple soap/water cleaning can be so evil, how do coins even LAST more than a few years? I mean, if they can "wear" from a simple sudsy wash, how can they hold up to a lifetime of circulation? Are they made out of that infamous stuff called "Butter Metal"? (DISCLAIMER: "Butter Metal" is what my boyfriend and I like to call any ultra-cheap item, usually a cheap tool or car part, made from some sort of mystery material that shouldn't exist due to its low quality) Edited by Nells250
02/25/2021 1:47 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
787 Posts |
WOW....... look at all the possible grades! https://www.PCGS.com/photograde#/Mercury/GradesMuch easier to understand when you see actual graded coins. Still, GEESH talk about PICKY! ;-) Some of the differences are VERY difficult to see/understand. Anyhoo, now I am also thinking my simple little dime might be a slight bit better than 40... As for the soapy wash, here are the pics the seller used for the auction:  |
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Replies: 18 / Views: 2,417 |
Posted 02/24/2021 6:08 pm
