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 Replies: 29 / Views: 1,959 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11894 Posts |
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.comEdited by numismatic student
12/06/2025 9:24 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
879 Posts |
XF45. You have 50C in the subject.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
11894 Posts |
Thanks for the heads up and for sharing your opinion.  IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6566 Posts |
I'll wait for "coin in hand" pics.
A lot going on with STATES
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5672 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36759 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3651 Posts |
It looks like Obverse 6, reverse F (BF-9), likely EDS/EMDS. This die pair has either a die gouge or possibly a misplaced digit high in the dentils below the left side of the "8" in the date and die cracks starting to appear at the "TA" in STATES and "ERI" of AMERICA. It's a common die pairing, especially in earlier die states. Unlike some of its twenty-cent cousins, this coin actually did its job in commerce. The obverse looks VF-25, and the reverse looks VF-30. It's a little rough, so I'd net it VF-25.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11894 Posts |
LIBERTY on shield features raised lettering in this issue, rather than the incuse lettering found in all other Seated coinage. This makes the lettering on shield in double dimes the first to wear down as it is unprotected. As a result, I was always taught that this lettering, if fully legible, is indicative of an XF coin or higher. In normal, incuse Seated coinage, a fully legible liberty is indicative of a base VF or better coin. Has this grading convention changed? IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36759 Posts |
I came up with VF-25 by comparing this one to the examples at PCGS photograde. There is considerable wear on this coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5672 Posts |
I think LIBERTY and the lines in the shield are not distinct enough to make XF. It looks like a solid mid-VF to me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1515 Posts |
VF-30. Hopefully nothing too crazy going on in STATES when you get it in hand.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3651 Posts |
Liberty's head lacks definition. There is barely any indication of her forehead. The cap is nearly smooth. Her left arm and left leg are smooth. The rock and pedestal lack definition. The left shoe is barely distinct from the gown. LIBERTY is better than expected here, but at least part of that is an earlier die state. On balance, the wear looks VF-25 to my eyes on the obverse.
The reverse is somewhere in between VF-25 and VF-30, but I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt because the photo isn't quite as sharp as the obverse picture. A VF-30 should have feathers on most of the eagle's breast, and this coin is more worn than that, with feathers clearly visible on half the breast, but maybe a little better in hand. However, the wing feathers are fairly decent, the claws are visible, and the eagle's head is a little better than VF-25.
IMHO, it would be in the VF-25 to VF-30 range, but the knocks on STATES would resolve doubt downward on a bourse floor. That's how I'm at a net VF-25 here.
My opinion and 50 cents may buy a half cup of day old convenience store coffee. But this is why I'm seeing a VF-25-ish coin here.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1659 Posts |
The most affordable of the 20¢ issue.
Just a type coin in this condition.
Probably a VF35 details.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
879 Posts |
After taking a much closer look, I agree this is mid VF.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2281 Posts |
AU50. These are graded differently CCF, 0% chance it grades VF.
You realize when you know how to think, it empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think.
-Neil deGrasse Tyson
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2003 Posts |
I must admit that I rarely get to grade this particular series. As usual, Fort Collins gives a thorough explanation of his assessment and I do value his opinion. For what it is worth, I see this coin as XF-40.
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Replies: 29 / Views: 1,959 |
Posted 12/06/2025 9:26 pm
