Posted 01/07/2010 8:31 pm
The spots on the coin will hit the grade on these coins rather harshly they are considered corrosion , this coin would more than likely grade MS-60/61 because of them.
edited to add:the finger print on the obverse is also a big hit on the coin.
The stike on the coins will play a bigger part after MS-64 than prior to it, what you look for is the same as a copper cent, the lapels on the coat, the ear and the hair at the top of the head are the first places to fade as the dies are used, the deeper the details at those points the fresher the dies are.
on the reverse weakness in the lettering will be the place where die wear will first show up.
apply all of that to the normal grading attributes of quality/luster/color and you have what it takes to determine 65 and above coins, with practice you will begin to see the things which make the 67,68 a,d 69 grades, determining the difference between 69 and 70 is tough and for most may never happen.
edited to add:the finger print on the obverse is also a big hit on the coin.
The stike on the coins will play a bigger part after MS-64 than prior to it, what you look for is the same as a copper cent, the lapels on the coat, the ear and the hair at the top of the head are the first places to fade as the dies are used, the deeper the details at those points the fresher the dies are.
on the reverse weakness in the lettering will be the place where die wear will first show up.
apply all of that to the normal grading attributes of quality/luster/color and you have what it takes to determine 65 and above coins, with practice you will begin to see the things which make the 67,68 a,d 69 grades, determining the difference between 69 and 70 is tough and for most may never happen.
