Insider

The next time I get one of these I'll photo the entire rim. As I recall, very often, the entire rim is not affected. We shall see. What's PSD? I've posted that the coin and its rim is 100% original as struck at the Mint!

Thanks, great post (I've used up my quota of likes for today). The only thing I should suggest folks try is to TIP the coin at various angles and rotate it into various positions. That gives many more options to "get it just right."

I thought you of all people would know all of this as I have published it many times. Short version: When the Certification Service was in DC, we photographed both sides of each coin and weighed them to the thousandth. We also graded most coins for our internal records. I devised the "Technical Grading System" for or records using the strict Sheldon standards. At the time (early 70s) the standard for MS was no trace of wear. Coins were graded using florescent light and a stereomicroscope at 7X. The grading was strict, and did not change over the years the Certification Service was in DC. All the variables were removed. A coin's value was not considered. A coin's strike and eye appeal was not considered. All coins were graded by their condition of preservation from the time they left the press. THE SOLE PURPOSE of technical grading was to ID the coin any time it was ever seen again, lost, or stolen as long as it remained in the same condition. Charles Hoskins named it "Archival Grading." When the ANA moved their authentication service to CO. We stayed in DC and started the SECOND Authentication Service - the INS Authentication Bureau. After a while, since we were also "technical grading" coins for our internal records we decided to offer our grading opinion FOR FREE to any customer who requested it. Thus we became the FIRST TPGS in the USA. As soon as the ANA announced that they would offer coin grading (for an additional charge) we started charging for our opinion. We were grading coins for the public several months before the ANA. Unfortunately, when you tell a lie over and over for a long time as the ANA did, everyone thinks they were the first TPGS. The truth is that when the INSAB TPGS went out of business, ANACS became the OLDEST grading service in the USA.

I'm not allowed to give likes at this time. Roger is correct and has posted the major solution to the "grading mess." Until coins are graded CORRECTLY** in an independently funded "ivory tower" by folks who DON'T GIVE A DARN about whinny dealers who have forced the major TPGS to continue to loosen the standards...and until the VALUE of each coin is set by the coin dealers/collectors who buy and sell them, there will ALWAYS be problems. BTW, if this ever were to happen, you can say goodbye to CAC. ** Technical grading is extremely easy so don't give me the "What's correctly?" BS. YN's can learn to do it in a short time as THEY HAVE NO CLUE of the coin's VALUE!!!! They grade what they see.

It was tried and rejected by the market. True "Technical Grading" (clear, data-driven information; defined standards, uniform application of standards that did not change over time or follow fluctuations in the coin market) as done at the ANA's Certification only while in DC and then at the first TPGS - INSAB also in DC. Note: Collectors loved it but dealers rejected it. One of the oldest major dealerships threatened to sue the first TPGS claiming they had no business grading coins. We were scared but the Director did not back down although a lawsuit would have put us out of business! Thankfully, a few weeks later the ANA announced that their authentication service in Colorado had plans to become the second TPGS.

I wish everyone posted as this member! The answer is completely contained in this post. I'll comment later after a few mor replies.

Good guess, The halo effect is a good indication of NT. From what I have seen, the "halo" usually goes in one direction. Bob Paul called it "Draft" because it looks like an air current flowed over the coin's surface and did not tone the lee side. See my crappy, off-color, image for an example: If anyone has a TPGS slab with a toning halo completely around a letter, please post it.

Good Guess. Bad Color Progression. Yes!

Dude, when you publish the next edition of your book, you may wish to improve your images. Now, as you and others have posted, a photo of the entire coin would be helpful. Unfortunately, it is not going to happen. That's because the images I post have all the clues necessary for a numismatist of your level to make an informed guess. My work is done at the "micro" level and the purpose of my posts is to introduce many people to highly magnified views of characteristics they have possibly never seen on a coin. Please quit your whining and go "police" the forums for some thread to report! BTW, we are all making progress. When I opened up the forum today there were FIFTEEN ALERTS.

SELF EDIT: No comment for now. You have left off the most important part of your post. What made you arrive at your opinion? Good eye! It is not in a holder. It's on a tan piece of cardboard.

Chill, I didn't fly off anything. I gave you a sarcastic reply that was the truth. I think all of us would miss your comments but you are not going to get a full image. This is exactly the color of this coin. IMHO, there is enough in the image to take a guess - AT or NT. No one is getting graded here. PS As you have stated, I could post one part of a coin with AT and show another part of the same coin with NT. Unfortunately, I will not be able to do that now because folks will be wise to my tricks to help learn.

THIS: NGC has absolutely the most lax moderation in the history of coin forums. That's going to be one reason why this place is going to rise from the dead as it is starting to do. Now if the "snowflakes" of the progressive left persuasion can learn to use the ignore function and mind their own business... .

He is not a problem. He is a valuable asset to any forum! Rules are rules. It's just that we are all human and all of us have personality flaws. Some folks like to shut down anything that questions their beliefs. Some folks like to yet refuse to respond to logical questions. Some folks are control freaks. Some wannabe-mod-members enjoy the power trip that goes with reporting posts. My flaw is that I enjoy being abrasive in a sarcastic way to drive a point.

Welcome back! It appears that you have changed your decision about commenting on my micrographs. I wonder if this could result from a very worn collar? I just had a Peace dollar like this today. I didn't bother to image it but I'll find another soon.

I have no clue where you got that idea. NOTE TO ALL MEMBERS: I personally do not care what you collect, how you collect, the value of your collection, whether you buy TPG'ed coins, etc, Furthermore, I'm not interested in your sex, race, religion, politics or anything else about you. That's because I really cannot tolerate most people! What I do care about is THIS: Building up this web site so my company does not make me start one; and If I can help you become a more knowledgeable person (especially as a coin collector) and you can help me, I'll die happy. Love to all!!

Rick's books will let you cherrypick good varieties most dealers/collectors don't know exist. Excellent addition to any numismatic library and if they go out of print the price will soar. I've found that the prices for many books out perform most of the coins I have collected.

That's what makes the world go around. Some folks would not like to own a 1943 copper because it is the wrong color.

It is at the very top of the list of topics. It is easy to miss UNTIL the replies started. At the ATS, these posts are old and locked.

I would. This coin was a "gem+." Besides, once in most non-prong inserts they are hardly visible.

The marks on the rim of this quarter seem to be scarce. I've seen them mostly on Washington Quarters and Peace dollars. They are as made on the coin and NOT PMD. Do you have a coin with this file-like characteristic on the rim and what do you think causes this effect>

I'm very deeply sorry to learn that you will no longer be responding to ANY MORE of my posts with micrographs. I know your comments will be missed by all of us.

Sorry you feel that way as you have a lot of followers. I just read Dena's post (after it garnered several comments) as it was not marked in any special way. As I wrote before, the moderation on this forum is excellent. Those seemingly ubiquitous wanna-be moderator members should learn to tune out, ignore, and not engage rather than get themselves all worked up. Life is too short and we all have a lot to learn on our way to becoming a well-rounded, and informed American citizen and coin collector.

The entire coin looks like this. It is kind of pretty but I wonder if it is natural. If you think this is AT or NT: 1. How do you think it happened? 2, What is the reason for your opinion?

If the dozen members posting in this part of the NGC forum were to ask one of their friends on another forum to drop in over here and post a discussion (or not) it would double the activity. This "old girl" is still in bed but she has started to stretch a little in the last two weeks. I see there are more dots with lightning bolts too. When I log on to a typical forum, I have around 10 alerts. Anything over one alert here comes as a surprise.

I think it is more of what you know than bias. For example a beginner may consider all TPG too conservative.