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I recently got back a fifteen coin submission of mostly China coins, and upon first glance at the manifest, felt disappointed due to how many received "details" grades. I guess one just hopes that a coin or two will "slip through the cracks" and get a straight numeric grade assignment . But then, I retrieved a photo of the original 2x2s on which I'd assigned my own grades with problems (where applicable). Much to my surprise, I nailed the one "details, scratched" and all but one of the "details, cleaned" coins! I was also within one step in grade of every coin - some over, some under - with one particularly pleasant surprise. I'd graded one piece as VF+ and it came back AU-58!! That made the coin a significant rarity. So it all amounted to regaining a bit of confidence upon reviewing how I'd originally evaluated the coins. What's been your experience when comparing NGC's grades to what you actually wrote down for your own opinion?

Looks like an old thread got resurrected. I feel like many posts underrate the value of the Redbook to some extent with regard to pricing. I actually DO use it to price most coins, but then again, most of what I deal with is common issues. For example, I take prices straight out of the Redbook for things like middle-grade common Indian cents and buffalo nickels, and even the common Seated coins. But I would never use it to price a Choice BU draped bust half-dollar! I also purchase coins by simply discounting against the same Redbook prices I'd charge for those coins. The Bluebook has zero value to me in any arena.

I have four ancients in right now for certification at NGC. My best advice is: Be patient. Be very, very patient.

I am pretty devastated by this news which I just heard yesterday. I had met David in person several times and did not make an adequate effort to enjoy a conversation with him in recent years. This is a substantial loss to the numismatic community.

Is there a seam around the edge?

Looks like it was mounted in a bezel at one time.

I think I've had a grand total of three to four coins re-certified in the last twenty years or so, and one of those was the infamous Norweb Hibernia - technically not a regrade but a reholder that took the invalid Norweb pedigree off of a PCGS slab. I also attempted to cross a 1926-S nickel in VF-35 (I won't say from whom) only to NGC clobber it down to "Fine details/scratched".

What's the diameter, or denomination? half-crown? sixpence?

I will just cut to the chase and express my personal admiration and appreciation for Roger's VERY extensive research and work. VKurtB has a different opinion and that's just fine, but it doesn't move the needle even the slightest on how often I will continue to read Roger's contributions to numismatic literature.

It looks like the second "with shoulder fold" variety.

I am not seeing upgrade (even to the designation) potential here.

Are there any old threads depicting Conder tokens here on NGC? I need to get mine out and start photographing them.

Last year, I was cataloging for Scotsman onsite and had an opportunity to view the shield linked below. What was amazing was a letter that was adhered to the back of the frame. For some reason, nobody happened to notice that the letter was handwritten and signed by F. E. Spinner himself. It also included a card that indicates the cost of the shield as "PRICE $4.50 EACH.", a bargain by my standards! Here is a link to the auction listing where it sold for $11,210. Oh, and full disclosure - my absentee bid was $6000.

What mintmark / assayer would be indicated on an NGC slab insert?

Weird large 7 in the date as well. Thanks in advance.

This thread is particularly relevant to me, since I've recently pulled out a sizable number of world coins that I've purchased over the last ten years (really, more like "hoarded"). For some of the better pieces, I am astonished at how much they have increased in value based on auction records. I have a very few high-quality Chinese dollars and half-dollars that are up tenfold, and for that reason, they are going to NGC for certification. I also collect Mexican 8-reales and pesos, as well as 2-reales, and in my opinion, the NGC values are too low by maybe 50% for better circulated grade coins. On the other hand, where I see the biggest errors in being too high, are for mint state coins and more recent "modern" coins. I do believe NGC's price guide offers a tremendous resource if you look at it as "relative values", i.e. looking for big jumps between grades, or distinguishing common vs. key dates.

Old thread, but I recently looked at various HiBid auctions and was dismayed by the awful offerings I saw there.

That kind and amount of die polish is not at all distracting! I tend to really like the character that these add to the normal part of the minting process.