1838-O Seated Dime

[cameron12x]

Thoughts on a grade?

 

 

Attribution provided later...

[e1cnr]

I like it alot

 

advantage would be in having coin in hand

as I can not see luster or obvious wear

 

 

the variety 101 has the repunched mintmark and die crack from U in

United to rim

 

but obverse is not showing the rim cud at 2 o'clock

 

shield above LIBERTY and right leg are either weak struck

or worn

 

looks like fingerprint on right field

-which would be more common on UNC than XF

 

very nice coin and torn on grade

 

would not be surprised if near MS62 or XF45

[SouthFlorida guy]

AU50-AU53

[physics-fan3.14]

Not too familiar with these, but I would probably throw out an initial guess of EF-40.

[cameron12x]

Here is an image which depicts the 101 attribution (O/O mintmark):

 

 

I believe it's an early die state as for the reason for the missing cuds normally associated with this variety.

 

Anyone else chime in on a grade?

[Mark T]

Looks like a solid XF 40 - 45 coin to me .

[BillJones]

VF-30.

 

Some might want to call it a VF-35, but involves a serious debate as to whether it's an EF-40, and going by the reverse, I would not call it an EF-40.

 

BUT I'm sure that the slab grade could well be EF-40. Any higher than that is reallly grade-flation.

[James_OldeTowne]

I would grade this VF-30, with a possible bump to VF-35 if those wide-open fields are hiding a touch of luster. Great coin!!

[cameron12x]

I would grade this VF-30, with a possible bump to VF-35 if those wide-open fields are hiding a touch of luster. Great coin!!

That is also my own estimate for a grade...

 

Actual grade revealed tonight!

[cameron12x]

Here you go, folks:

 

 

It's difficult to tell without the coin in hand, but it looks like there may be some luster left in the fields?

 

I believe that she may have been "net graded" down due to the obverse fingerprint vestige?

 

 

Impressions? Further thoughts?

[e1cnr]

dang, it sure is tuff to grade a small coin off of pics

 

 

 

 

[cameron12x]

One outstanding question that I have is how did the the lower part of the reverse strike appear to be so weak?

 

I can't imagine this to be uneven wear; but is that a possibility?

 

Or is it simply the result of the strike? If so, how?

 

Inquiring minds want to know... Thanks!

 

[JOBESSI]

Wouldn't be cool if that finger print was the result of someone touching it along time ago, and the acid erosion left that imprint for all to see? An identifier to someone who lived 150+ years ago...but probably not...sigh...

 

can you tell why I got into collecting?

[coinman_23885]

I think VF25 is a little low which makes me wonder if this was silently net graded for some reason.

[cameron12x]

I think VF25 is a little low which makes me wonder if this was silently net graded for some reason.

After further research, I tend to agree...

 

Was she net graded due to the fingerprint vestige on the obverse or the uneven strike on the reverse?

 

I got the urge to peruse the Heritage website for previous auctions and I was surprised to see how well my example stood up to ones graded VF-35 to XF-45:

 

 

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1139&Lot_No=7973

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1144&Lot_No=3728

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1140&Lot_No=523

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1116&Lot_No=1648

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1108&Lot_No=7869

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1145&Lot_No=9132

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1154&Lot_No=10079

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1144&Lot_No=9004

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1138&Lot_No=7795

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1108&Lot_No=7868

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=415&Lot_No=7708

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=24072&Lot_No=13349

 

There were a couple of 45's that "might" be slightly better, but I couldn't find any 35's or 40's that looked discernably better. The lack of hits or marks on my example is really amazing for the grade, IMHO.

 

With these new data points (examples for comparison), I could possibly be convinced to stretch my own personal grade to XF-40, with eye appeal which exceeds all or most of the group listed above. Needless to say, I'm pleasantly surprised.

 

I can't wait to see how she looks in hand (even with the obverse fingerprint vestige and the uneven strike on the reverse).

 

[cameron12x]

Wouldn't be cool if that finger print was the result of someone touching it along time ago, and the acid erosion left that imprint for all to see? An identifier to someone who lived 150+ years ago...but probably not...sigh...

 

can you tell why I got into collecting?

+1.

 

My sentiments exactly. Potential anecdotal stories like that are part of what keeps me interested in the hobby!!!

[cameron12x]

dang, it sure is tuff to grade a small coin off of pics

I agree... I now have the coin in hand with some quick photos in this post.

 

Here is a comparison against a graded VF-25 example with the images roughly normalized for resolution:

 

 

You can definitely see that my example doesn't look nearly as pristine at this magnification.

 

But it surely still looks like one helluva good VF-25 example in my eyes!

 

[JOBESSI]

if the other one graded a VF25 than yours truly deserves a better grade than VF25

[coinman_23885]

if the other one graded a VF25 than yours truly deserves a better grade than VF25

 

I think the VF25 comparison example is actually overgraded, and the original poster's sample undergraded absent silent net grading. I don't think it was net graded for the fingerprint; I would examine the coin a bit more closely under higher magnification.

[cameron12x]

if the other one graded a VF25 than yours truly deserves a better grade than VF25

 

I think the VF25 comparison example is actually overgraded, and the original poster's sample undergraded absent silent net grading. I don't think it was net graded for the fingerprint; I would examine the coin a bit more closely under higher magnification.

Well said...

 

How much higher magnification is needed? What areas to look at?

 

Did you check out the examples listed above from Heritage auctions for comparison?