Does NGC give "bonus" points to colorful coins?

[James_OldeTowne]

First, let me say this coin has already been SOLD.

 

It's an 1835 Capped Bust half in an NGC AU-53 holder (sorry for the dinky images):

 

 

To me, this coin technically grades a straight AU-50. By comparison to bust dimes and half-dimes I have/had, it just doesn't have the 75% remaining luster to support a choice grade, but it is however generously endowed with beautiful, deep colors and is original.

 

So my question is, when a coin has some superlative characteristic, be it strike, or color, or lack of marks, can that "boost" the market grade? What would be a typical "boost"? I happen to think it should, but am wondering if it is NGC's policy, or even if it appears to be.

 

James

[Tradedollarnut]

Gradeflation. Most AU50's are yesteryear's XF45's or even 40's. An AU bust coin with 75% luster and color is more likely to be AU58 or even AU61/62.

[gmarguli]

I can't see the coin well enough to know what would be a fair technical grade in my opinion. However, the line between AU50 & AU53 is so slim that it is a real judgment call. There is no real price difference or demand difference. AU53 might just be an AU50 coin with a nice planchet or nice eye appeal. Or it might be an AU58 with dead luster.

 

AU53 is also probably the least used of all the split grades. It was more helpful when the AU58 grade was reserved for MS63+ coins with extremely minor rub. Now AU58 is now frequently used for any coin with a little wear, no matter how ugly that coin is.

 

As for eye appeal bumping the grade, of course that happens. It happens at all grading services in all the grades for all the coins. After all, eye appeal is part of the grade and for most people, it is the MAIN part of the grade.

 

While I don't usually find the color appealing, look at the mint set coins from the 1950's. These are frequently dark blue toned and a little too dark for the taste of the masses. The grading services (PCGS more than NGC or ANACS) love this look. The coin can be beat to hell, but add 2 points for originality and eye appeal. Both NGC & ANACS will bump them also, but not quite as much.

 

In the last 6 months I have sent in several gorgeously toned foreign coins to NGC. All were MS/PF60 or higher examples and all were, in my opinion, graded 1-2 full points higher than their so-called technical grade would be. Now, I'm not saying that they were overgraded as I agree with the grades, but they were bumped without a doubt for eye appeal. In several cases I sent in multiples of the same coin, but some had great eye appeal and others were average. The eye appealing ones got bumped while the average ones got technically graded.

[jom]

Coin looks pretty to me. I don't really care what it grades, at least not enough to go into some long debate over "gradeflation" or "precision". I would only care what I'd have to pay.

 

jom

[Bruceswar]

that is one hell of coin... even with the small pics... nice half dime... the colors will over trump any price that a 50 / 53 would bring anyhow... Nice one

[Elcontador]

Agree with what's already been said. The grading services seem to forgive a contact mark or two if a coin has superior luster. I've seen a number of Seated dimes, quarters & halves in 6 holders that to me have too many contact marks for the grade, but they all have outstanding color / eye appeal. Ditto re a Buffalo nickel with a eye-catching hit on the Indian's forehead in a 7 holder.

[TomB]

It's hard to add much more that is constructive to what has already been written, especially since I happen to agree with essentially all of what Greg has stated. I would like to reiterate, though, that the AU50/AU53 line has even less spread (grade wise) than the VF25/VF30 line, in my opinion,

[Leothelion]

Damage is damage! The absent of distracting marks in the central focal of most coins, where they enterfere with the main pictures of the coin. The majority of coins for most denominations are plagued with nicks in the center or high areas of the devices. The strike and condition is what determines the high grade coin, in my book!

Toning and luster should enhance the desireability of the coin in it's true grade but not in added points....to the grade! A lustrous, fully strucked, markfree coin loses credibility when a lesser coin of quality receives a higher grade due to toning.

EDS strikes, although seldom found, should play a major roll in attaining a high grade, even though it may lack the luster and possibly be overtoned.

The best way to collect a high grade set of anything is matching the quality with the other coins! I have certified MS64-65 coins that look just as great as the MS66 and MS67 coins in my collection. I don't make the decision that a certified MS64 coin is less then a certified MS66 coin just because it says so on the slab!

That's how you can tell if a coin fits into your collection or inventory.

And then the location of nicks and condition of the coin come into play in determineing the grade.

It's wrong to put a lustrous or beautiful toned coin in a MS67 holder if the nicks and condition of that coin does not warrant it to be at that level of grade!

 

Am I ? Oh well!

 

Leo