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GRADE REVEALED! Guess the grade with a TWIST! An ACG - CHALLENGE!

Started by James_OldeTowne,

22 posts in this topic

James_OldeTowne

James_OldeTowne

Posted
Posted

There's an interesting story behind this coin, which was cracked out of an ACG holder some time ago. It displays vibrant mint luster and 100% original, wholesome surfaces. It really is as mark-free as it appears! The image is accurate, and this coin in the holder really is as nice as it appears here. Now, here's the challenge:

 

1: guess the grade on the coin prior to it being cracked out of the ACG holder

2: guess why I hid part of the rim in the image

 

Here's a hint: the person who cracked it out intended to send it to PCGS. He is a big-time PCGS submitter in high-end "pop-top" coins, and has a fantastic eye for coins with upgrade potential.

 

p4140552_.jpg

p4140553_.jpg

 

Good luck!

 

James

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Newmismatist

Newmismatist

Posted
Posted

 

Well the grade before the crack out was probably MS66FB - Maybe even an MS67FB as this coin looks pretty clean and has nice luster. Probably accurately graded with a high grade like that.

 

The crack out artist used a pair of large wire cutters and as he was used to cracking out PCGS and NGC coins he positioned the wire cutters exactly as he did for those coins - unfortunately as he looked away so not to get thsoe little plastic shards in his eye, he failed to notice that the tip of his wire cutter was postioned right next to the rim (would have been a 1/2 inch away on a PCGS or NGC slabbed coin) - Snap when the wire cutters, spit went the holder, nip went the edge of the coin - you have in your and a 50 cent bullion coin or something that you can experiment with to see how the "Coin doctors" put those "interesting colors" on the silver coins - Another coin ruined by the crack out artists!

 

How's that for a wild guess?

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supertooth

supertooth

Posted
Posted

James, I always wanted to do this kind of thing and to get a chance to be wrong first is ok by me. So, ordinarily with ACG, this coin should grade an MS70. But I am going to say they graded it much lower---say 63--64. The reason being that they found fault with the cud that is hidden on the rim? Was my first thought. Bob [supertooth]

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gmarguli

gmarguli

Posted
Posted

Since it was an older ACG slab, I'd guess they graded it MS66FB. Today, I can see that coin in an MS67FB NGC/PCGS slab or MS69FB ACG slab.

 

Why is that area covered? The person cracking out the coin damaged it.

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cpm9ball

cpm9ball

Posted
Posted

67FB & ditto on the wire cutters. That's why I'd recommend a band saw or dremel tool with safety glasses, of course!

 

Chris

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Hoot

Hoot

Posted
Posted

I'll say that ACG called it a 65, no FB designation. And I also thought that the coin was damaged upon cracking it. frown.gif W/O the damage, I'd say the coin is 67FB, taking into account some of the slight dimpling from die wear and the flatness of a couple of the letters. A true beauty.

 

Hoot

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EZ_E

EZ_E

Posted
Posted

I agree whole-heartedly with what Newmismatist said.

 

Hoot, I don't get your reasoning for the following comment:

 

I'll say that ACG called it a 65, no FB designation.

Hoot

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Hoot

Hoot

Posted
Posted
I agree whole-heartedly with what Newmismatist said.

 

Hoot, I don't get your reasoning for the following comment:

 

I'll say that ACG called it a 65, no FB designation.

Hoot

 

Simple reasoning: ACG misgraded and misattributed countless coins.

 

Hoot

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cpm9ball

cpm9ball

Posted
Posted
893naughty-thumb.gif893naughty-thumb.gif893naughty-thumb.gif Can't be having these guess the grades!

 

I'll guess MS-71 as a superlative example.

 

Why, is this against the forum rulz? Huh? thx

 

No, Neil is just being a PITA because James didn't start it out with sign-offtopic.gif, sign-rantpost.gif or 893blahblah.gif893blahblah.gif893blahblah.gif! 27_laughing.gif

 

By the way, James, when are you going to reveal the answers? 893scratchchin-thumb.gif

 

Chris

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braddick

braddick

Posted
Posted
893naughty-thumb.gif893naughty-thumb.gif893naughty-thumb.gif Can't be having these guess the grades!

 

I'll guess MS-71 as a superlative example.

 

Why, is this against the forum rulz? Huh? thx

 

No, Neil is just being a PITA because James didn't start it out with sign-offtopic.gif, sign-rantpost.gif or 893blahblah.gif893blahblah.gif893blahblah.gif! 27_laughing.gif

 

By the way, James, when are you going to reveal the answers? 893scratchchin-thumb.gif

 

Chris

Not 'till he gets 20 different answers, or in 120 days, whichever comes first... blush.gif

 

crazy.gif

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jom

jom

Posted
Posted

20 different answers? How about four?:

 

1) MS65FH, damaged coin

2) MS66FT, no damage. Blotted out coin just for fun.

3) MS65HH, no damage. Small nude woman engraved blotted out.

4) MS67FBL, Hoot's Montana Ranch brand engraved. Blotted out for commercial reasons.

 

jom

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nwcs

nwcs

Posted
Posted
893naughty-thumb.gif893naughty-thumb.gif893naughty-thumb.gif Can't be having these guess the grades!

 

I'll guess MS-71 as a superlative example.

 

Why, is this against the forum rulz? Huh? thx

Nah just being sarcastic smile.gif And in light of the trigger finger they have for lawsuits.
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James_OldeTowne

James_OldeTowne

Posted
  • Author
Posted

There are some amazingly perceptive members of this forum! I applaud all the guesses, and appreciate the responses.

 

Here is what the coin looks like now:

 

p4140552.jpg

p4140553.jpg

 

Believe it or not, the original ACG grade was merely MS-65! The specialist who bought the coin told me the whole story about how he knew he had cherry-picked a 6-shot-7 coin, rushed it home, and flushed with anticipation, yanked out the pipe-cutter to free the coin from it's misery. Just as some of you guessed, his worst nightmare was realized when somehow, in a tragic reversal of the laws of physics, the coin backed into the jaws of the cutter, and received the damage you now see.

 

He carried the coin around for a long time with an insert labeled "How NOT to crack out a coin", and I still have the insert (and the story)!

 

THANKS for the discussion!

 

James

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Merc

Merc

Posted
Posted

This "specialist" doesn't sound like much of a specialist to me. Was he clueless on how to crack out a coin? I've done it and have never damaged a coin. Pipe cutters are not the thing to use. I give this guy the Darwin award in coin collecting. If you are dumb enough to use pipe cutters near a coin, this is what happens.

 

ACG graded it correctly. There are a few minor marks on Liberty's face. The luster and strike are nice. I can't tell if it is FB or not from the picture. Looks like a normal 65. I don't know why the guy got so excited by this coin as an upgrade.

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