I'd like to ask about how to grade coins with very little in the way of portraiture, or other motifs; it's (relatively speaking, at least) much easier to grade a coin when you can refer to standards like how much of the hair or the wreath on a bust is still intact, but I'm at a loss as to how to assign grades for coins with only some lettering and very basic designs.
For example, recently I posted this, my big Ottoman Altmislik from 1768, which was precisely what got me thinking about the subject of this post:
The only standard I can guess on how to grade something like this is how much of the lettering itself is still visible, but that's not much use beyond the lower grades. So, how would you grade a coin with only lettering, and how would you grade mine?
I find the condition of the fields to be a good identifier of grade when looking at such coins. In this case, with consistent high-point wear, some low spots, porosity and good wear to the fields, I'd be around VF 25.
I collect anything: If it's Italian or Italian states i collect it even more!
Статус изменён на Решено(CassTaylor, 13 Сент 2018, 03:14)
Цитата: "loruca"I find the condition of the fields to be a good identifier of grade when looking at such coins. In this case, with consistent high-point wear, some low spots, porosity and good wear to the fields, I'd be around VF 25.
Those older coins are also hard to grade because you also get more instance of weak strikes and worn dies than you do with more modern production methods and materials.
I think VF details, the porosity and slight damage would cause this to be a details coin. The wear might be a weak strike but I doubt this would go as an XF if sent for grading.
I am by no means an expert on coin grading, but if I was to grade this coin I'd first look at the overall detail. I would note that there is little wear towards the edges but some clear wear towards the centre. This then would be my indicator of overall "wear". I would (for example) set my standards as being "Fine" if details in the centre wear almost worn completely away, and "XF" if the detail in the centre showed nice deep margins like the detail towards the rim. I would then decide that "VF" would be somewhere in the middle. But as we have all agreed in other posts upon this subject, coin grading in a very objective thing and opinions can often vary.
I would grade your coin as VF. There is some noticeable wear but the margins are well defined. All details are still visible. No significant damage.
Collector of Third Reich coins (1933 - 1946), and Australian coins.
Not swapping at this time.
Again, I know the coin pictured above is pretty old, but I'm also asking for opinions on how to grade machine-struck coins with few motifs as well (if anyone can think of coin types with only lettering from the late 19th/20th centuries).
Anyway, the consensus seems to be VF here, so it looks like I'll be upgrading it in my Numista collection (I put it as F initially to be conservative, since I wasn't sure how to grade it when I first bought it, hence my question).
