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Title: How to grade a coin ? Post by: Tafflaff (Rob) on February 11, 2014, 11:36:17 PM I've put this in this section as I know the relevant members check it out. My question is, how on earth does one grade a coin?
I assumed fine meant in mint condition, however looking at some examples of fine, the coins are nowhere near what I though fine consisted of, so how do they grade them guys ? What would my Jimmy Green tanner be graded at ? Title: Re: How to grade a coin ? Post by: Dryland on February 11, 2014, 11:53:57 PM Try googling " Grading hammered coins " Rob. WWW.hammeredcoin.co.uk (http://WWW.hammeredcoin.co.uk)
There's a great explanation on there. Going by their description I would say yours is Fine Title: Re: How to grade a coin ? Post by: cardiffian on February 12, 2014, 08:01:13 PM We see that Spinks lists the coins as Fine, VF and EF. However, when grading for an auction I think the obverse and reverse can sometimes be graded differently.
Title: Re: How to grade a coin ? Post by: probono on February 13, 2014, 09:23:09 AM It really depends on who is doing the grading.
If you want to grade a coin the traditional way, using 'Spink' grading then this coin would probably come out as about GF / F. On ebay this coin would be classed as minty. To properly grade a coin you need to take into account a whole host of different parts - just because a coin has a fantastic portrait doesn't mean it is EF (extremely fine) - if the legend is missing ./ there are flat struck areas then it cannot be called 'EF' in truth, but could be graded as 'having EF details' - or as in teh case of many Chas I coins 'as struck' - i.e no wear but still not a sharp coin. For your example, the coin is quite round, and I think that the initial strike was a good one as the legends are mostly clear and there doesn't seem to be much (if any) double striking. There is what seems to be siginicant wear to the king's head at the high points, and there are the two flat struck areas on the reverse (I don't know the history of the coin myself, but seeing that would normally indicate that the coin has been straightened / flattened at some point, which could then explain some of the flatness on the king's head). There are no major splits in the flan (which is good)., so hence a grading of GF overall, but with a 'creased' note. Spink would probably grade it lower - I remember someone telling me that if sell coins, it is better to under-grade them and then the customer is happy when they receive the coin, rather than over grade and have an unhappy customer (who is less likely to buy from you again). |