request for a little help

[kansas_roger]

I just posted, over on the E-Trac forum, a video and a few pics of a 1914-D Wheat penny I found some time ago. I'd appreciate it if you guys could check it out and give me your expert advice. Thanks in advance.

My key date Wheat penny post on the E-Trac forum

 

[Larry (IL)]

I would have to agree with unearth, it is too far gone to go to the expense of grading, at least I would not get it graded if it were mine. If you were selling it, the condition would dictate the value not the grade.

 

[nolanation]

corroded

 

[kansas_roger]

I cleaned it a little more with baking soda this morning, and I'm going to try and get some better pictures outside after I get off work. I wouldn't consider selling it, so getting it graded isn't a big deal. It will probably go right back in the box with all my other keepers!

 

[Digger]

In my opinion, if you have it graded by one of the top grading companies (PCGS or NCG) you will likely spend $75 and not get what you expected. At least that is what happened to me on the first two of my three 1877 Indian Head cents. I sent the first one to PCGS, as recommended by a local coin dealer. I knew it was "authentic", as I dug it from areas that hadn't been used for over 100 years. The coin as a whole, had a beautiful green patina and you could read the full LIBERTY, as well as details in the feathers. The shop that sent it in for me suggested PCGS because of their reputation for being thorough and well respected for their grading. So they insured it for $2350 and put it in the mail. A few weeks later, my coin was returned in a holder, without a grade. All it said was that it was certified as being authentic and had corrosion. Apparently corrosion is what I've been calling patina all these years! As far as being authentic, as I said, I already knew that. But, for $75, I now have the coin encased and substantiated by one of the leading grading companies.

When I found the second 1877 IH cent, I decided I wanted to have a numeric grade, not just certified as being authentication. Again, I knew it was "real", based on where I recovered it. So this time, I had the coin shop send it to NCG. About 5 weeks later, I got a call that the shop had gotten the coin back. When I went to pick it up, just like the one that had been sent to PCGS, this one was not assigned a numeric grade. Again, just the fact that it was authentic and corroded. And this one was simply in a small paper holder, with the note saying it was authentic and corroded. When I asked about not being encased, I was told that NCG doesn't encase circulated copper coins because they don't want them to corrode further.

When I found the third one, I decided to not send it in. As I said, I know they are authentic, I know that they have patina (corroded) and I know that I don't need to pay someone $65 - $75 to tell me either. Although I don't plan to sell them, I've been told that folks who buy circulated copper coins typically base their price on what they see.....not the numbers on a grading scale. JMHO HH Randy

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