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No love for the tab toned commem - ouch !
I submitted both of these tab toned comemms to CAC as PCGS 66 and 65 respectively! I wasn’t totally surprised the Robinson didn’t sticker. The Long Island has incredible eye appeal, color and originality, so I was surprised.
I sent both coins to NGC cross any grade. I actually prefer NGC to pcgs and I get another shot at a sticker. To my surprise, both coins came back one less grade (65 and 64). Ok, so cAc got it right I said, both coins downgraded !
I send them back to CAC in their new NGC holders, one less grade each from their prior pcgs holders . Both denied a sticker again! Ouch
Commems are all I collect. I know commems and I know how to grade them. Flashy tab toned commems with color and luster should sticker. They should be given the benefit of the doubt when borderline . No way these coins shouldn’t sticker in the pcgs or NGC holders.
Commems are all I collect. I know commems and I know how to grade them. Flashy tab toned commems with color and luster should sticker. They should be given the benefit of the doubt when borderline . No way these coins shouldn’t sticker in the pcgs or NGC holders.
I’m not saying every tab toned coin should automatically sticker. Understanding the series, understanding what makes a comemm most desired , understanding originality and history of the coin. That should be a factor in my opinion on the sticker.
Both of these coins will stay in my collection, both wonderful for their grade …and I would argue better for the grade than most a grade or two higher.
I own probably 15 or 16 tab toned comemms, half of which do not have stickers. That’s just wrong in my opinion. Curios if there are other comemm collectors on this forum with similar or different experiences??
Comments
Instead of assuming that CAC has a bias against tab-toning I’d suggest looking for shortcomings in the coins. If you have the opportunity, show them to a highly knowledgeable numismatist.
I say this as a former NGC grader who worked for John.
I’m also a big fan of attractive tab-toning and as a dealer, helped a couple of collectors put together two of the all-time finest silver commemorative sets. I’m not bragging, but rather, trying to provide you with some perspective to my views on this subject.
Beyond that, your posted images aren’t clear enough to try to assess the quality of the coins. And even if they were, you didn’t include reverse shots.
Based on those images, I probably would have guessed 65 (or higher) on the Long Island. Perhaps it has marks which are masked by the toning and don’t show in the pictures.
I’d grade the Robinson MS 64, at best. I can easily understand the lack of a sticker on it, due to conspicuous marks on the obverse portrait.
I would bet that the toning didn’t penalize either coin in any way.
That Long Island is better than most 67’s I’ve seen. Look at that color, luster and eye appeal. There is very little chatter to speak. That coin should have a cAc sticker at 65 and 66. I would even argue the coin is better than most 67’s I’ve seen. To not sticker that coin, tell me the person who made that decision doesn’t understand the series.
Here are my two. The Robinson is 66+ with CAC.
Steve