Grade opinions please

[Gary D 76]

I picked this F176 for 99p and would appreciate some opinions of its grade please. The obverse looks a bit ragged around the rim but generally it looks quite good. Britannias fingers, the first part to go are a bit flattened and there is a bit of wear to the helmet, wrist over shield and the down the front shin. The obverse is also pretty good just a flattened ear and a bit to the moustache and forehead. Myself I'm thinking VF to GVF.

Edited December 22, 2007 by Gary D

[scottishmoney 36]

I do appreciate your conservative approach to it, but it is looking a wee on the XF's side to moi.

[Red Riley 2]

I do appreciate your conservative approach to it, but it is looking a wee on the XF's side to moi.

I was intending to refrain from commenting on gradings, at least until the book was published but this looks very close to EF in my opinion.

Reverse - a little discernable wear on helmet and right breast, but the shoulder which usually receives wear early on looks pretty good to me. The give away as far as wear is concerned is, as you say, the fingers of the left hand which nonetheless are still clear and individual (I reckon that 9 out of 10 coins advertised as AU or UNC also show slight wear here). An oddity though is that the left forearm seems to be a little flattened which giving the generally light erosion elsewhere is probably a striking anomaly. Incidentally, the beading on these very early KG5 pennies was almost non-existent, so you are lucky to have anything there at all!

Obverse - the photo is a little fuzzy but it is possible to discern wear on the upper ear and possibly on the eyebrow.

Despite the slight ghosting, the pennies produced in the years immediately preceding the First World War were generally pretty well struck and this is no exception. All in all, I would say a reasonable investment for 99p.

[Peter 615]

A solid NEF and in my book collectable.

[Gary D 76]

Thanks Scottishmoney, Red Riley and Peter your input is much appreciated. What with all the over grading on ebay etc I've started to be a bit over cautious on my own collection. I look forward to your book being published Red we badly need a definative guide to grading, hopefully it will put a bit of uniformity and perhaps honesty back into coin grading if enough collectors take up a copy.

Anyway this coin will be a nice upgrade to my current slot filler.

Regards and happy Christmas

Gary