Penny help.

[Googan 0]

First of all hi! Im a long time lurker first time poster.

I am looking a purchasing a 1903 penny and was hoping for some advice.

I am fairly new to all this and am strugling to tell the grade of this penny for the photo so was woundering

if you guys could help.

Thanks in advance,

Tom.

[argentumandcoins 70]

Hello Tom.

Artificially lit and on the tilt don't help, but I would give it at least EF.

If you pay an EF price and the coin is better (probably is) you cannot go far wrong.

John.

[£400 for a Penny ? 0]

Yes, welcome Tom.

Would agree that on the evidence presented, it looks a nice coin. How much are you proposing to pay for it ?

[Accumulator 52]

Hello Tom.

Artificially lit and on the tilt don't help, but I would give it at least EF.

If you pay an EF price and the coin is better (probably is) you cannot go far wrong.

John.

That sounds like the best advice. I nearly always assume EF, even when the seller states UNC and it looks that way in pics. This approach means I'm rarely disappointed and more often pleased with the purchase. I would say it's almost impossible to judge the various stages of A/UNC through to BU from a photo anyway, particularly as the better coins often photograph less well.

[Googan 0]

Thanks, Im not sure about price. Was thinking maybe about £20 maybe a bit more. For that price will be very happy if unc and ok it ef+. But I'm new to this so not sure. Do You think this is about right?

Tom.

[Peckris 579]

It's impossible to decide lustre in artificial light, but I really cannot detect ANY wear on that item. Rubbing, especially on Britannia, usually shows up pretty well.

While I agree it's good general advice to "pay EF and hope it's better", I don't agree in this case, or for any penny between 1895 and 1935. The discrepancy between EF and UNC values in this range is so enormous (5 times MINIMUM), that if you budgeted EF for this penny, you would probably lose it, unless you are very lucky.

I would budget for around half the UNC value and if you can see it "in hand" and decide it's even better, you could then go higher.

(Our posts overlapped - yes £20 sounds about right, but it could turn out to be BU in which case you struck lucky! It all comes down in the end to how much you want it.)

Edited February 2, 2011 by Peckris

[Googan 0]

Excellent thanks for your help guys, much appreciated. Will be a regular poster now I have signed up. I find this site a excellent learning source so hopefully will keep learning.

Tom.

[1949threepence 3,367]

Thanks, Im not sure about price. Was thinking maybe about £20 maybe a bit more. For that price will be very happy if unc and ok it ef+. But I'm new to this so not sure. Do You think this is about right?

Tom.

I'd say from the pic it was about GEF ~ for reference I paid a flat £50 a year ago for a choice BU one.

[Red Riley 2]

Thanks, Im not sure about price. Was thinking maybe about £20 maybe a bit more. For that price will be very happy if unc and ok it ef+. But I'm new to this so not sure. Do You think this is about right?

Tom.

I'd say from the pic it was about GEF ~ for reference I paid a flat £50 a year ago for a choice BU one.

No I can't see any wear either within the limits of the photograph but what is more it seems to have good eye appeal. £20 would be a snip.

[RobJ 0]

First of all hi! Im a long time lurker first time poster.

I am looking a purchasing a 1903 penny and was hoping for some advice.

I am fairly new to all this and am strugling to tell the grade of this penny for the photo so was woundering

if you guys could help.

Thanks in advance,

Tom.

Thanks, Im not sure about price. Was thinking maybe about £20 maybe a bit more. For that price will be very happy if unc and ok it ef+. But I'm new to this so not sure. Do You think this is about right?

Tom.

Welcome to the Forum.

From the picture it does look to be a minimum of EF. I would personally be quite happy to pay £20 for the coin.

[Gary 7]

Could'nt dispute the advice already given. If you can get that coin for £20 then you will have been lucky and will have bagged a bargin.

[Cerbera100 0]

I would be interested in seeing a close-up of the date as well... or is that my every hopeful imagination pretending there is a hint of an open 3?! Either way, £20... bite his hand off!

[davidrj 194]

I would be interested in seeing a close-up of the date as well... or is that my every hopeful imagination pretending there is a hint of an open 3?! Either way, £20... bite his hand off!

Definitely a standard (closed) 3

[Peckris 579]

I would be interested in seeing a close-up of the date as well... or is that my every hopeful imagination pretending there is a hint of an open 3?! Either way, £20... bite his hand off!

LOL no way - first thing I checked haha