Grade guessing

[kobe]

Could someone help grade this for me so that way I will have a reference to go off of since I have no clue, I don't even know what au looks like

[cranky]

I think it could be MS60 AU for sure.
Here is a site to help there.

http://www.lincolncentforum.com/lincoln-cent-grading-guide/

[Peter]

As pointed out, Will has a great visual resource in that link. Also try doing an internet search for grading books. There are a few good ones out there from the ANA, Photograde and others. Nothing beats having an image and coin in hand to compare it to. Remember, it can be harder to grade a coin that is not in hand. Great learning tool and will save you many $ as you look at potential purchase or what to send in for grading. As John and all of us say--buy the book, do the research then get the coin!

[GrumpyEd]

A lot of 1980 cents look like they ran the planchet through a rock tumbler before striking the coin. Most of them probably started life as a 63RD.
That one looks that way but then it's got some black spotting on the rev and some marks from friction.
MS60 is close, MS62 if the graders were out drinking for lunch.

[kobe]

thanks grumpy you explained it right on. Hey Pete what grading company Do you recommend? I started collecting penny a about four mnths ago and gotta about ten coins to send in. how long is the process and costs? Thanks

[WaterSport]

Before you go spending money on grading, you may want to consider a few things first . If your learning how to grade, can you tell the difference between a cleaned coin and a non cleaned coin? If not, sending coins in for grading to find they have been messed with will waste your money. Are these coins worth sending in? By this I mean it is sometimes possible to get nice MS 64 examples already graded cheaper by buying it because dealers get a reduced grading fee and bulk rates, etc. It cost a lot of money to get coins graded. I suggest you visit the 3 major sites and read what they offer for fees. Also you need to ask yourself why you want the coins graded. Is it for variety attribution, resale, or just for your collection? Or to simply get the grades verified. If its just to get grades, then learn how to grade because if you do not, you will be disappointed. We all have walked this mile so we know what disappointment and wasting money feels like.

WS

WS

[GrumpyEd]

I started collecting penny a about four mnths ago and gotta about ten coins to send in. how long is the process and costs?

First you might post them here, see what advice you get on if it adds value beyond what grading will cost to those particular coins.
Also you might get inputs on which TPG is best for them based on if they're high grades or varieties.


Below a certain grade coins can sell for less than the grading fee so whoever gets them graded ends up selling the coin in the slab to try to get back part of what they spend on grading. Often the reason is they thought it would grade higher.
For some examples, look at this site and ignore everything other than PCGS/NGC/ANACs and you'll see that many of the graded coins sell for a fraction of what someone spent on getting them graded.

http://www.cheapslabs.com/shop/index.php?m=&c=3&l=product_list&sortby=price:asc

[Brad]

I would explain AU as a lack of luster. Luster looks like aluminum foil and "cartwheels" as the coin moves. Hard for to describe in words.
An MS coin should have luster, an AU will have slight wear. Slight wear causes luster to disappear.
I would call your coin AU58, but I would not be shocked with a grade up to 62.

[kobe]

that's a neat site, my intentions are to start a collection of lincoln coins. Wow I didn't know it's cheaper to buy. I'll jus hold out for now. Thanks for the info. Since I joined it's been a big learning experience. It's good to have informed people sharing advices