Auction Highlights

1921 Peace Dollar, PCGS AU58, Courtesy of PCGS TrueView

where the cumulative depth of the obverse and reverse design is greatest (and therefore the vertical distance between the die surfaces the farthest). Th e fi rst traces of externally infl icted wear, by contrast, will show up on the highest topographic points of each side, independent of their alignment with the opposing motif.

Next, let’s examine a fully struck but lightly circulated piece. Note the subtle blending of design detail and loss of refl ectivity on the eagle’s neck, the upper-right portions of the wing, and the strands of hair above and behind liberty’s forehead on the AU58 specimen. Th ese are areas with trace amounts of circulation, even though the central portion is more fully struck than on the preceding coin.

Finally, experience and study will bring some issue-specifi c familiarity useful in interpreting the most idiosyncratic of pieces. Th ough some of the central reverse detail on the following 1807 Draped Bust Half Dollar is incomplete, most noticeably the eagle’s head, specialists will quickly recognize this as the characteristic striking weakness of Overton-109a. An examination of the peripheral regions shows ample luster and still-crisp detail, supporting the PCGS AU55 grade. (Th e piece illustrated at the beginning of the article is from the same die pair, and grades PCGS VF25.) 1807 Draped Bust Half Dollar Overton-109a, PCGS AU55. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.

An avid childhood collector, Kyle fi rst came to Collectors Universe in 2005 as a grading intern while in high school. Now a senior member of the grading and authentication team, some of his favorite coins include the Nova Constellatio coppers, Flowing Hair Dollars, and Flying Eagle Cents.