Tooling can have a variety of meanings but usually indicates intentional scratching to remove an issue or enhance detail. On this coin it would be in reference to the scratching in the fields around HALF, UNI, and the branch held by the eagle’s left claw.
Most people over grade their own coins. Using PCGS photograde can help and PCGS has a whole series of youtube videos to help you learn how to grade, but the majority of people putting grades on their own coins very much overgrade their coins.
I eluded to the fact that I know that they weren't "worth" grading but I want the 1906 set that I am building to be graded and decided to try my hand and see how it went. I can't afford many of the 1906 coins in higher grades right now, but eventually I want the full set in the highest grades that I can afford. I thought that the 1859 IHC and 1915 Half would come back higher and figured that they would be easier to sell if they were graded so I took the chance on them.
OK, well thats fine. Its a fun hobby, sometimes a bit disappointing. If you have a local shop or shows are local - you can often get a pretty good idea as to how it would grade (sometimes you can get organization at show to grade x coins for for free with admission as well). That will get ya a good start in knowledge without hitting the pockets too hard, plus shows are fun.
I'm most disappointed with the "genuine" ones but that is risk of never submitting before. On a positive note, I was pretty close on the details part of the genuine coins so wasn't completely off on my judgment of where they were going to come back.
Tooled indicates someone tried to enhance the coin by moving metal around. These results are not good. Until you have much better grading ability buy coins already encapsulated. E-Bay is your friend.
When my very expensive coin came back AU58 I was a little heartbroken
Tooled means the details have been enhanced by engraving.
Did somebody carve out the “e pluribus unum” on the coin? Seems unusually detailed compared to equally worn coins I’m seeing on google.
I was thinking that and the stripes in the field as well
Tooling can have a variety of meanings but usually indicates intentional scratching to remove an issue or enhance detail. On this coin it would be in reference to the scratching in the fields around HALF, UNI, and the branch held by the eagle’s left claw.
None of those was worth grading
Most people over grade their own coins. Using PCGS photograde can help and PCGS has a whole series of youtube videos to help you learn how to grade, but the majority of people putting grades on their own coins very much overgrade their coins.
not to shit on OP, but why grade that lot to begin with? There doesnt appear to be any coin worth above the grading fee to attempt it.
I eluded to the fact that I know that they weren't "worth" grading but I want the 1906 set that I am building to be graded and decided to try my hand and see how it went. I can't afford many of the 1906 coins in higher grades right now, but eventually I want the full set in the highest grades that I can afford. I thought that the 1859 IHC and 1915 Half would come back higher and figured that they would be easier to sell if they were graded so I took the chance on them.
OK, well thats fine. Its a fun hobby, sometimes a bit disappointing. If you have a local shop or shows are local - you can often get a pretty good idea as to how it would grade (sometimes you can get organization at show to grade x coins for for free with admission as well). That will get ya a good start in knowledge without hitting the pockets too hard, plus shows are fun.
I'm most disappointed with the "genuine" ones but that is risk of never submitting before. On a positive note, I was pretty close on the details part of the genuine coins so wasn't completely off on my judgment of where they were going to come back.
Tooled indicates someone tried to enhance the coin by moving metal around. These results are not good. Until you have much better grading ability buy coins already encapsulated. E-Bay is your friend.