Owner Comments:
S-3801, Marsh 14 (Scarce)
Acquired from: Heritage
Means: Auction 3109, Lot 32775
Date: 19 August 2023
Critique: An extremely lovely example of this supposedly common date. The auction listing stated that the coin possesses "fewer abrasions compared to examples graded a full two points higher", and I definitely agree. Just based on appearance alone, it's hard to believe it was not graded MS63. The only minor detractions that I can see are a lack of luster on the obverse and a somewhat weak strike on the center reverse. Weak strike is never a cause to downgrade, so the rather dull obverse must have been the issue. But perhaps in the future I will send it in for reconsideration just to get a second opinion. This particular coin may have been graded many years ago when standards were a bit stricter.
Because of its A-class appearance, the auction listing went on to say that this coin represented "a relative value opportunity," but unfortunately that turned out not to be the case. This was a major annual auction, well-attended by way too many wealthy collectors willing to bid aggressively, and so I ended up paying full retail when the onerous 20% Buyer's Extortion was added in. Still, it was a rare opportunity to acquire such a beautiful piece, and I'm delighted to have it in my collection now.
Although there are eleven different coins listed in the George V Complete Set category, three of them receive no score as they are considered unobtainable by the average collector. Of the remaining eight "competition" coins, for specimens in the same grade the 1829 and 1830 coins receive the highest score. Apparently the NGC judges felt that these two are just a bit scarcer than the others. It would appear that this 1829 date is indeed scarce, since as of 11/2023 no other collector in the Geo IV category has an example of one registered.