Every hobbyist should know how wheel marks happen. The primary culprit is a coin counting machine using rubber wheels that often attract tiny, abrasive particles. That can cause a small scratch, circular mark or other damage. For instance, sometimes the friction from the wheel creates hairlines on fields of a coin.
Take a close look at this coin whose seller pegs its value at $1,000. Well, maybe. Did you catch the flaw?
You can’t easily see the wheel mark on the above 1963-D quarter, which would earn a “details” grade from PCGS or NGC. The $1,000 value by ICG is based on what PCGS would bestow for the same grade. ICG holdered coins are overly generous, usually a point or two above what PCGS would give. And ICG often overlooks flaws, as in this case.
However, even without the wheel mark, a 1963-D quarter’s value drops at MS65 to $30 and MS66 to $75. And that’s retail, not auction value, in which case the MS65 drops to $15 and MS66 to $40. You can find auction values at PCGS Coin Facts.
I wouldn’t bid on the above ICG coin, with or without a wheel mark.
Let’s expand the photo and show the flaw:
Often the damage is light. You have to hold the coin at an angle to see it, and you can rest assured that a PCGS or NGC grader will see it.
Here’s an example:
NGC caught it, of course.
Proxiblog recommends copying a coin from an online seller and expanding it on your photo app to inspect at close range for any flaws, especially wheel marks. And do not believe values on lesser holders. See this article for top- and bottom-tier holdering companies.
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You can find more information about types, varieties, errors, grading, bidding and buying in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider buying or gifting the work for a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist blog. Thank you.
