Three times "Yes" so far to the question asked.
Below is a pair of coins of the same
type (different varieties) from my own
collection to again illustrate why you can't put a single grade on an ancient coin without adding a host of qualifiers that won't fit on a slab.
The coin at top is
Extremely Fine, and the coin at bottom is
Very Fine. So, same coin
type, both with a little flatness, we've a perfect like for like comparison, therefore the EF coin must be worth maybe five times as much? I'm afraid not, and on a
good day with a
good sales pitch the VF coin might realise about as much. In simple terms it's more beautiful. But adding extra comments, the upper coin has its flatness in the wrong places. Both the
head of the Muse and the stage mask that she holds on the EF coin are flat whereas the
head of the Muse on the VF example is perfectly detailed; its flatness is in the two pipes at behind her
head, but they are at least partially visible and not as important as a
head. The
reverse of the VF is as close to perfect
as is possible for a VF coin, the tiniest flatness is on the end of the drapery, hardly significant. Moving onto the
quality of the dies, the
obverse of the EF coin has a number of distracting die breaks, under the chin, at the nose, behind the
head. The VF coin seems to have been struck from
good smooth dies, no evidence of any die breaks or die rust. On surfaces, the fact that the EF has never
toned after decades of ownership suggests that all is not right - experienced collectors know that only silver coins with perfect surfaces tone nicely - and indeed we see on the
obverse of the EF a rippled surface with possibly microscopic corrosion, and its the latter that prevents the
toning. The
reverse of the EF looks to have
good surfaces but its lack of
toning makes me wonder if the coin was once chemical washed to make it look bright (which it is); such a chemical wash can leach elements from the surface, and inhibit nice
toning. The surface of the VF seem better, minor surface cracking on the
obverse before the
head but the
reverse surface is almost lustrous like a concave mirror. Finally
toning, evidently the VF is beautifully
toned in such a manner as to highlight and enhance the devices which stand out more prominently than on the EF. May she never be subject to cleaning.
NGC likely grade: CHXF with flatness for the top coin,
GVF with flatness for the bottom coin. Which is a better coin? Probably the EF will
still sell for a higher
price, but that's to an extent due to its grade, rather than to the coin's inherent
quality, and the
price of the EF will be deflated to an extent due its problems and the
price of the VF inflated due to its qualities. Perhaps, if I want to sell the coins, I'll get the EF slabbed and graded. Not the VF.
