Not disagreeing that if its a 63 its a wonderful one. Always remember I learned grading 30 years ago, and collect ancients which are generally much stricter graded than US coins. I very well could be wrong on what TPG will give this coin today. I said its a shame where the marks are, put those marks behind her head and to me its a 65.
As an aside BU, I have to commend you for posting a "Guess this grade". It always seems like people take cheap shots when someone posts something like this. I think its great you took the time to post for us here to learn, and hope you don't feel my 63 guess is a pot shot. Chris
The whole point of threads like this is to have fun and learn something. In these 'guess the grade' ones, I like getting in first so my judgement isn't clouded by other guesses/assessments. Then, I sit back and take it all in, profiting from the knowledge of others......
No worries Chris. It is for learning for all of us, myself included. FYI everyone, I do not own this coin. I found doing a search and found the grade on the label and the condition of the coin to be a good one for guessing the grade.
I think that we may be missing the point on just the marks on the coin. If one looks at grading standards, assuming that the coin is MS (which I assume this one solidly is), nicks and scratches from contact are not the only issues determining condition. In all of the books and websites on grading the following are MAJOR considerations in the grading process: Strike, luster, eye appeal, and details of the devices. Sometimes, it is easily forgotten that Morgans are so large, that contact with another Morgan in a mint bag is virtually impossible to avoid. While I find that this coin has distracting marks, the overall aspects are still very strong in its favor, and I think it is mid level mint state at least.
You very well could be right. My two major reasons I gave it a grade of 63 were: 1. I understand these coins are heavy, but that is not an excuse in the grade. I do not say a heavier coin is allowed more, heavier marks. You are right this will lead to more dimes being higher grade than large coins, but that should show up in prices and pop reports, not in modifying grading standards. 2. The marks on the obverse are in the prime focal areas, the absolute worst place to me visually. If I were only grading the obverse, I would have given it a 62, the reverse is nice so I actually bumped it to 63 for the reverse. I very well could be wrong, but that is how I graded it, and would grade any US coin similarly. If this coin were an ancient, it would grade XF.
I will also say 63. If all those facial marks were actually bag marks and not dings, I would bump it up to a 64.
This is a tough call, and I think you guys bring up some valid points--yes it has marks, but the luster is incredible. That is why I think PCGS went 64 on it--I own a number of 64s that would be 62 and 63 on contact marks alone. The coin "jumps out" at you, and that to me makes a difference. Yes, the obverse is noisy, but it is a very flashy coin. Not as simple as it seems.