On the cusp of conditional rarity

Just picked up this Morgan for mid 64 money, as I liked the toning and the overall look. It is one that I think is on the cusp of that conditional rarity--in 65 it jumps way up. In my humble opinion, this one is close. I am sure that some may say it is a 62 or Au, but I welcome opinions. Bought it as a pretty toned coin and happy the way it is.

 

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You must be kidding? I hope you are.

 

I do agree that this is a weakly struck coin, however, that should not stop it from receiving a 65. I think the fields are clear and I do not see any major nicks on the face. Nice coin.

 

He is not, the lack of hair details above the ear is evidence of the strike he mentions and would likely keep it from ever being a 65

 

82o can have anywhere from average to way below average strike. Any experienced Morgan collector knows this--I'd agree that the strike is below average, but virtually ALL New Orleans Morgans have average to way below average strikes when compared to the other mints.

 

Is this average? I don't buy into the every O mint is poorly struck. There are plenty of years with good solid strikes and every mint had their striking issues at some point. I think the O mints are poorly struck line is used a bunch to sell coins and doesn't hold much water.

 

That is an average strike.

 

OK, mine is average and compare the ear and breast to yours. There is a big difference unless it is the images and that would help explain the 64 limitation.

 

I had an '85-O that was absolutely hammered. It got a nice premium when I sold it.

 

:kewl:Maybe 1st few off a new Die???
New Orleans was like the red hair step son of the US Mint after 1860.'s
so the never got the best dies to work with.that David Q Bowers has in a few books

 

I think you coin has a stronger strike for sure, and I would say that my coin has extremely clean surfaces. Strike is not the only criteria for grading---surface condition and luster is huge in the overall grade. I wasn't suggesting that my coin was necessarily a 65, but I thought close to it. The luster and cleanliness of the fields and cheek make up for the strike, which is not all that bad with the coin in hand. That DMPL has gorgeous mirrors, btw.

 

I picked this one up a couple of moths ago, in hand it had proof-like fields and doesn't have many contact marks. In my opinion this is one the high end of the MS64 scale, and if not on the low end of the MS65 scale.

 

I am not a Morgan expert Morgandude, and I do think your coin has superior luster. I simply agree with others that yours is a subpar strike, even for an O, so I think that is what is holding it back.

I find your strike interesting, though, with the cracks. Much more interesting coin than an average 64, but I would be pretty PO'ed if I bought that coin as a 65 and got that strike in the mail.

 

I would have graded this coin 64+, or gone for a 65.

 

PCGS doesn't grade coins, by the way, they price them. They didn't feel your coin was worth what a MS65 would fetch, so it didn't get MS65.

 

Well said, well said...

 

I agree that it was market grading. Any chance of a 65 was wiped out by the huge price jump, and yes, the strike is weak. However as was said, the coin is very attractive to me, and I love the tone and the die cracks. Truth be told, I would have graded it 64+ as a high 64. Since I paid mid 64 money, I am not at all unhappy. Everybody but Doug was reasonable on grading and as regards his grading, all I can say is: +2. (not just for my coin).

 

Just on my mind, If both Morgandude and my 1882-O are on the higher end of the MS64 scale (MS64+ or even a low MS65) would you recommend us sending them into CAC to get the green sticker?

 

Doug I really can't see this coin as an AU coin , if the flatness was due to wear and not strike there would be circulation hits in the fields , which there isn't . The unbroken luster and clean fields are all I need to tell me this is a MS coin all the way . IMHO