I got this older PCGS graded coin today and am pretty happy with it. Let's see if anyone can guess the grade of it.
I would say 1898-O Vam 5 unless there is slight doubling in the date which I can't tell by the pics. No premium.
Why is it mean? The fields are stunning and mirrored, thus the PL. The finish has many hits and blemishes in the key focal points of the face...from a picture, could be wear. The reverse feathers in top have the same challenge. Graded MS62. This shows exactly why I prefer many AU58 over low MS grades. There are some beautiful AU coins that I believe have much better appeal than this one.
That "Wear" on the high points of Morgan dollars is very common and not usually wear. Considering those are the highest point of the coin they experience the most problems to contact with other coins. Coin are stacked and many other coins are pressing down on the coin with the most weight concentrated on the high points for obvious reasons. Because of the frosting, even the smallest marks are shown due to disturbing the frosting. On my coin it does not look to be wear, but on some coins those that may not be the case.
Fully understand. From this photo it looked like a little bit of wear not just a finish rub as all other rub was not visible anymore...so I guessed AU. Grading from pictures is always such a challenge...I use ebay a lot, so I guess conservative so I am never upset when they arrive. And on this site, pictures are sooooo magnified compared to the coin in hand...that also causes me a challenge as it makes little marks that are almost invisible in hand, completely highlighted when magnified.