1941 Walking Liberty.....Photo help and grade

Just took photo and followed some previous posts. Any advice on the photo?
Also I estimated grade to be MS-63;could not get the luster to show....all comments welcome

 

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That first picture looks like a scan.

Is that what it really looks like?

 

Get those spots off w/ proper conservation.

 

I used a Nikon D-40.
The coin is in a 2x2. I tried a couple of different settings but still couldn't get luster to show.
Thanks

 

take it out of the 2x2 then try

 

I don't like the water spots between the sun rays.
The strike seems to be good, but the rim looks filed.
For me proper grading isn't possible.

 

Once you remove it from the 2x2, stand it on edge on a white piece of paper so that you can look down at the coin and observe the reflection of the paper in the coin. On the obverse, you will most likely notice a gray stripe breaking up the reflection that goes right down the middle of the coin from Liberty's ear to her left foot. This indicates broken luster and that that coin is AU. You can also do this test through the 2x2 or a slab, it's just easier when the coin is not in a holder.

 

Well thats a neat trick... Is it just for Walkers mainly? Or, do you use it for any silver coin?

 

Just curious...Who taught you that trick? I learned it in a grading seminar in NY in the 1980's, and again at the beginning of the 2000's at ANA Summer Seminar. I'll tell if you do?

 

Works best on silver and gold.

 

It works for any silver coin if you know where the high points are. For the Morgan dollar obverse, it's the lower part of the bust near the tip. This works best on white coins, of course, but you can often see it through uniform light toning.

 

I can't remember when I started doing that, but it was probably in the early 90s. Not sure if I stumbled across it when wondering why a coin graded AU58 or if I had read about it somewhere.

 

Just to explain the terrific hint from Messydeck - before he can ...

Put a sheet of copy paper on a desk. With an incandescent light to the right or left (depends on your dexterity) of the sheet...then hold the coin at approx. 45 degree angle so the light from the bulb bounces (reflects) off the paper and on to the coin. Any area of luster loss by circulation, cabinet friction, etc. will become darker than the natural part of the coin. Try it, you'll love it. Then you'll need to make a decision whether the coin is Unc or not...Nothing is easy

 

Mike Fazzari said he stumbled across it at ANACS in the 70's and first demonstrated it in a class at Adelphi Univ. in NY.

 

I have to say, this is probably the best trick I've learned on here so far!! Thank you for that wonderful nugget of knowledge.

 

I agree! Thanks messydesk. IMO, You deserve a best "info" award. I'm surprised you don't have 50+ likes by now.

 

I know the trick and it works great. Learned it years ago from an old time collector

 

It might just be my eyes but is that wear at 1 o'clock on the rim of the obverse

 

Not sure what you are looking at, but the wear I see is on her hip, breast, and the eagle's breast.