1921-S Morgan grading opinions

Hi guys,
Here's another Morgan I have that I'd like your opinions on. Grade? Value? Thanks!

 

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You are the one to pick and chose.........after all, what the devil is my opinion worth? What do you think? Do you love it? Then embrace it.....

 

As you are infinitely more experienced at grading Morgans than I am, your opinion is worth a lot. I just started collecting this year and only have about 5 Morgans so I'm learning how to grade what I got by comparing opinions from the experts. There, is that enough smoke or shall I blow more?

 

It has been cleaned and has hairlines on obverse and reverse. I give it a max of $25. I wouldn't have paid more than $17 and wouldn't have wanted it, just if it came through the door at a shop.

 

If it wasn't for the clean marks under the chin on the obverse and between the wreath and the denials i would have given this an AU58. No major marks but definitely wear on the hair below the ear and on the high point of the eagle breast. I would pay like $25 no more than $30.

 

AU and dipped with a near-100% certainty. Look around the letters UNUM, to see what the coin used to look like. Note, at least the vertical lines through the left obverse stars are die polishing; 1921-S is notorious for heavy polishing on one or the other face. sometimes both in the same die pair.

 

So stupid question time: Die polishing is done at the mint, right? So this does not reduce the value of the coin? Is everyone in agreement that this grades as an AU-50-58? Thanks everyone!

 

Die polish does not hurt the grade. Cleaning does, and this coin has been cleaned. Both wiped, and likely overdipped.

 

Right- die polishing happens at the mint and is ok.

A succinct explanation from VAM world:
http://www.vamworld.com/Die Polishing


I would agree that it is AU due to wear on the obverse hairline and the reverse breast.
The lack of luster and the many fine parallel hairlines are indicative of cleaning.

Keep the questions coming. That's how we all learn!

 

I figure cleaning will hurt the value, but not lower the grade, right? I mean the grade is the grade. -shrug-

 

Sorry, should have said die polish generally won't hurt the value, some even find it interesting.

 

Awesome, thanks guys. OK I have one more Morgan to post that really intrigues me. I'll start a new thread for my 1891-O Morgan.

 

Your close, but not quite there. The act of improperly cleaning a coin alters the surface of the coin in a negative and irreparable manner. Once this is done, the possibility of getting a numerical grade is out the door. You will end up getting a "Details" grade. So instead of getting an AU-55 from someone such as PCGS, you will get a "Genuine - Improperly Cleaned AU Details" grade. This simply means the coin has the wear and details remaining equivalent to an unmolested AU coin.

 

I didn't know die polish goes over the field and onto the raised devices - look at her neck, chin, cheek.

 

Where is chris hansen now... we need some to catch a coin cleaner and prevent the molestation of coins.

 

The coin looks as though it's got both die polishing and hair lines from cleaning. Look left of nose by stars, those vertical lines look to be die polishing, the lines on the devices look to be improper cleaning......sad, cause it's a nice Morgan....

 

This.

 

Indeed, the parallel hairline cleaning abrasions are too hard to miss.

 

I must say, some honking, hollering, helluva, good photogs D-Train.

 

The most comprehensive explanation yet. Thanks.