Does this peace dollar make MS?

Even if it does have some wear, it might still be uncirculated....

...depending on who's doing the grading.

 

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"The term 'Uncirculated,' interchangeable with 'mint state,' refers to a coin that has never seen general circulation."

-p. 23, The Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards for United States Coin 6th Edition

"UNC. or UNCIRCULATED. New. Regular mint striking, but never placed in circulation. Older pieces may be trarnished or 'toned.'"

-p. 14, Handbook of United States Coins 21st Edition

 

I agree, those grading statements are basically for general purposes. A grading service has no history of a coins circulation, the condition of the coin dictates the grade. A slightly circulated coin with no visible wear will surely be graded a mint state coin.

 

My guess according to what i see in the photos would be around XF-45. The eagle's head seems somewhat flat, & also i see little detail in the eagle's upper right wing feathers. I'm not seeing enough detail in the leg feathers either. The coin may look better in hand, and if weakly struck it could be higher than AU-45. But it sure looks under AU-50 to me.

 

XF-45:secret:

 

Wow, i went to edit my mistake and you already caught me. Rather ironic, since some of my posts are'nt answered for days! LOL! The grade is sometimes influenced according to if your buying or selling! (alot of truth in that statement i think).

 

That's the key - a grader can only guess at a coin's history based upon the coin's merits as seen before his eyes.

Whether it was pulled from circulation or not, if a grader sees no wear, he'll call it unc. What else can he do ?

 

Even with the ''bag'' marks, the coin looks as if it has some wear and no cartwheel effect. EF-40 would be my guess.