Grading for (2) Morgans 1879-O & 1891-S

Hello All,
I'm pretty new to coin collecting and would like to hear everyone's opinions on these two Morgans. That will help me tremendously with my own grading efforts in the future. Hopefully, these pics show what they need to show...

Thanks much,
bryan

 

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Little difficult to grade with the angle shot Bryan. I'll say in the neighborhood of XF. Head on shot would help....

 

Not an expert on these, but the top looks AU and the bottom looks XF(eagles breast looks flatter or more worn). I can not say for sure, but both coins look cleaned based of the pictures-not saying they are, but the fine hairlines in the bottom make me think that it was cleaned. The upper picture just because of the color. Just note I am not positive - not even if I had them in hand. This is just my opinion based off what I see. Still think you have a couple of nice coins.

 

*reshoot*
For head-on perspective..

Thanks

 

And I appreciate the feedback thus far. From what I've read, Mark.. a lot of Morgans that look clean have indeed been cleaned.

 

As far as I am concerned there are some darn nice cleaned morgans out there. The key is being able to identify them through pictures - I know I can't. I know in some cases in the correct light I can line them up with some graded coins and see the difference, but there are sill a few that escape my eye. I know my father has a few that I really like.

 

The '91 S could go for an AU designation......MHO

 

They're both at least AU.

 

Yes.. I have to say that they are both shinier... and more glimmery in person. I bought both of them at an auction, with the '79 listed as BU and the '91 listed as AU-55. They wanted 120 for the '79, at first, I think I paid 40-ish.

 

I think the 1879-O would go MS60. New Orleans minted coins tend to have a softer strike and I believe this coin could be MS60. Now, that being said there are a lot of marks on it and it's hard to tell if it has been cleaned. It's also hard to tell if those marks are just heavy bag marks or some kind of damage. I personally think those marks come from this coin being cleaned but the pics make it hard to tell. So, I'd say it's either MS60 (if those are bag marks) or MS details cleaned. I believe the 1891-S has been cleaned. It has a funny appearance to it. I'd say it has AU details but has been cleaned.

 

I think they are both body bags but the first is AU 55 and the second is XF
The surfaces don't look natural

Ruben

 

im confused. Why not body bagged?

 

I'm curious, with all of the detail on the breast of the eagle for the '91.. why XF has been mentioned a few times. I would have thought just the overall detail of the coin would have elevated it to AU.
But, again.. this is all new to me.

 

sweet coins!!!! i wish i had some

 

I see.. there's an art to this grading process isn't there?

 

Well, the scratches all over the surface in seemly random patterns I thought would be damage.

Ruben

 

and different for each COIN and often each Year and Mint!