Coin Grading by photo only

Thanks @Dima I will try this guide.

 

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You could make it a continuing thread, posting half-a-dozen at a time and then averaging the estimations...

 

Let me try one at random. 1882 O

 

AU55 ?

 

Thanks. Does the toning take away from that?

 

AFAIK, toning doesn't "really" enter into numerical grading. Wait for someone who knows what they are doing

 

Everyone. I pulled up that PCGS Photo Grade site. I can post my photos right next to the one on their page. Just about the same size. I see (no pun intended) now how I can get an estimate. I appreciate the comments and suggestions. I am sure that some of the coins I actually bought may have been cleaned. I am sure that those I got from the banks were not. May I post here for comments on cleaned coins?

 

You could post a few over time and get a sense of the grades. Unless you have not talent for grading at all, I would think that you would start to get an idea of how grade, especially if you buy one of the grading guides. Of course given the number of coins have, I would hope that you would have a sense of that.

I hate a say it, but if you have buying from the wrong sources, you might have some Chinese products, which would not be good. They have been around for over a decade, and they have already made a set of Morgan Dollars and then some. The "some" include some date and mint mark combinations that don't exist, like this one, a 1904-CC Morgan Dollar

 

I have three shy of a complete set of Morgans they are my pride and joy. I am their only grader with exception to several TPG's that were given to me as gifts. I take exception to those who question my motive. Congratulations on your post and deliverance I'm jealous but pleased for you, other Morgan collectors, and myself. Be safe.

 

I have all but 3, probably the 3 you don't have. I got them over a 70 year period. Quite a few I got in the wild, but many I purchased or traded for. I don't remember which ones when. I have attributed some in VAM. Specific VAM's are difficult to fake - I think. I am proud of mine also. I have all the Silver Dollars from 1900 to date plus all but 3 back to 1878. Morgan, Lafayette, Peace. Ike and all the commemoratives. Now I need to figure them out. Stay safe also.

 

Here are three I tried using the PCGS Grade site.
1900-O AU-50
1900-P AU-50
1900-S VF-25

 

The rest of the coins in the post were obviously cleaned to me, but I absolutely would not have been the wiser on this Morgan. Whatever you did...I'm just going to go ahead and never buy coins from you.

Oh gosh that is right horse-hockey! I really hope that is a misquote/mischaracterization of some sort because I have no idea what data--even anecdotal--could lead anyone to that conclusion.

It should obviously be noted that with some series that opinion is absolutely true, e.g. Capped Bust Halves, Dahlonega- and Charlotte-minted gold, etc. But Morgans?! That's laughable.

Hey @Inspector43, I don't know if an old thread I wrote would be of much use to you, but here it is: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/exhibit-grading-the-morgan-dollar.115123/

I wrote this before PCGS Photograde was even a thing. It's similar in concept, but with descriptions of what to be looking for in each grade. It's not perfect, and some of my examples are questionable, but then again the same thing could be said with Photograde!

Alrighty, so with those three coins you posted there, they all look subject to an older cleaning and should have "details" grades. I agree with your assessment of the 1900-O at AU-50 details. The 1900-P appears to have more details in the hair and breast feathers than the 1900-O, and though your photos are on the overexposed side, it does show some semblance of luster--I'm cool with calling the 1900-P AU-55 details. My initial impression on the 1900-S was a VF-20, but sometimes VF-20 and VF-25 can be like splitting hairs, so I'm cool with calling it a VF-25 details.

 

Thanks. I'll have to look a little closer for indications of cleaning. I may have cleaned some as a teenager and don't remember. As for the photography, I have only myself to blame and correct. I took all the photos Obv and Rev of my entire set of Morgans in one evening. I didn't try to get magazine quality or any quality. I wanted to just capture them. So, I have some work to do. I think I have the tools now to judge them myself with occasional input from the members.

 

Question.....most of my PCGS-graded coins do NOT have the ACTUAL coin photos, unlike NGC. When I barcode scan them in the PCGS App, there's an option for TrueView photos but that's not for my actual coin, right, that's for a generic version of the year and mint for that coin ?

Maybe it's just my small sample, but NGC has actual pics of the coin and the slab for most of my moderns and classics.

 

Yes, I believe NGC scans each coin they grade. PCGS certification look-ups will give a TrueView photo of your coin if one was taken, otherwise it should say "no image available." I've never used the app, but I assume your assessment in italics is correct.

 

@tmoneyeagles Using the grading in your referenced post I would give this attached a V-15. Feedback?

 

*F-15 sounds good to me!

 

https://www.pcgs.com/photograde/

 

The only one that’s obvious is the Barber quarter. What do you see in the rest? I’m sure everyone wants to know your obvious tells.

 

I'm sorry, I meant to say F-15. Thanks.