Please tell us how you think hairlines affect a proof Morgan grade. I hope you enjoy this coin as much as I do. This beautiful Morgan has been in a PCGS holder & now it is in an NGC holder. Both TPGs gave it precisely the same proof grade. It has some hairlines but they are below market acceptable limits. The hairlines are visible under magnification or if you shine a bright halogen lamp on the coin. You have to search for the hairlines under normal room lighting. Q1 What might you expect it to grade it if it had zero hairlines? Q2 What might you expect it to grade it knowing it has market acceptable hairlines? I’ll post the TPG grade later. Very best regards, Collect89
I would grade it "Absolutely Gorgeous" in either case! However, since that is not a grade, I would give it PF-68 for Q1 and PF-67 for Q2! Also, I am assuming that the visible scratches are on the holder with the exception of the nick on the rim at 11:30 on the Obverse. Frank
Although I left it out on my initial response, I agree with the Cameo designation! I can't tell enough from the pictures to make a determintation that it is a Deep Cameo or not. Frank
How will hairlines affect the grade You cannot see any discernible hairlines in the photo basically because it is taken with completely diffused light. Any scratches you see in the photo may be from the NGC plastic. Obviously, it is not possible to grade a proof Morgan from a photo especially one of my photos. Tomorrow I will post the slab with grade. In the mean time, let me say that it is just a nice looking proof Morgan. It is not a 66 to 70. A proof 67 or 68 would jump out at you from across the room. This Morgan coin is just nice looking. In hand, (without seeing the hairlines) this coin looks to me like a 64CAM or 65. The Morgan is not much different than this Liberty nickel which also has some hairlines. Note that there are many hairlines on the V-nickel & many scratches on the V-nickel PCGS holder. Care to guess how the hairlines affect the TPG grades of these two coins?
Just so we are clear- This Morgan is proof manufacture. "dmpl" would be used to describe a business strike with deep mirror proof-like fields. Very best regards, collect89
hairlines cost the grade The TPGs basically net graded these to proof 62. See how much some hairlines can cost the grade. Fortunately for me, I paid 62 money for these coins. I like proof Morgan dollars for 62 money but unfortunately, most people that have nice looking 62s want 63 & 64 money for them. I can post different proof 62 Morgans if you want to see them. Very best regards, collect89 P.S. We all like proof Morgans in 64 & 65 cameo but I could never afford to assemble a set in that high grade.
Might call it net grading Yes, the TPGs were harsh on this 1885 Morgan. I personally believe that this particular Morgan should be in a 63 holder. It is only one coin but it is a good example of what can happen to a grade because of hairlines. One might call it net grading from the two first-tier TPGs. Perhaps all grading is net grading & some of the more experienced CT guys could give us many more examples. Very best regards, collect89
It's not really harsh, Proofs are not graded like business strike coins, they make far, far fewer allowances. That's why you seldom see a Proof, excepting the older ones, in a slab under 67. With the older Proofs you see them much lower of course. But that is because of all the additional years of rough handling that the coins have endured.
