Dunno from those pics...I'm not a "Morgan" guy, but the Obverse looks a little fishy to me. The color looks strange, the dentils seem too widely spaced, the lettering seems off...I would have to do some more research on this one to give an opinion about authenticity, let alone grade.
I think it looks like a 65 except can't tell if it has normal luster. Try different photos to show the luster. Nice coin with a PL look but need to be clear on the lustrer
Nice coin, but better pictures would be great. It looks to be proof-like. The O's for this year are poorly struck coins, so don't be discouraged on the low detail of the breast feathers and hair above the ear. The concerning factor to me is what seems to be change of / lack of luster on the cheek. I don't know if that is the coin or the picture. It looks authentic to me. What is going on with the O in "one" and the D in "dollar" on the reverse? My preliminary grade is MS63, but I'd like a straight on picture under diffused incandescent or fluorescent lighting. Use the macro setting on your camera
I got a few more pictures, just haven't had time to upload them. I'll try to post them later this afternoon, or this evening. Thanks all for the input and info.
The first couple of pics are for Market Harmony. The O and D, and lack of luster on the cheek. I think it's a couple of dings on the O and D, but hope y'all can help me out with the question of luster. Jello, i'm still trying to get a full picture of the obverse, that shows as well. Thanks for the input, and for bearing with me.
I still can't tell anything about the luster on the obverse from the extra pictures, but I am so far standing by my grade of MS63
No wonder you can't tell anything about the luster.... I just realized that I didn't post the picture of the cheek....:hatch: Maybe these will help. I still havent even come close to getting a picture as good as the one Jello used as an example.
ok, that clears things up a good bit. I'll stick with MS63. I think that is a safe bet, so if you send it off, it might be even higher grade. It's a beatiful coin regardless of a point or two. To help you with your pictures: All you need to do is put a piece of paper over 2 lights sources and place them on both sides of the coin, about 2 feet away. Then figure out your camera settings, so that you know what the "macro" setting is. It's amazing how much information is in the manual. You'll be taking high quality coin photos in no time. A tripod to keep the camera steady is very helpful.
Although the pictures aren't ideal...they do give a pretty good look at the coin. It looks to me as if it has no wear. It has a slightly weakish strike which is common for 1904-O Morgan's and it doesn't have a ton of hits. The surface appears to have good luster in your last picture. I am comfortable calling this coin MS...based on what I have seen, I'd probably say MS64 but better pictures would make me more confident in that.
It appears that there is a little wear on the hair above the ear. Having said this, I have found that trying to accurately grade coins from photos is next to impossible. I would grade this coin AU-55.
Thanks for the comments, and the tips on the lighting. I'm going to keep working at getting a better picture.
I think what you are seeing is a touch of weakness to the strike which is common on 1904-O Morgan's. But, you are right...coins are very hard to grade in pictures.
