GTG Morgan Dollar.

It does look like scribbling. I can make out what appears to be a Y and a T.

 

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Just to preface: it is a beautiful coin. Would have probably graded 66, and love the toning. However, I am even more convinced, magnifying the wing area, and rotating the image 90 degrees. The letters “PYAT” are clearly visible. Looking stronger like graffiti. “Pyat” is the number 5 in Russian, BTW. I am half Ukrainian, so unfortunately, I know some Russian. That looks like PYAT in the English alphabet, as opposed to Cyrillic. I could be overthinking this, of course, but it sure seems like the word.

 

Wow,didn't even realize that,i wasn't focusing on that area,looked like circulation scuffs to me.

 

Numismatic pareidolia.

 

Now that you mention it, it does look more like letters than just marks. Thanks for pointing it out. Old dogs can still learn new tricks. LOL

 

I noticed the p, y, and T. Upon enlarging it, it sure looks like “pyat,” or “pyit,” both of which are accepted transliteration spellings for 5.

 

Here it is. I'll give my opinion in the morning.

 

Would I do that? I would but not in this case.

 

I'm pretty sure the reverse marks are just bag marks. I don't think PCI would have called them Hairlines but I could be wrong. I passed this coin around at the NGC lunch at the FUN show a few years ago. Many, what I call experts, looked at the coin. None could find the hairlines but we had fun trying to understand the slab.

Maybe one of our members @Insider will join in. I believe he was a grader at PCI about the time they were using the red problem label. Skip, about what year was this graded? I was not smart enough to keep track of when I sent stuff in to be graded.

 

Not to hijack, but I have a PCI slab I've never figured out either. Both wheel marks (can't see them) and rim nicks (very minor, a non-issue IMO) are noted. I didn't know about the red label being used exclusively for problem coins, learned something.

 

I wonder if they were extremely light. And you would only see them when the coin is out of the slab. I was looking for hairlines and just can't see any evidence.

 

Morgandude11, posted: "It is a damaged coin. The area under the right wing is scratched. It came back damaged-scratched. Were it not for the scratches,it would grade as MS 65+, or possibly as high as 66.

Morgandude11, continued: "Here is that spot, made much larger. It really looks like it was intentionally scratched, as opposed to random bagmarks. Graffiti is looking stronger to me. Somebody scribbled under the wing,with a sharp object, IMO.

Come on man. These posts are harmful to my eyes. Apparently you are not the member of the Silver Dollar Roundtable who I thought you were.

On PCI Red labels. We were tough on coins. Many dealers were extremely happy to purchase PCI "Problem" coins at reduced prices and get them straight graded at NGC and PCGS. This coin is probably a perfect example. Hairlines happen in degrees. Unfortunately, the angle of the images with the light does not show them so I cannot tell how bad they were. I suspect they are CONTINUOUS covering the entire surface of one or both sides.

Same goes for the coin in the Highjack post. Wheel marks are OBVIOUS. HOWEVER, they are virtually invisible under any magnification (including my microscope) UNLESS the coin is in a specific angle of rotation and tip.

 

Well, it certainly is a beautiful coin. The toning has become even more attractive over the years. I guess I was wrong about the possibilities of graffiti on the reverse, but it sure looked like writing to me. I could have sworn there was a p, y and t under the right wing. Oh well, guess I was wrong. Could that just be bagmarks? Definitely, as we all know Morgans have bagmarks. Given it as a straight graded coin, I would go MS 66, with a possible bump upwards from there for the golden color.

 

Oh well,Skip. We all have our off days. Could have sworn I saw letters there, but I defer to your expertise. I certainly don’t see hairlines on that coin.

 

I'm off every time I play a GTG. I don't see the HLNS either but you can be sure they are on the coin.

 

I would have said MS66, and I didn't see any "damage".

 

Since the consensus is straight graded, I agree with you on 66. The pale golden toning is beautiful.

 

I was thinking strong MS-64 or a weak MS-65. The scratches on the reverse that look like letters could be an area of concern.

 

If you don't mind humoring me for just a minute.
I'm not sure if my eyes or the photos & lighting are playing tricks on me.
Can you confirm if these spots are really on the coin?
Can you confirm if these spots are raised or incuse?
Also can you confirm if it's frosty or shiny?

 

The OP's dollar was graded thirty years ago! Gradflation has probably made it a lock MS-66 straight grade (depending on the rim hits).