I took 14 Morgan Dollars to my coin dealer to send off to NGC for grading and Vam attribution. I collected these coins in 1968, 1969 and 1970 from mowing people's lawns. Here's the list and the grades my dealer thinks they are. 1883-P MS63 Proof Like 1885-P MS 64 1887-P MS 63/64 1904-O MS 64/65 1891-P MS 65* (star) 1903-P MS 63 1880-P MS 63 1887-P MS 63 1886-P MS 63 1887-P MS 64 1887-P MS 65 1883-O MS 63 1883-O MS 64 ( we think this is a double 0) 1896-P MS 64 When he started telling me the grades I was surprised. Apparently I must not know how to grade accurately, as I assigned a grade lower on all these coins. Wow, I not expecting this. I felt like a kid in a candy store with money to spend. So far, my dealer has been accurate on all I sent in. I am hopeful, he is accurate on these as well. I was in the 8th grade when I stared collecting Morgans in earnest. I paid $ 8.00-$ 15.00 each for these. A lot of lawns were cut for those Morgans. It's funny, I only wanted shiney uncirculated Morgans, no others would do. He capped my Christmas eve off by telling me I had a 'good eye' back then.
That my friend is good....most collectors overgrade....or miss cleaned coins....I don't mean to say you should overgrade....but what most people do is overgrade and then they get mad at the Grading Co. when they come back lower. Speedy
David Hall (founder and president of PCGS) said something the other day that I found both interesting and true... Ownership adds a point to grading. In your case, he got it wrong. I hope the dealer is correct in his grading. I'd love to see the 1891 65* -- that must be quite a coin. Take care & good luck with your grades, and please let us all know how you did...Mike
One question.....is this was NGC said or just your dealer??...if it was just your dealer...don't hold out for these grades. Dealers are most of the time good graders....but I've also seem them mess-up big time. Speedy
These grades were assigned by my dealer. I am hopeful NGC agrees with his assessment. So far, of the coins I have sent in to NGC , his batting average in calling out the grade is 100%. He is 16 for 16. I wrote the grades down on the back of a card and I am still surprised by what he said. I thought I knew how to grade, but I was off on the first 16 I sent in. I assigned a grade lower on all of them. Something has changed from when I was taught to grade Morgans in 1970...I haven't figured out what exactly, but something has. I will say this for my Christmas eve conversation with my dealer, I was surprised and very pleased by what he said and I did feel like a kid in a candy store with money in my pocket to buy. I haven't felt that way in a long time.
Lots of things have changed in the grading world....is it good?....I don't think so but its just a little thing called Market Grading...everyone uses it. Speedy
