I picked this up at a local auction. On the table (for some stupid reason) I thought it looked MS with a 6x magnifier, but when I got it home and photographed it, I think I way over graded. The hairline on the front seems more defined to the naked eye (as weird as that sounds) and the eagle's breast also looks to have some detail, but looks flat under the camera (using a 10X macro lens). I have also just started coin photography (thanks to this forum). Being very new to this hobby, can you tell me what you think this should grade at and any better ways to "field test" coins? Is it just an experience thing? BTW, I paid $180 for it. The delears in the room stopped bidding around $120 (which should have been my first clue). Thank you in advance for any help...this forum has really taught me so much. 1896-o front 1896-o back
I'd say the coin grades about XF45. You didn't do too bad price wise, overpaid by about $40 I'd say. And as you realized later - that's why the dealers quit bidding.
I thought possibly AU50. Bag marks and surface abrasions, traces of wear on wing tips breast and talons. Still Red Book trands at $190
Nice pics, and although GDJMSP's technical grading is spot on, as usual, I think it might squeeze into an AU50 slab based on market grading. You overpaid a bit, but given the relative rarity of the issue you just need to hold on to it for a couple more years until the market price catches up to you. It'll happen. Had it been an 1881-S you'd overpaid for, I'd be extending my sympathy, but you'll be OK.
Thank you all for your comments. This has been a huge learning experience for me. I tend to be more of a collector than a speculator, so I will be hanging on to the coin for awhile. -flier
Does anyone else here think that coin has been harshly cleaned? I see hundreds of hairline scratches on it.
It's hard to tell from the pictures because of lighting, but the coin has fairly good luster. I thought that a harshly cleaned coin loses luster and appears dull? I do see all the hairlines and was wondering about them though. Overall, this will have to be something I look out for in the future. Thanks again for all the opinions and comments.
Sometimes yes, but generally that is what happens with a coin that has been over-dipped. There are many types of cleaning.
Anyone else wonder how many morgans that weren't released in the Treasury Release from 1962-64 have been ruined by cleaning/melted? It must be an incredibly high number.
