Cool Frosty Morgan Guess the Grade

I picked this up today at an estate auction yesterday. Although this Morgan has some great frost, the pictures seem to over-highlight it a little (and I can't seem to figure out how to lessen it yet).

Grade guess are appreciated!

 

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Nice coin, I'd say MS-63/64

 

Ms-64

B

 

That's awful pretty. If you don't mind my asking, what did you pay for it?

Fish

 

I bought it for $30. The only reason I got it without much competition was because it was near the end of the auction and many people had left. Also, the lighting in the room was poor, and I wasn't 100% sure it was MS until I got it home under the lamp.

 

That's a pretty reasonable price. Note to self: attend more estate sales/auctions.

Fish

 

I'm not an expert but isn't the dark grey spots a sign of wear and circulation?

B12

 

Looks like an AU 55 coin to me because of the luster breaks...Mike

 

I always thought the areas where the frost breaks to be areas where the coin came in contact with other coins. Usually, and I know there are better experts here, the way to determine the difference between wear and frost breaks comes from the technical grading, such as the hair above the ear, cotton, etc. These areas seem to be sharply present. I have never seen a morgan with frost that didn't have areas that were worn away, but I am no where near as experienced as most.

Perhaps some of the more experienced Morgan graders could chime in?

By the way, thanks for all the grading guesses.

 

Yea I agree with leadfoot on this coin having luster breaks because it (does) look like there is rubbing on the high points.So I'd have to say AU too.

 

MS 61-62 due to scuffing in the obverse field. Not even close to 63 or 64 in my opinion. Cheek, fields, and reverse have no major hits. Clean but scuffed cheek puts it in the mid 61, maybe a low 62 range.

 

Although ebay crooks can tilt a coin to make the coin look uncirculated, or even proof-like when it isn`t, alot of honest pics make the scuffing in the fields and cheek look darker and worse than you may think. An MS (Mint State) or BU (brilliant uncirculated) coin is not perfect. Low grade Uncirculated Morgan dollars have scuffing in the fields and portrait that show up in honest photos looking darker and more abused than they really are.

You must remember that MS (mint state) or BU (brilliant uncirculated) does not mean that the coin is perfect, free of defects or scuffing and dings. These Morgan Dollars were banged around in bags of $1000 for the most part for 120 years. MS70 is a perfect coin. No wear, dings, scuffing. There are no MS70 Morgan Dollars. Not even one!!!

The grey scuffing you see in these pics do not mean this coin is worn or circulated.

 

Reverse looks 63, but the reverse counts for less, unless it is really worse than the obverse (usually not the case)

 

I agree that the reverse looks better...I'm thinking AU-58ish

 

I'd say AU55

 

lol, the water becomes murkier still... I swear, I'm gonna figure out how to grade Morgans if it kills me! lol

 

The only rule I can detect in grading Morgans is that if you are the seller the coin appears to be MS64 and if you are the buyer the coin appears to be AU55.

I know I read someplace that MS coins should have no sign of wear or break in luster, but maybe they meant no break in luster that isn't obviously from contact with other coins.

 

I believe that the surfaces of that coin have been altered.

 

If I had to put a grade on it, the wear would indicate AU-58.

 

Just so I can learn here, why do you think the surfaces have been altered?

Thanks in advance!