I have this very nice 1878 s Morgan dollar. I can grade but when I get into au and unc I'm lost. What would you say this coin grades? Also see my thread in the errors forum about the cud on it.
I have to contradict Treashunt: you're saying it has to have luster to be AU55 or AU58? I have a NGC AU that really doesnt look like it has much luster.
I don't feel that way, but the TPG'ers do. I have several Barber dimes & quarters that are easy AU-58's, barely a rub, but slabbed (and bought as slabs) as XF-45's. So, I agree & disagree.
After further review, something doesn't look right. I didn't look closely at the reverse image the first time around, but in doing so the dentils look odd, and the level of detail on the obverse and reverse is quite different. Harsh cleaning and cast counterfeit are two things I'd be wary of...Mike
Question: This coin was purchases about 25 years ago, why would anyone bother to conterfiet a coin worth only a few bucks?
To make a few bucks. Counterfeiters will fake a common coin more often than they will a scarce or hard to find coin. Why ? Because they are easier to sell. Very few collectors will look closely at common or inexpensive coins because they ask the very same question you did.