1878-CC Morgan, Opinions Please

Just heading out the door and would like to bounce this off the members. Here is an 1878-cc Morgan, I'd like to hear what you think about it, gradewise that is. It is graded by PCGS (older slab) and apparently has avoided any "ahem, sulphuric trickery" practiced by another old PCGS slab collector who's exploits are infamous...

Anyway, what do you think about this coin?

Thanks and Take Care
Ben

 

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another nice coin bonedigger ... not sure how to grade it.. but its real nice!

 

Hi Ben, thats a very nice looking Morgan you got there. Alot of detail. I'd have to say the grade is MS66. Have you had this one for a while Ben?

 

Hmm this one is tricky,
I'm having a hard time telling whether or not the "marks" on the cheek are in fact frost break or marks. Either way, I don't feel it has the eye appeal neccessary for a ms-64, so I personally would call it an ms-63, but since it is a frosty cc it wouldnt' surprise me to see it in a 64 holder.

 

Well, it'll be a few days before I can examine the coin in hand and will disclose more as time goes by.

Take Care
Ben

 

You lost me on the aside comment BUT

I say it is a solid MS62. I like this coin, nice detail in the hair swirl.

Ruben

 

Lol, this one has me stumped. That darn cheek! I agree with Zane, this one is tricky. I go a 63, but it could be 64. Not so sure lol. You did this on purpose Bone, didn't you? You just wanted to make us all stumped, lol, and laugh at us. lol j/k Can't wait to hear what the grade is. It is overall a nice looking Morgan. :thumb:

Phoenix

 

I agree with Zane that it is tough to differentiate frost breaks from contact marks from the pictures. I would say its a 63/64, depending on how it looks in hand.

 

In an old holder I'd guess 62-3

if re-slabbed I'd go MS-63, maybe MS-64 at best.

 

Somehow, I think this is one of those coins where the photo doesn't do it justice. That's common, but I have a hunch it's really acute on this one.

When I photograph Morgans, the pics always look much worse than in person.

And that's why I don't have as much concern about those "scuffs" on the cheek. I think that's an aberration of the lighting / photo.

With that in mind, I think it's a 65. Call me crazy... I know I'm going out on a limb on this one.

 

Beautiful coin bone. The cheek is a bit iffy as well as a few nicks, but other than that everything is very nice, looks like it got a nice strong strike. I'd say MS64.

 

I have no idea what I am doing and have never tried to determine a grade of a coin. Still pretty new at this. My only experiece is what I have seen pictures of. I need to move on to my next step of my education and learn more about grading. How do you guys learn how to do this. Books, experiece or combination.

I am going to guess a 63 with a + for eye appeal, cheek has a few nicks. Really should not even be posting on this coins but what the heck got to try sometimes.

 

Thanks for everyones take on the coin. I will say that I'm going to take a look at it in hand the middle of next week and may pick it up. The fact it's in an older (1st generation, I think) holder makes it all the more appealing to me.


Take Care
Ben

 

Ben,I would call it,just a very nice coin from a scarce mint's issue.I've never seen a Carson City Mint $1 in my life,but I have seen 2 Carson City Mint Quarters,of which I had until 2002 when it was lost in a break-in into my flat back in 2002.It was a worn 1877CC Quarter I had.

Aidan.

 

Oh, sorry to hear about the crime. I guess they never caught the robber?

 

Considering it's slabbed in PCGS"s old holder, usually
meaning slightly more conservative grades,
seemingly especially so for Morgans, I'd guess it graded
MS 63; but if you have it regraded, I'd be surprised if it
didn't grade out at MS 64, or MAYBE even MS65.
However, I'm far from an expert, so that's just my humble amateur opinion.

It sure looks to be a nice coin, so congrats on your
purchase. I'm sure whatever it might re-grade (if you try
that), or you just decide to keep it as is, it's already
a fine addition to your collection. Thanks for sharing it
with us!

 

That's a beautiful $ regardless of the numeric grade. It's hard to judge the severity of the marks on the cheek/jaw from pics, , but I'd say 63. ...nice coin. -Preussen

 

I have to say MS63 on this one. Old holder etc.. Resubmitted I would say 64 long shot at 65. Bone this one is going to be put in your will and left to me too right? : )

 

My honest opinion for what it's worth is that the face and neck can go as contact marks but I'm not sure what to make of the more indistinct, "flat" fields, especially left field obverse. That's where, while I usually don't mind seeing a few contact marks, I do like to see those microscopic mint lines that take my breath away. But instead, I see mostly an indistinct, "flat" appearance. The problem for me is that that appearance, to one degree or another, is all over the coin. As such, I'm inclined to give it the benefit of the doubt, and say it's storage or mint originated. That makes me grade this MS-63/64. Look at the infield reverse--it looks the same (indistinct, "flat") as the outfield reverse. That's why I hesitate to let that be a distracting factor. BTW, nice work, I like it! :thumb:

 

Thanks for all the informative comments, I've learned a lot from each your valuable posts, especially about the contact marks, luster, etc. The coin was graded MS-62 which is a tad conservative IMO, but I'm a Bust Half Dollar guy. What do I know...

As far as the holder I did some searching and while it's an older one, it apparently is not a 1st generation PCGS Holder. More like a 3rd, 4th, or even 5th generation, but then again I don't collect slabbed coins. Here is a picture. Looks to be a pretty common grade according to the Official red Book of Morgan Silver Dollars. Definitely not proof-like as those are indeed a rarity for the 1878-CC.

Take Care
Ben