Grading question

That is correct.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Since you don't know what the word "perfect" means, you probably don't know what making an assumption means either. Nevertheless, you have just assumed something... Get my drift?

The ANA grading book is a GUIDE. It is used in Coin Grading Seminars. I've been in many. On several occasions, I've even been lucky enough to see inside the grading rooms of any place that mattered except for PCGS.
Guess what? They all had copies of several grading guides, INCLUDING the ANA's.

It's said that a blind squirrel can find a nut every so often , so I'll give you this one point: The major TPGS do not follow the ANA grading standards as closely as they could. However, the chart in the grading guide suggesting the grades based on the number of marks, eye appeal, hairlines, etc for dollars is very useful to learn and will generally get an apparent novice (?) such as yourself into the ballpark with the TPGS opinions. Where the ANA guide fails us is at the AU/MS border as coins that were formerly graded AU are now often graded in the low MS range.

The post in this thread by @CamaroDMD about a little hit on the reverse of a coin making it ungradeable is something similar as the two recent opinions you have posted. You would do yourself and your minion audience well to take a look at that chart and remember, a coin's obverse is its most important side (60% to 80%) depending on which major TPGS finalizer you ask. BTW, I have asked.

PS I have SIX Coin grading guides at arms reach on my desk and a specialized one for Large cents in the bookcase behind me. Always something to learn or brush up on.

 

Just a thought for you Insider. If you would post in a normal manner, more folks would read what you have to say. It's always great information but it's really hard to read. All the color and the cartoon stuff don't serve you well.

 

It would also be helpful if he stuck to the facts instead of personally attacking anyone who disagrees with him. The hubris is unending... The info is often good, and at times even enlightening, but he needs to stop trying to shout people down with differing opinions.

Discussion is good, and debate often challenges people to think beyond their own understanding, but be respectful of others, always. It may not matter today, but some day it might.

 

I agree. The coin probably would have been a 64, but in my opinion, the "dink" looks more like a gouge, and would probably kill any chance for a grade. I would have to say MS details coin, as it looks as if it were damaged by an object. Nice strike and luster, but a fatal defect, IMHO.

 

Come on... I tried many times before and fail every time.

CT is fun and informative and the mods are watching what we post. Color is for emphasis. Faces are fun. Color me immature, , and weird.

But just for you @ldhair and due to your recommendation, I'll try again. This is going to be hard so I'll try to end the emoji first. How long can I make it?

START NOW...

I wish the OP would post his coin on the PCGS web site and ask if it would detail or straight grade! No sense commenting again.

 

A hit on a leg on the reverse shouldn't keep that from straight grading. About the only way it may is if it looked like it happened yesterday

 

Thanks for the help...but I have studied the Morgan series in great depth and have a pretty good feel for this series. I have seen Morgan's with lesser gouges not be slabbed. Without seeing the coin in hand, I can't say for sure...but that hit is significant and could easily be considered damage rendering the coin non-gradable.

You are welcome to think otherwise, we are all entitled to our own opinions.

 

Depends on the hit. Is it just an ordinary bag mark, or a serious hit? In this case, it looks to be a significant gouge, from contact with another object. It might have been dropped, or something struck it. Having known Morgans all my life, I would stick to it being a details coin. I agreee with the good doc on this, and we both know Morgans well. One serious focal point gouge (that is a gouge) can equal no grade. It would have been a nice coin, otherwise, but it is a technical grade of details for damage.

 

I wish he would post a better pic because I can't tell anything from the grainy photo that was posted.

 

This is the best I can do ATTM Sean it's an old Sony 5.1 I use

My recrop did not work as I thought I guess because I was not going off the original which I replaced.So another pic to come maybe I might get a better one.

 

Yeah, there's just not enough pixels in that image. I'm just saying people who are telling you it's a details coin are going off of images that don't contain enough information to make that conclusion.

 

It is a gouge--details grade for a common Morgan, anyway.

 

Mic drop!

 

Yup. lol. Besides, let's assume it was a 64, which it isn't. Then, it would be a $75 coin. Any big focal point gouge would yield an ungradeable coin. The difference between that coin and the one you posted is that your coin has a nick, but even in this casual photography, one can see that the OP's coin has a much deeper, more noticeable and damaging gouge. Yours, Sean, has a surface bag scratch that tech grades the coin lower, but it is still gradeable. This one isn't.

 

I hear ya Sean no problem on my end just having a discussion and looking for info from much more acquainted with the hobby than myself.So the best I can do.It still beg a ? a coin without a mark this happened?It's almost like someone hit it with a jeweler screw driver seriously.I may send it off next year for giggles it's only $30 I have a 1888-S in AU55/58interested in grading.

 

What's your point...PCGS uses it's own grading standards which differ from the ANA's. Just because an ANA Grading Book may have been in a grading room when you got to "peak inside" doesn't change that.

 

My point is this. As you have been described as a "serious" collector of Morgan dollars, I should expect you to agree with a test I have done on several occasions with collectors far below your expertise. You may wish to try this with your collector friends.

Take about ten to fifteen coins slabbed by the top TPGS, cover the grades and let the rookies grade the coins using the chart on grading Morgans in the ANA book. Surprise surprise! Once they learn about luster, and marks, 85 - 90% of the time they hit the correct grade for each service AND although it's been said many times many ways the TPGS actually have standards pretty close to each other and the ANA book.

EDIT: Except for the Unc/AU line.

 

I can't really tell what it is from those pictures. Obviously everyone grades a little differently and a clear picture could really change it one way or another, to me from what I think I see in those hard to see pics I do not think a TPG would details it.

I generally try and answer grades with what I think PCGS/NGC would do, I could be wrong of course but just my opinion

 

Much ado about a details coin that would be worth $75 if it were not damaged with a gouge. Pictures aren't good but show a clear damaging gouge. MS details.