Is this a market acceptable scratch or something else?

I have also noticed the group of people that have a “cut-off” grade. This doesn’t make a ton of sense to me either as there are lower grades that are nicer than higher grades (in terms of color and possibly even technical attributes). Plus it seems silly that the person would pass on the same exact coin in a 62 holder that they would buy in a 64 holder (given that the prices are in line with each grade).

And I always go back to my main issue of inconsistency. I could learn to accept coins like the original one in a 64 holder as long as other toned ones were treated similarly. Yet I still see nicer examples that don’t get the grade bump.

Here is a 63 that I own that I believe has less marks and arguably better toning (plus it’s semi-pl).

 

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Yes, this brings up 2 points:

(1) When you have a "cut-off" grade, that pretty much establishes that one puts greater consideration on collecting (mostly slabs) for future sale/value, rather than identifying a "collectable" coin on ones own "eyeball"/in hand merit. And there's nothing wrong with that; to each his/her own.

(2) Of course we've all seen either raw or encapsulated coins which we feel are either higher grade, or inferior to other "graded" slabs we've seen.

This all goes back to learning to grade for ourselves, & buying the coin, not the slab.

Aside: What's amazing to me is that, with so many grading guides, all similar & specific in their grading "rules", it seems to still be very subjective from person to person. Perhaps that's because it is very difficult to grade when the coin is not "in-hand".

JMHO (which may or may not be worth a cup of coffee

 

I see a "gouge" like this and I get a little miffed at NGC. I bought a raw 1904 Liberty Head $20 double eagle for $1,300 about 6-7 years ago and I sent it in and I got a "UNC Details - Obverse scratched." It didn't have the color the Morgan does, but I thought it was a beautiful coin. It was the first gold coin that I bought. I got it from a dealer that he had just bought. He was going to a show and he took that one and an 1895 Liberty Head which I got back with a MS-61. I got that one for about $700. I did get a MMIX Ultra High Relief gold coin that I got for $1,300. It had been graded by PCGS at MS-68. I'm not an educated collector, or at least as much as I want to be, but I want to get a really good Saint-Gaudens. Any recommendations where to look? (Pre-1933, by the way, when the gold had to be turned in, did the owner get paid anything, and if so, how much?)

 

It seems pretty deep, long and thick with displaced metal to me.
I am with the details people.
A small thin scratch to me could be acceptable. But this is over the scratch line.

 

To answer the question posed in the thread title:

That's definitely "something else".

 

I'm pretty sure this answers your question of how much owners got paid for their gold: https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/gold_reserve_act
If I were looking to buy a "really good Saint-Gaudens", I'd check the bullion dealers first, LCS and eBay next. I've seen some nice ones going for a little over spot.

 

If you can measure the cut/scratch with a ruler easily, it shouldn't straight grade IMHO. It looks to be at least an inch long if not longer.

 

I agree. I tried looking at it, hoping it was a strike through wire or something, but it is clearly not.

I have to say, I vastly prefer the MS63 @ddddd posted later in the thread to the one in post #1. I don’t care if the last number is 3 or 4, or whatever, as long as I like the coin itself. The lowest graded MS coins I own are MS62, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t consider something lower, if I also liked the coin.

Edit: Actually, I have a couple UNC details coins I like, so, maybe those are my “lowest” graded MS coins?

 

I don't see how that could have happened just bouncing around in a bag, especially not in that position, which is well protected. It should not have graded. That's a scratch, not a bagmark.

 

I do see that as potential scratch damage. In hand it may look different. Ngc is usually pretty tough on scratches too. I’m sorry but it’s far too significant of a mark for a 64 straight grade. 62 at best or a details grade. Color is nice but that scratch bothers me. The 63 is far nicer in every way. Even without the scratch