Any ideas

Well, true GD, unless they stuck to ANA standards and since these coins traditionally have a very strong strike as Jack said, maybe that gave it the 63 grade. RLM: let us know when you have the coin in hand and maybe rephoto from a side angle. I vote it has not been wiped, but Doug may be right?

 

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Ask an you shall receive. However, this is a rarity. In general, I think the TPG's give very little weight to strike as an element of grade. This Morgan Dollar has MS65/66 surfaces and the luster and eye appeal to match. Only the strike keeps it from gem status.

 

Well if I do, it definitely ain't gonna be a Peace Dollar.

 

The surfaces on this coin are as good as most of my MS64 Morgans. And while the luster & toning/eye appeal of this coin are not as strong as the last, they certainly eclipse the MS63 grade. The obverse strike on this coin is terrible and most certainly had an effect on the grade.



Now ask me to post something other than an "O" mint Morgan Dollar and I am in trouble.

 

Doug,

We have discussed this before. No way am I going to believe that the TPG's market grade a $20 coin to a $40 coin. If you believe it is AU, then the reason has to be they made a mistake and mistook the wear for strike softness. But this thing ain't anywhere near pretty enough to market grade it from AU to BU. Personally, I still think it is BU because there is no wear on the reverse and the only apparent wear on the obverse occurs in the same spot that the strike weakness occurs.

Either way, I don't care much about the grade of the coin, that is not why I bought it. Didn't buy it for the toning either in case you are wondering.

 

I agree that the white spots are residue on the holder, and the streaks look to me like scratches on the holder. I also agree with Jack that the coin is weak, but it also has some dark specks on the reverse, and it doesn't have any pizazz or strong eye appeal, thereby warranting an MS63 grade.

 

I agree with Lehigh (maybe it's fun to argue with Doug's black and white world!). I have a 64 24 S and 25 D lincoln I will submit that are very weak strikes. I think they will get 62-63's. Will post when I get them back. I think they bump up for strong strikes and down for weaks, but only my opinion.

 

Those look like they are on the slab to me, I blew up the pictures, and the white marks go off the slab..

 

It finally arrived today (the 16-S in case anyone forgot). It is a problem free 63 brown with some toning.

1. The white marks were on the holder. Could have been tape, but, anyway, it came right off without any difficulty.
2. The coin has not been wiped that I can tell. The streaks were on the holder, not the coin.
3. There are absolutely ample marks on the coin for it to be a 63. For some reason, they do not show up well on the pics (I usually have the opposite problem). Marks are on the shoulder, lapel, below AMERICA, and the "O" in ONE.
4. It is quite well struck - even for a 1916 - full sharp wheats and lettering.
5. There is a fair amount of toning, but like the rest of the coin, is very difficult to capture.

Go ahead and rip into it, but I do not see anything except what the label says with the little extra of some toning. I like it!

 

No more comments?

 

My Comment, I don't feel is really anything to get excited about. I think it looks great, But I was a little curious why it was struck so mushy. There were new obverse hubs in 1916 so it should be crisp as crisp can be.
I was a little curious about that, but I didn't think enough about it to ask for answers.

 

In hand, there is absolutely nothing mushy about the strike. It is very bold. There is something about the coloring that somehow masks the details.

 

AHH Gotcha