I don't collect Morgans but I bought this one last week. Long story short: When I was in Georgia over the holidays I did a little job for a friend of a friend. She insisted on paying me for my one hour of time but I refused. Later she mailed me the money. Instead of sending it back to her I decided to spend her money on a nice coin and mail it to her. Who knows, it may just lead to a new coin collector. I decided on a nice common date Morgan because they are old, big and flashy. My local coin dealer had this one and the price was within my budget (or should I say her budget). So I bought it. As usual, the coin looks better in hand. Maybe I need to work on my lighting a bit more. This coin has great cartwheel but that doesn't show in the photos. I diffused the lighting (60-watt GE Reveal bulbs at 12:00 and 6:00). That brought out the frosted devices but subdued the luster. Anyway, what are your thoughts on this coin? It is in an NGC holder. I don't want to turn this into another "Guess the grade" thread but your comments on how you would grade it are welcome.
Great Coin ! IMO I will have to say MS 64PL. I think the 2 forehaed nicks would keep it from a 65. I'm not basing this on my extraordinary grading skills (lol) but on comparing it to some that I have. Gotta love those '80's & '81's for some great looking coins...................................John
I think with these real frosty morgans the pictures always make the bag marks look worse. To me this is a easy 64 and possible 65. Looks really nice.
Great coin looks nice and frosty . I would say it would get a MS64, just because San Francisco's get graded a little tougher.
That coin, and the pics of it, are a perfect example of something I have explained several times. What is showing up in the pics as black marks on the devices are frost breaks. But there is no hit (bag marks), or disturbance in the metal at all. The coin is exceptionally clean as Morgans go. But for that date and mint it is quite normal and not exceptional at all. The coin is a solid 65, even by my standards. And from I have seen of the TPG's lately it would probably go 66 in one of their slabs.
I agree with Doug/AJ- 65 and a great coin. Very kind of you. I would want to keep it. I hope you tell her not to touch the face and how to store it-Hobo :high5:
Yup, I'm going to go with the Lincolnator guy D); in my book, this one makes the cut, it ascends to the second plateau, it draws away from the field, it's a 65 all day going away. Good one, you bum (now take that as a pun )! :thumb:
Thanks for the input. I'll try to take better photos and post them. Some of you have guessed the NGC grade (and my grade too). I'm gonna wait another day or two for others to find the thread and take a stab at it before disclosing the grade given by NGC.
The Grade Revealed I finally took more photos of this coin without diffusing the light so the luster bands show better. And, as Doug pointed out, the frost breaks on the high points is simply friction, not wear. This is very common on coins with a lot of frost. Liberty has a small hit in her eyebrow but otherwise she is very clean. No major hits in her cheek or neck. The fields are clean. The luster is GREAT. As one would expect for an 1880-S the strike is strong. NGC graded this coin MS-65. (See photo of cert below.) I agree with that grade.
