Weak Strike and Eye appeal

New Orleans mint Morgan Dollars are notorious for having weak strikes. The example below is no exception. An 1884-O Morgan Dollar with severe flatness on the hair above the ear and basically no breast feather detail on the reverse. But does the weak strike really detract from the overall eye appeal of the coin. Certainly some will say yes, and others might say no. I want to know what you would say about this coin.

The obverse displays sea foam green intermingled with bright cobalt blue and violet in the center. Some blushes of magenta and orange gold can be seen on the peripheries. The reverse is essentially untoned. In addition the coin has full cartwheel luster that is not muted by the toning but not what one would call blazing either.

Imagine you are a grader at NGC, how would you grade this coin? Please give your grade for each element of grading (surface preservation, strike, luster, and eye appeal) as well as your overall grade and an explanation that helps us understand your market grade.




Furthermore, I would like to know everyone's opinion on the impact of a weak strike on the overall eye appeal of a coin.

 

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Avtaar naswer: I cant answer your question. i wont imagine being a grader at a TPG even if you gave me the coin.

Spocks answer : i need to get rid of the avtaar

Lehigh in all seriousness as far a si know NGC has never published what their grades mean so how can anyone honestly answer the question from a ngc perspective.

I do like the coin however

 

please see we needed u on the other thread we are not going anywhere without ur photoskills on that one.

 

Assuming that isn't a scratch behind her head. I can't imagine it is.
I'd be willng to bet the nicks on her cheek are not nearly as bad in hand as they are n the picture. I would grade this coin MS66.
Great eye appeal, great luster on the obverse and especially the reverse, and who gives a hoot about the strike. They are almost all that way. Thanks for the thread Lehigh.

 

Have you been drinking (spelling & grammar)?

This is meant to be an exercise in fantasy, you don't need to know NGC's standards to participate. The objective is to give your opinion of marketing grading and how you feel the different elements of grading affect the end grade of a coin.

 

What thread are you talking about----Link Please!

 

mango juice u should try it u wont need any coinsafter that

 

here

we nee du to fix the first pic

http://www.cointalk.com/forum/t51364/

 

In terms of grading that coin, the graders are good at looking at the flat spots and differentiating between wear and the original planchet surface.
(That's something I've GOT to learn before I get serious about buying raw coins.)
Couple that with their knowledge about the "O" Mint and they've got a good start.

I suspect they have printed guidance (and images or real coins?) on a year by year basis for all coins.
BUT it's only guidance.
After that comes their personal experiences and biases.
That's why more than one person grades each coin AND a final review is done.

 

I can't see the obverse well enough to make a judgement call on the photo. The reverse is very nice. I do not think there is any correlation between eye appeal and weak strike - in my opinion. Now if the obverse is an nice as the reverse - I think 64. Just too many (what look like hits) on the obverse.

 

1. I am not a toned coin person so that would stop me from grading it
2. I would probably try to get rid of the toning
3. Great looking coin and so called weak stikes don't bother me at all.
4. I also stink at grading so you'ld hate any grade I'd put on that coin.
5. I like the coin except for the toning.

 

I don't know, Lehigh, isn't that a big scratch on the right-top quarter-panel? BTW, with that color description (sea foam green intermingled with bright cobalt blue and violet in the center; some blushes of magenta and orange gold), you missed your calling, I think, you should be an ad man.

But seriously, I think Mr. Spock has a good point about the TPGs. In fact, I'll go as far as to stretch that and say, sometimes, at least, I don't even think they have standards. Heck, if eye appeal these days is the mantra, all you need is, well, a set of "peepers" and an opinion. Who can't do that? I'm serious.

You're fantasizing, so I'll play along. Let me take another look at it, I can't see it as I'm writing this, hang in there for a few...

 

I think it is MS66

 

Are you contributing the break in tone on the obverse to bag marks?

Ruben

 

OK, let's pretend...

surface preservation: I don't see anything terribly off-putting in terms of spotting or corrosion, things like that, just some contact marks or scratches. I'd give it a pass on surface preservation.

strike: First of all, I don't see the hair as terribly flat, at all. Especially relatively-speaking for this Mint. And weak strikes never bother me, I don't grade up or down for that.

luster: It sure has that and shiny obverse color, too.

and eye appeal: The color is in the right places on that obverse and I like how it takes my eye throughout the coin. I think it's pleasing. And that luster is just busting out at you. Let's say those scratches and wipes aren't scratches and wipes, but can go as coin-contact. Overall eye-appeal, very good. MS-64.

Disclaimer: I don't have the database NGC does to rate this coin against other '84-Os so it wouldn't surprise me if it graded higher...

 

OK here goes: The Obverse Surface Preservation= 2
Strike= 1 1/2
Luster= 1 1/2
Eye Appeal=1
Total: 6
The Reverse Surface Preservation = 7
Strike = 1 1/2
Luster = 2 1/2
Eye Appeal= 2
Total: 13
In conclusion I would give an overall grade MS 61
I hope I don't offend the owner.

 

oh my and where does fast eddie live?

 

I have to say that I really like the toning on this one:thumb:. I also like the contrast between the obv and rev. Weak strikes usually bother me, but this one isn't terrible, the breast still seems at least rough, and not totally flat. IMO I think it has great eye appeal, I would grade it a 64, but I think it got a 65.

Where the heck do you find all these toned Morgans Lehigh , I don't think you've ever posted one I didn't like.

 

weak strikes

Weak strikes really bother me, I just got this horrible 85-O in yesterday ...