I've been fooled by gold coins with altered surfaces. I would have to see it "in hand". If the surfaces are original with nice luster, I would have to give it at least MS65.
Out on a limb here, but I'm calling it MS-66. Other than a minor scuff on reverse, it looks close to flawless to me. I readily admit that my gold grading skills are the least refined.
I voted "64" although it could be "65." There are a few tiny marks on the face and the one above the eagle. I have seen some of these $2.50 Liberty coins get very conservative grades over the years, unlike some other gold pieces that have seemed to get a pass.
I too have noticed this, even over 20 years. The small coins (quarter eagles) seem to often get very tightly graded, while the large coins (double eagles) seem to get a degree of forgiveness for a number of marks and scuffs, including reeding marks. I’ve always assumed that was because with gold being a softer metal and double eagles being large, heavy coins, the big coins tended to pick up a lot more contact marks.
