Since one of the things I'm trying to get a good handle on now is Morgan Dollar grading, I'd like some opinions on this 1886-P Morgan. I'm comparing it to the 1884-O Morgan which I discussed with several people recently on this same section of the message boards (as part of a thread titled "Two Morgan Dollars.") Here's what I'm seeing, and I'd like your thoughts. This obverse of the coin doesn't look worn, specifically, to me, but it seems like it isn't as "crisp" as the 1884-O -- maybe a weaker strike? The reverse looks pretty good as well, with decent definition to the breast feathers. The 1884-O has a gouge on the cheek, this coin has a small pit under the eye and some light scratches (contact marks?) mostly in the field. So, I'm a bit puzzled what to make of the net of all this. I'm thinking somewhere in the AU or very low MS range, but realize I could be completely off base. Thanks, in advance, for your assistance!
Well if you want to better understand Morgan grading, take a look at this thread, it should help you. http://www.cointalk.com/t115123/ I'd say you have an AU coin, 55 or so.
Thanks for the reply and I've looked over the guide you put together (very impressive!). To clarify a bit in terms of this specific coin, am I correct that you're seeing some slight wear? Are there specific parts of the coin you're keying in on? Maybe the cotton bolls? Thanks again!
Start with the obverse - Wear is most easily seen by looking for a break in the luster. On this coin it shows up in many places, but one of the easielst places to see it is the hair over the ear. See how that hair is a darker grey color than the cheel directly left of it. Well that's because the cheek in that spot still has luster - the hair does not. Wear will show up as a darker grey color. Now move straight up the hair line from the ear. See the shiny patch in the hair directly behind the eye - that's luster. Then immeadiately above that the hair turns darker grey again - that's more wear. Now you have to also learn to distinguish wear from toning. Toning can make the coin look like it has a darker grey color too. But, it has a different look than wear does. And you can see the luster still remaining underneath toning if you tilt the coin, where you can't see it with wear. That should give an idea of how to start. But there is much, much more to learn.
