1895 S Morgan, is it genuine?

Finding a rare coin in the raw is the first red flag and makes me question the coin. Looking closely at this one the heavy cuts on the obverse and the heavy scratches on the reverse do not fit the seemingly light circulation wear. The sharp contrast of the wear on the birds breast vs the neck look un-natural to me. The stars flanking "DOLLAR" to same year coins shown in PCGS price guide are different though I am unfamiliar with and have not compared die marriages. Thoughts?

 

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The photo icons won't open up on my end. They have a large X over them. Could be something on my cornputer.....martha

 

I see 2 X's, No Pics.

 

No pics. The images won’t load.

 

X's here as well.

 

I see X's like everyone else, but the images appear inline when I hit Reply. I can't download them and re-upload them from this machine, but I'll try to remember to try it later from my own laptop.

 

Lets try it another way. Thanks for your patience.

 

Wellllll......1895 was a good year. Other than that, I would not use it to memorialize the year.

 

Genuine

 

VAM-1B - genuine.

 

It appears to be genuine from quick inspection. My question is, why is a key date like that not slabbed a long time ago? That might make me apprehensive. Even given the hairlines that probably would make it a details coin, it should be authenticated, given its value.

 

Yes! Strike one! We think alike.

 

Ok the coin displays die markers of VAM 1B, a genuine die marriage. Do you think that's enough clear this coin?
I'm still unsure because of the damage vs. wear. Any comment on the birds breast and neck? Also an expensive coin in the raw?

 

Genuine, but cleaned and not gently. The 1895-S is not rare in the circulated grades. This sort of a filler.

 

"My question is, why is a key date like that not slabbed a long time ago?"

Because the coin is worth about the same in a details holder as it is raw.
The coin may sell a little faster because of buyer confidence.
If the coin was mine I would not spend the money for grading.
I can see the coin is genuine and don't need to pay a grading company to tell me that.
I could also take good enough photos and link the Vam page to show a buyer.

 

Ok, I will buy that. Although, I think that a lot of Morgan collectors like their better dates certified. Not a big deal, because as you said, it is a coin that won’t straight grade anyway.

 

Your reply made me think of ANACS. Genuine, details. Lower grading cost, buyer confidence.

 

And generally well-respected variety attribution, right?

 

Good idea. ANACS is great for nice details coins that require attribution. They are also cheaper, and not as backed up in terms of delays in returning submissions. Bingo! A great solution.

 

Man it hurts my heart when seasoned collectors can no longer trust a raw coin.... Sadly, that is that state of our hobby. I am not a Morgan expert but I see no immediate red flags other than a key date not being slabbed.