Grade Me! 1879S Morgan

Love the coin, and there's no reason why you can't post video, especially when the potential for PL is in the mix.

I'd have to call it 64; to me it's 65 without that one huge mark and I'm not dropping it two grades for that.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I think we can see it's lustrous. That'd be overkill, although a cute touch if you want to do it. Your issue is that cut under the peeper. The way we're assessing it, it looks like it should grade, but that's where you're at...

 

That means nothing. You clearly do not have enough experience to buy raw PL Morgans, as you think every shiny Morgan is PL. Only a small percentage of those common dates end up in a PL or DPL slab. They have been picked over by very experienced collectors for years. The newsprint reflection test is worthless. Being able to look at a coin, and recognize what a TPG will grade it as is more important. Besides, as I said, that scratch over the eye makes it a borderline 63. It could just as easily be a MS details coin, for damage.

 

Your placement of the coin on a dark field, with a lamp brightly providing DIRECT illumination is deceptive-- it exaggerates reflectivity of the coin, as the autoexposure is locking onto the increased reflectivity, from the contrast of the dark background, and the lamp shining at the coin directly.

 

Not quite. I am new to this and trying to learn, and I appreciate the help of this forum. Morgandude11, your input is appreciated, but your tone is unnecessarily condescending.
I'll post up a video I shot of the coin as well, not to be "cute", only to add more detail to the situation.
Video link:

 

Not being condescending-- just being honest, and pointing out some rookie mistakes often made with regard to Morgans. You are far from the only one that makes those mistakes. Just hope you learn from some folks that have a lot more experience in the series (not only me). Trying to help you to avoid some of the mistakes of raw Morgan buying.

 

solid 63

 

Took a couple more shots in better light. Not trying to beat a dead horse with this coin, just trying to present it accurately. In hand it is striking.

 

I'm no longer torn.

 

Ms 63 at best. might even be a 62.

 

Here's a slabbed 63 (1881S) in the same light setup. In hand (with the exception of the hit below the eye) the raw '83S runs circles around the 81S.

 

The last set of images have me at MS63 with a PL designation a slight possibility.

 

63

 

I decided to send the coin back to the seller. He was very understanding. I'll keep leaning on the forum for advice!
Thanks all.