Guess the grade... 1910-D Eagle

It could be strike, but only if the strike is particularly bad for the issue.

Generally, the difference between 53 and 58 is wear and/or hits. Personally, I look for luster or lack thereof on the devices and fields when grading in the AU range, then assess other issues including eye appeal, particularly egregous hits in the prime focal areas, weakness of strike, etc. An AU 58 coin will have slight impared luster in the fields, and an AU 53 coin will have "more" imparement than the AU 58 coin. I know this sounds very subjective and wishy-washy, but that's how I do it, and more imortantly, that's the way I think the major TPGs do it.

All IMHO, and respectful of differing opinions and experiences....Mike

 

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I must admit that technically you are correct and I am not. Strike depth plays far more into the grade differences between MS grades, and the actual remainder of the coin is what seperates the various grades of circulated coins.

My habit is to tend to grade AU coins more like MS coins in that I pay more premuim to strike quality than I probably should. It is once in a while when you discuss things like this with an open mind and ear that one realizes that they are doing something wrong, and I must agree with you on this point. I am definately wrong on this one.

That being said, I would much rather own a sharply struck AU-58 than a poorly struck MS coin, but I would also prefer the well struck AU-53 coin over the AU-58 with a mushy strike.

There... another thread killed... LMAO

 

Its a beautiful coin