Here is an 1889-S Morgan. One of the few with a total mintage under 1,000,000 pieces. BTW, it is a certified VAM with a double s/s. The grade given might shock you. Bone
I would guess VF, almost XF on the reverse, the chest feathers are worn, On the obverse a VF because of the damage and wear .
Yes Iam shocked!, thats plainly a EX fine coin also with many marks, that should have never been classified as AU! again as mentioned by all kinds of collectors, "Buy the coin, not the plastic!". I dont agree sometimes with there grades, this ones a good reason why in my opinion.
Grading????Accuracy or Profitability That's hard to believe about the 1889-S Morgan. I would have said VF with all the hair wear and marks. Your 1884-O looks pretty good to the eye. I'm guessing that eventhough there are some lines/marks "the graders" not going to keep it out of the MS ranges for those reasons alone. I want to say give it an AU, but I'm going with a MS62-63.
Marks are alowed in the MS grades, but to degrees, thats what keeps alot from going to the 65 on up grades, to many marks.
I've got a meeting (Hunter's Safety Instructor; certification) in about an hour and a half and must get ready Here is the slab MS-64, but in hand it looks 61-62... Bone
Exactly why I never buy slabs 'sight unseen', and don't do business with sellers who have a 'no return on certified coins' policy.
This gets toughf cutting hairs in these MS grades, I personaly would say 63, just to many marks for me in a 64.
Wow, that 84-O has a nice strike and luster, but I cannot see it grading more than MS-62 with those marks!! That coin certainly is in its final resting place!!
This sort of guess the grade thread with high quality photos is very instructive and interesting. The opinions of knowledgeable collectors combined with the TPG grading is highly educational.