Lots of people ask opinions about coin grades in here. I've got no problem with that; that's part of the learning process for us all. To the OP: Give us the very best image you can. Large (but not humongous.) And watch the glare (reflected light.) To the Graders: Don't just post a grade. Tell us HOW and WHY you came up with your opinion. That way I can see what I overlooked and other things.
However, just remember you said it yourself, OPINIONS. Try to remember that opinions are based on what someone THINKS or GUESSES at what something is or should be in thier OPINION. And if someone tells you part of it is based on color, again many people see colors differently. People are different and so are their eyes, nose, ears, etc. so they see, feel, etc differently. One reason some of us marry the people we marry and no one else wants them I guess.
That's a very good way to look at it. In coin terms, I'm harshly cleaned and damaged, but my wife collected me anyway. I have coins I really really like that others here wouldn't touch. Some of the circulated coins are more attractive to me than their MS counterparts. Offering an opinion on grade is one of the most fun parts of collecting. The business end of the hobby that tries to convince people to pay three times as much money for an MS64 as an MS63 when the difference just isn't that objectively possible to demonstrate. I try to avoid areas where small perceived differences mean drastic differences in price.
I've got no problem with this. Render an opinion of a coin's grade AND tell us how you arrived at it. And if you have a bias for or against certain characteristics, include that. For instance, I don't care for colorfully toned coins, so that will affect my opinion. But I'll tell you that. That's all I'm suggesting.
Coin Grading is a lot like Meteorology. Both interdisciplinary studies have their 'Self Proclaimed Stars' who claim to be the most accurate and knowledgeable. But, both the grader and the weatherman can't get it right all of the time... Take Care Ben
