This coin just sold for 20 Grand

What I don't understand, when you get into the upper eschelon of coins, is how did the grader decide, out of all the GSAs he must have graded, that this ONE coin was worthy of MS67+. And after that, the guy at CAC said, "yeah, that's a top end MS67+. This is why conspiracy theories develop.

 

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I love the fields on this Morgan. However, maybe it is the angle of the photograph, but there seems to be a decent number of contact marks on her neck, chin, nose, and eyebrow. I could see this as a MS-66 to 67, but I agree on a grading-level that the + and CAC are questionable.

 

Yep I see the same exact things that you are seeing. The only thing that I can think of is that the luster on this coin in-hand was so nice that the grader(s) missed the marks.

 

The "contact marks" you're referring to are just luster grazes (i.e., no penetration into metal) or this coin would never have made 67. Also, it's my understanding that CCs are graded just slightly more leniently than those from other mints. Finally, given that coins at this echelon are scrutinized very carefully, it's very likely this coin is a tad cleaner than 67 CCs and therefore worthy of the +. CAC doesn't distinguish between a "weak plus" and a "strong plus"; they just acknowledge the +.

 

Well, they distinguish between weak plus and standard or strong plus. And since eye appeal is one of the grading factors, I don't see how that cheek mark could garner a top pop grade. It is obviously very clean and hardly a mark on it, but that zit on her face is distracting.

 

Also, that cheek mark is more than a luster graze. The only thing i can think is it was part of the strike

 

The small indentation on her jawline looks like a planchet flaw. Not PMD. Everything else looks to be superficial. Nice coin!
https://coins.ha.com/itm/gsa-dollar...-4147.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515#

 

The + and the CAC are from the Department of Redundancy Department.

 

Luster graze.........ya just can't make this stuff up..........

 

Sorry, it's the scotch. And if some idiot spent 20 grand on that coin, he needs to be protected from the public.......rather, the public needs to protected from him (couldn't be a 'her'. Women just aren't that stupid).........

 

It's not worth $20,000 to me.
Whatever you want to call the dark discolorations on the neck, jaw, Phrygian cap, and stars, it should lower the grade IMO.

 

Is this the technical answer CAC gives? I didn't believe it was.

A "weak plus" is effectively not a plus.

 

For what it is worth, I would pay MS-66 money for it...

 

You're opening a can of worms. People (guys, always) spend $500K on old Ferraris. And 22-year-olds are paid $30 million/year to throw a ball over a plate.

Scotch sounds good right about now...

 

Luster graze, a new word for "light scrape".

 

here's the technical answer, I was just using your verbiage. They sticker coins that are "solid" or "premium" for the grade, but not "weak". And yes, that includes "plus" grades. Wait, did you buy the coin?

 

That was my only point, that out of all the GSA Morgans this one somehow got 67+ and is now worth a 2000% premium over a 66. But this one in question has a nasty mark right in a focal area.

 

IMO, MS66 max.

 

Perhaps protection from himself. What we could all do for our collections with $20 grand. Sheesh....

 

This is their explanation of their process in general and doesn't refer specifically to + grades. I don't think anyone really knows what CAC does with plusses. I've raised this question before on CT and have gotten no response. I've never called CAC or talked to a dealer about it.

Personally, what I believe CAC does with a plus is simply extend the range of the nominal grade (such as 67) upward a bit and then assign the plus if the coin really exists near the top of that extended range. I honestly can't see them breaking the "plus range" down into three distinct values beyond the existence of the 67 grade proper. No one can grade a coin to that level of accuracy.

No need to be sarcastic.

PS: some years ago PCGS experimented with a 100 point scale between MS60 and 70; e.g. a coin might grade a 633 or a 657. They ultimately concluded it just wasn't possible and they adopted the plus designation.