This should be fun: GTG 1880 S Morgan Dollar

I for one do not, but I'm a near novice when it comes to grading. How can a coin get a +* suffix grade? As for the OP's coin, I don't see the MS68+ with those marks just above the band.

 

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The + and * are mutually exclusive. The + means its high end for the grade number. The * is for additionally nice eye appeal in this instance it probably just missed PL and has great flashy eye appeal.

 

I know what they are supposed to convey, just makes NO sense whatsoever since eye appeal is part of the grade...is it not? If a coin is a MSXX with a + and nice eye appeal, it should go to the next grade. Does PCGS use the * designation??

 

Because eye appeal can only bump a grade so much - in this instance not enough to warrant a 69 because they felt other areas prevented this coin from getting there. They still felt it had strong eye appeal.

I know people hate on the star, and even on the +. Those people are typically ones who can cherry pick very well and can identify + and star coins on their own so it costs them money that they exist. I get that. I like it though since I buy mostly online. I am rarely disappointed with * coins and I own quite a few at this point. I would personally rather own a 64+* than a 65 barring some major price jump. To me eye appeal is way more important than potentially a few extra dings that prevent that coin from being a technical 65.

No PCGS does not use a * designation and probably never will because NGC is their biggest competitor.

 

I was at nice 67 for the OP coin. You can't really experience 68-ness of a Morgan from a lifeless picture. I'll bet a dollar to a donut that CAC declined to sticker that coin. To not try it before auctioning is potentially leaving a lot of money on the table for something at that grade.

 

This is me 100%. I haven't met an NGC * that I thought didn't deserve it. NGC has eye appeal nailed down, and I'm glad they use the STAR designation. A 64 or 65 doesn't tell me how nice the coin may be. A 68 or 69 Morgan? Well, that grade does tell me that the coin is going to be superb, even if it isn't a flashy GEM. What I'm always after are those GEMS showing off within a lower grade. Whenever I shop for graded Ikes or Morgans I always see the grade first, but then I look closer to see what the coin is really made of. Grade is secondary for me.

 

Yep. I've only had one where I thought meh this may be great eye appeal to some people but not to me, have 8-10 others that are all killer. I like that it's not just color on it's own that gets the star, it really has to have all areas of eye appeal covered and will most likely be a blazer. Also on the flipside, coins with seemingly nice color without a star you can be pretty sure look worse in hand than pictures. Of course that's not always the case as it's subjective, but again buying over the internet it's nice to have a few extra clues as to what you'll receive.

Picked up this one at my LCS last month for a steal and just got it stickered. The color on it's own is fine but nothing great, it earns the star and then some with it's flash and frost though. Just a great coin and 66* (and now 66* CAC ) describes it perfectly IMO

 

If NGC is using the star it means they're not giving excessive weight to eye appeal in the technical grade. Which, to me, is how it should be done.

 

Absolutely.

 

That is one mesmerizing Morgan worthy of the STAR. I don't even own a 65 yet.

 

I have yet to own a NGC ✭ coin. Not that I wouldn't want one, quite the contrary. I really like that NGC reserves the ✭ for exceptional eye appeal. I respect that NGC unlike PCGS will properly grade a coin with amazing eye appeal and not award a much loftier grade simply for eye appeal. I realize that this is market grading where the grading company is assigning a value, but the NGC system in my opinion is far more accurate.

When I come across a PCGS coin that might be in a 66 holder and I look it over and realize that the 66 was given because of color and the technical grade is 64+ 65, I'll walk away from it. When I come across a NGC coin that has gorgeous color and I see the ✭ following the grade, I more often than not will agree with the grade. The ✭ is a designator that adds the additional value to reward the exceptional eye appeal. PCGS should come up with a designator as well, whether it be a symbol or even a series of letters similar to what they do for currency with EPQ, PPQ, etc... Maybe come up with EA or EEA to designate Eye Appeal or Exceptional Eye Appeal and leave the grade at the proper technical grade. That would be a much more accurate way to add the value for an exceptional piece. But that's just my opinion.