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Message:: [QUOTE="Bruce J Fick, post: 3178983, member: 97805"]I collect Morgan dollars in strictly MS. It's easy to tell an A.U. 55 Morgan from a MS one if you examine it in hand and have full Sunlight to examine a coin. But A.U. 58 + Morgans (sliders) are tricky though unless you've examined thousands of them after being trained by numismatic instructors  And even if you have, to err is human, with a time limitation (TPG) or you have a proprietary interest ( you paid your own dinero you worked long , hard for ) in the coin . That's why I bought a Microscope -to ensure I could see whether the flow lines are worn off the highest point of the eagle's breast feathers. Microfractures that account for the luster, " cartwheel " effect are gone with 140 years of oxidation. But Silver dulled from wear still contrasts well near untouched Silver. Silver dollars are so large they were handled between thumb and forefinger when circulated. Sebacious oil in human skin has low gravity but over 140 years it can subtly eat away soft Silver. I've bought 200 Ebay Silver dollars. Every day I see obvious frauds misrepresented as MS on Ebay. PCGS' photographs can help you learn how to grade accurately. But you still have to learn how to authenticate tween Chinese forgeries meant to counterfeit. Solution ? My microscope is once of the best investments I've ever made.[/QUOTE]