I was looking at a couple morgans the other day. They look close to being gems, but one has a single brown toning spot. would that prevent a gem grade?
That's a good question. Think of a bright red spot right at the tip of her lovely schnozzola. Technically, this lady is no tramp. Market-wise, she's going to grade down for that spot, as we want the ones at that grade without the spot. Does that make sense?
they are better date morgans where price really jumps at 64, and 65. I just get the feeling pcgs or ngc wont determine they are worth gem prices.
I'd have to say that kind of depends on the spot because not all spots are caused by toning. In fact many are caused by some sort of foreign material getting on the coin, and that is not toning at all. And some spots, depending on the coin they are on, and the location, size, color, etc., of the spot may or may not greatly detract from the eye appeal of the coin. And if the eye appeal is affected, then of course the grade is going to be affected. It also depends on how you wish to define Gem. As a general rule Gem is reserved for coins grading 65 or above. So if a coin would grade say 67, but it has a spot, then the coin may still grade 67, or 66, or even 65, if that spot affects the eye appeal in a negative way, but it would still be Gem grade since it is 65 or above.
