How does this coin straight grade???

Che_Grapes

I’m a collector of Liberty Peace dollars and I have spent years collecting raw and graded coins - and have sent several in for grading (and for those out there that understand; you know that sending coins in for grading can provide a lot of education!) - what I normally find on peace dollars that are still raw today is that they have hairlines and/or cleaned (which is why they are still raw today) and those airlines will prevent a straight grade. However meanwhile I see many coins that were graded in the past that have these airlines yet still have a straight grade! I understand polishing lines and I know what those are and that those are not hairlines, but this looks like clear hairlines to me and yet somehow this straight grades...! No VAM is available to identify these as true polishing lines! I left the serial number out because I didn’t want to call out the person who owns this going because I am not the owner - it is currently for sale on a website at auction.
Again, I’m not coming after the seller I’m just making a comment to our fellow coin collectors and their expertise on this forum to see what you guys think about this, how is it that hairlines can be on one hand a straight grade and on the other hand a big “no- grade”?
Thoughts? I’m particularly interested in fellow graders on this forum:

Batman23

I am not convinced those are hairlines. My first though it die polish lines. To me the long line looks to go under the letters and not over.

Che_Grapes

They might be - normally that much would show up as a VAM - also, I see a few that do go over the rays:

FlyingAl

That looks like a striation- a mark that is on the planchet before the strike that does not fully strike out. These are very common on 50-64 proofs, though I haven’t seen one on a Peace before.

It can be distinguished by how it continues underneath devices. The rest of the lines look like die polish.

gtstang

Yes, very likely die polish lines.

lilolme

This looks to be the same on the 'crack' through L and I...

A different 'crack' but in same area and some lines in front of forehead.

'Crack across the top'

The area in front of the forehead appears to get some attention as there are multiple examples with the lines (raised).

At least it didn't look llke this:

LanceNewmanOCC

@lilolme said:
At least it didn't look llke this:

.
that is a wonderful reverse and if the obv is any indication, was created by extreme polishing of the dies. peace dollars are quite known for extreme die polishing/gouges, along with morgans.

ricko

It all comes down to determining the difference between die polish and hairlines imposed post mint..... can be tricky without close examination. Cheers, RickO

lkeigwin

I see die polish lines, a die crack and a slab scratch.
Lance.