Grade this one - I am guessing too...

its4real

Based on the photo - I am guessing that this coin would grade - at best: AU-52 and at worst: XF 47. There appears to be a slight lack of detail on the breast feathers and the overall strike looks a little weak (?).

I would GREATLY appreciate your expertise. I know we just have pics to go on but I am trying to learn the finer points of the grading.

I bid on this one but didn't think it would grade over AU-50 to AU52 or 53.
Thanks

Link to 1884s Auction



edited to change EF to XF - aren't they interchangeable?

nwcs

I'm going with cleaned (in the past) AU-50 pending a better angle and sharper image. The angle may be hiding extra wear.

nwcs

Oh, regarding EF and XF. EF is the ANA official abbr. for Extra Fine. XF is PCGS's standard.

TheNumish

Coin looks like an AU-58 to me but I'm sure the photo makes it look better than it is.

dorkkarl

au detail, can't tell about a cleaning though. looks OK at the angle they digipic'd it at. 1884-s is obviously rare in unc, but overrated in au, i think, based on the sheer number of them i've seen.

K S

nwcs

And that is one motivation for a person (not necessarily this seller) to clean an AU to fool people into thinking it is uncirculated. Definitely AU because of the wear in the fields around protected areas. But my thinking it is cleaned is only a guess. Need better pics to tell. Or see it in person.

its4real

Numish and DK -

This is one of those coins that just 2 to 5 points can (supposedly) mean over 2k to 5K in value. How in the heck are we supposed to tell just looking at a cruddy pic on e-bay?(no answer required - rhetorical)

I agree that it's probably over rated in AU but the step to MS is so small and Numish says it's only 2 points away. Many times - the coins actually look a lot worse in the pics so this one COULD be MS-62 - couldn't it?

If not - what's keeping it from it? What details prevent this coin from grading MS-62 - based on the pic, of course.

Thanks in advance for your responses.


edited for spelling

braddick

<< <i>Based on the photo - I am guessing that this coin would grade - at best: AU-52 and at worst: XF 47. There appears to be a slight lack of detail on the breast feathers and the overall strike looks a little weak (?). I would GREATLY appreciate your expertise. I know we just have pics to go on but I am trying to learn the finer points of the grading. I bid on this one but didn't think it would grade over AU-50 to AU52 or 53. Thanks Link to 1884s Auction edited to change EF to XF - aren't they interchangeable? >>



With that hit on the cheek? Naw, I gotta go with AU51 or XF46.

TheNumish

That is a really good question and hard to answer. There is no way I can tell how a coin will grade from a pic like that one. The coin has clean surfaces, is well struck and has original luster. I just wonder why the picture was shot at an angle and not straight. Does taking a photo at that angle hide things?

I also know from experience 1884-S Dolllars are just about always AU and it's not a date I'd take a chance on. The odds of buying this coin and getting an uncirculated coin is about absolute zero. You just have to get a feel of which coins to take chances on and when to take chances.

coinnerd

This is not an unc. XF-45 - Au-55 can't tell from the scan.

quarterjack

IMHO, not being a pro. grader i'ed say it is a nice SLIDER. AU55-58

Dave

prooflike

Looks like a solid AU-55, may be lightly cleaned.

littlewicher

<< <i>AU52 or 53. >>



I've never heard of those grades before.....................

TWQG

<< <i>With that hit on the cheek? Naw, I gotta go with AU51 or XF46. >>



that's why i love you.

kieferscoins

There is an AU-53 grade, but I would have to go XF48.9.

Cameron Kiefer

littlewicher

No, I was thinking more along the lines of 47.6 or so.

gemseeker

From only the scan, it appears to be something like an AU-55. MS coins are really much more expensive. I recently bought what I thought was a MS GEM 1901 coin, but when I got a real up close look at it, it had quite a lot of bag marks and also the field areas looked like they were whizzed. You gotta be very careful with coins that sell at a very high premium in mint state.

dorkkarl

<< <i>This is one of those coins that just 2 to 5 points can (supposedly) mean over 2k to 5K in value >>

don't be fooled by price guides either. here are what i consider REAL values (retail) for 1884-S

au-50, $150
au-53, $200
au-55, $250
au-58, $300
ms-60, $3500+

this is one of the very rare cases in numismatics where au-58 IS NOT more desirable than ms-60. fact is, i have personally NEVER seen a TRUE UNC 1884-S, although i've seen ms-61 in a slab that had obvious friction to me. but it HAS to be the most common AU morgan dollar of them all.

K S