New 1880-O (Raw) Purchased at Austin Coin Show -- Preliminary Photos

Stuart

Here's the other coin that I purchased at this weekend's Austin Coin Show -- It was a bargain 1880-O Morgan which I feel is either an MS-62 or possibly an MS-63 that I picked up for only $30!

If it makes MS-63 then it could be a $300 coin, because the 1880-O is tough in grades above MS-62

airplanenut

When the board was split 50/50 on this one 62/63, the gods gave me a 63

Stuart

Sharper Obverse Photo:

K6AZ

Stuart, how do you feel about the toning on that coin? It looks somewhat questionable to me.

Stuart

Eric: Toning looks original to me, probably splotchy on the reverse due to a lousy dip job. The reverse of the coin looks better in person than in the photo. The photo is a bit harsher than the real coin.

Stuart

Jeremy: The reverse of your 1885-O carries that coin. The reverse is a solid MS-64 and the obverse a borderline 62/63. The reverse carried the coin enough to support the MS-63 grade.

The grading services have to be cautious when grading an 1880-O because the price of the coin jumps from $50 in MS-60 to $300 in MS-63, and goes crazy to almost $1500 in MS-64!!!

An MS-62 is probably worth about $125... or less than half of an MS-63...

K6AZ

<< <i>The grading services have to be cautious when grading an 1880-O because the price of the coin jumps from $50 in MS-60 to $300 in MS-63, and goes crazy to almost $1500 in MS-64!!! >>



What? Are the grading companies in business to grade or appraise coins? This statement makes absolutely no sense to me. What a coin is worth should have absolutely no bearing on how they grade a coin. If an 80-O is a 64, that is what they should grade it.

TonedCoinTrader

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>If an 80-O is a 64, that is what they should grade it. >>



Agreed, but in a case like that they are going to be damn sure its solid for the grade. No rounding up of a 63.7 to a 64.

K6AZ

For comparison, here is a PCGS MS63:

Placid

I think the depression on the cheek will keep the grade down. Probably will get a 58/62 or a bodybag.

Stuart

<< What? Are the grading companies in business to grade or appraise coins? This statement makes absolutely no sense to me. What a coin is worth should have absolutely no bearing on how they grade a coin. If an 80-O is a 64, that is what they should grade it. >>

Eric: I was referring to the potential liability that the top tier grading services assume, resulting from their buy-back benefit, that has a greater financial risk for them when they grade a coin higher, especially when it's a jump-grade coin for which a single grade point can mean many $$$.

I'm not advocating that this is a perfect situation, but it is a commercial reality of the business aspect of the coin grading world.