Grade Revealed -- 1883 PCGS MS-65 Morgan Dollar -- Photos

Stuart

I'd be interested to know what grade you would assign to this 1883 Morgan Dollar, and your reasoning at determining that grade.

Thanks in advance for your participation and for sharing your grading criteria!!


Guess the Grade of this 1883 Morgan Dollar

777

She's limited at ms65 due to the weak strike

Coinhusker1

64, due to weak strike.

bhartman35

I'll also go with 64.

p8nt

Got a bigger picture anywhere?

RickMilauskas

I'd go with a MS66 but may drop a point for the weak strike.

The reverses are usually the weaker of sides and this seems to have a weaker obverse.

Larger pics would be helpful to better determine this for me.

mirabela

The debate, for me, is 65 or 66. I'm calling her a 66. First, I'm assuming this is your photo. In the past, I've known your photos to magnify the flaws of a coin, so I'm interpreting this one as a significantly mark-free coin. Further, the luster looks excellent. While it isn't truly sharp, the strike doesn't look especially weak either. The pic makes it difficult to be sure, but I think most breast feathers are there, for instance. It looks as though it has got a little bit of semi-PL flash, which probably helps overall eye appeal in hand.

I don't see any reason for it to be a 67. If it is in a 64 holder, crack it out.

Stuart

Thanks to those who have voted so far and also to those who have taken the time to post your grading criteria and comments about this 1883 Morgan Dollar.

Mirabela, Rick & P8nt: In reply to your request, I do not yet have a larger sized photo of this coin, but will post one when I can. These photos are those from the original seller, since I have not yet received this coin.

roadrunner

The photo only focuses half way down for me, so based on the upper half being clear, I'd call it a 66. Strike seems acceptable and surfaces don't have anything to speak of. Knowing that Stuart probably bought this right......it's probably a 65......and possibly a 64!

A very tough date to find as a nice 65. And quite underpriced.
Most 65's have a lot of chatter and don't quite cut it for me.

roadrunner

Stuart

Thanks to the 24 forum members who have voted their grade so far, and also to those who have posted their reasoning for assigning this grade.

In reply to Roadrunner's post, is anyone else having trouble viewing the obverse and reverse photos of this coin, which I have uploaded onto the PCGS Forum server?

dizzlecc

I agree that this is an under valued coin. It takes some work to find a nicer one.

This one looks like it has some original toning with luster hiding underneath. The determining factor as far as grade will be how many small marks are actually in the fields, difficult to tell from the pictures.

BAJJERFAN

65 The breast feathers don't appear to be struck well enough to warrant a 66 for this common date.

billboat

I gave a 65---fields are nice but have more marks than I'd want to see in a 66 or better. May be my imagination but lookd like some chatter on jaw and neck. A pretty Morgan--I like the subdued toning.

SamByrd

hard to guess from the image, NGC 65 or PCGS 64. not sure if I am seeing residue from a previous dip on the obverse, strike/ year are also factors that may keep it at 65.

Gemini

This is a very beautiful looking coin that has everything going for it and I would happily give it at least a 65.

MORGANHUNTER2

I have to say 64, but has a PL look to it under that toning.
The 64 is due to what looks like a carbon spot on the eagles leg picture left, weak breast strike, and the nic behind the eye.

overall good score again Stu.
Just don't drop kick this one in the yard...

Stuart

Wade: I think that she's probably got Semi-PL fields with perhaps a light cameo contrast between devices and fields, with an attractive light brown dusting of toning.

morgannut2

I'd go PQ MS-65. Nice luster, originality. The cut on the eagle breast plus random ticks around the eye and in front of liberty would today preclude a 66 grade today, plus who wants a lower end 66. I love it as a high end, eye appealing 65.

dizzyfoxx

I'll say MS66 and my opinion of her is that she's

Stuart

We're up to 45 votes and as usual the astute forum members are collectively right on target with their observations and their grade assignment. We'll keep things a bit suspenseful for those who have not yet voted, allowing those who have voted to see the pattern...

Morgannut2 and Dizzyfoxx: Thanks for posting your kind comments about my new 1883 Morgan Dollar!

Stuart

Thanks to all 48 forum members who voted, and also for your comments posted in my 1883 Morgan Dollar thread poll. Here is the auction listing of my new 1883 PCGS MS-65 Morgan Dollar which I purchased on eBay Saturday night.

In my opinion, this recently graded coin was a strong to high-end MS-65, apparently with nice Semi-PL luster and mild cameo contrast, with an attractive light dusting of toning.

I find it increasingly difficult to find early year Philadelphia Mint Morgans in this high state of preservation at reasonable prices.

As usual, my astute fellow forum members collectively correctly guessed the grade of this pretty gem Morgan Dollar assigning an average grade of MS-65.23 based upon the following 48 vote distribution.

MS-67 3 (votes) 6.25 (%)
MS-66 15 (votes) 31.25 (%)
MS-65 20 (votes) 41.67 (%)
MS-64 10 (votes) 20.83 (%)


1883 PCGS MS-65 Morgan Dollar

Stuart

We've picked up three more votes in the grading poll since I posted the actual coin grade. We're now at 51 votes received.

For the Sunday night shift...