tricky grading quiz: 4 lower-circ. Morgans, same date (actual grades in first post)

DennisH

Please share whatever grading comments you have on each coin, and have fun!



OK, no one got all the grades right, although several people got two.

Here's what PCGS graded each coin:
#1 -- F12 (both I and the dealer thought it was VG10 when I bought it raw. It has a great, natural, problem-free "look" that may have gotten it the bump)
#2 -- VG10 (bought it raw as a VG, and I thought it would grade VG10)
#3 -- VG10 (bought it raw as a F12 and I still think it is)
#4 -- F12 (bought this as an ANACS-15 and broke it out to submit.)

Musky1011

6,8,10,12

DennisH

A progression of grades arrangement? Oh no, I wouldn't think of making it that easy!

wam98

#1 - VG-8
#2 - VG-6, Deduction for reverse rim swell. Also the reverse rim shows more wear than #1.
#3 - F-12
#4 - VF-20, May be pushing it a little.

STONE

Upper Left 8
Upper Right 8
Lower Left 12
Lower Right 15

kevinstang

8,6,15,20

SilverEagles92

6,10,10,15

billboat

8,8,12,12.

orie

10-10-20-20

DennisH

Results on those who have guessed so far:

None correct -- 3 people
One correct -- 2 people
Two correct -- 2 people
Three correct -- no one
Four correct -- no one

Newcomp103

They all look like F-12 to me

rec78

8,10,12,15

ziggy29

10, 8, 12, 15

ElmerFusterpuck

To me, all of them look like VG-10's.

Blackhawk

12-8-12-15

Coxe

Not that I necessarily agree with it, but the stats work with 4, 10, 10, 12 or 6, 6, 10, 25. I'll go with the latter: G6, G6, VG10, VF25

BlindedByEgo

F15, F12, VF20, F15

LincolnCentMan

I guess I made a 50. I graded all four F12.

-David

greghansen

Sorry I missed this little excercise, but I tried it anyway without looking at the answer...and missed all four! I guessed VG10, VG8, F15 and VF20. So I undergraded two and overgraded two. I guess the last one must have got dinked pretty good (essentially 2 grades, for the slightly off color, but I don't think it is that bad)and the wear pattern on the reverse is a little too severe for a 20, but the obverse is all there as a 20. The 3rd coin they called a VG10, IMO they just got it wrong. It is an easy 12 and looks to me like a F15. Neat group of tough coins that you will have no problem disposing of.

DennisH

Thanks to everyone who took part in this little exercise. It was pretty surprising to pull out these four coins and find so much difference between such close grades. I continue to sometimes be just plain clueless at the subtle nuances that seem to divide VG10 from F12 when PCGS grades Morgans. I struggle even more with F15 and VF20. Here are my thought about the four coins:

-- I think #1 is a PQ VG10, and I won't buy a raw Morgan that looks like this as a Fine.
-- #2 doesn't have as nice a "look" to it as #1, but the wear in the inner/upper wings looks identical. Side-by-side with #1, however it comes off as a homely sister, plus there's that little reverse rim edge dingus. I can see it as either a nice VG08 or ho-hum VG10.
-- #3 has both a great "look" and lines inside the cotton bolls! I flat-out love it as a F12! Given a cover-the-grade choice between #1 and #3, I know which one I'd choose every time!
-- #4 is a touch too light in color (it actually looks more natural in hand than the scans suggest). I don't think it's been dipped, but perhaps washed in sudsy ammonia or some other mild detergent. It's not quite as dirty as I think it should be, and there's actually hints of lustre here and there. I think ANACS got it right as a F15.

Perhaps the next time I renew my Collectors Club membership and have free regradings, I'll see if PCGS can come up with the same numbers again.

sweetwilliet

I wish I hadn't missed the fun. Really cool coins and good date. I agree, the 4th coin looks better than the rest (gradewise), I'd give it a f15 at least.

sweetwilliet

Here is my only 1895-s, I don't have 4 like you. What would you grade it?

DennisH

Personally, I'd grade it VF35.

There's too much wear inside the eagle's right (viewer's left) wing where feather lines are bridged to be XF40 in my opinion.

sweetwilliet

No other guesses? Anyway, Dennis, PCGS graded it a vf30. I look at the wing feathers just like you described to try and differentiate between vf and xf coins, and this one just misses xf imo.

DennisH

I guess PCGS didn't like the huge flat spot of wear over the ear, and that it's been dipped.

I agree with you that VF30 is just wrong.

Newcomp103

A big difference between VG-10 and Fine-12 is normally the rim...if you look at all 4 of these,(from the pics) the rims look very similar, none that show an obvious "flat" look. I don't get the VG-10 at all. (JMO)