Should Deserving Morgan Dollars Receive Cameo Designations ?? -- Forum Discussion Thread
Stuart
Posts: 9,761 ✭✭✭✭✭
Many of us who collect Prooflike (PL) and Deep Mirror Prooflike (DMPL/DPL) Morgan Dollars feel that these coins should not only be evaluated by the depth of reflectivity of their mirrored fields, but also by the degree of cameo contrast that exists between their frosty devices and the mirrored fields.
One of the major Third Party Grading Services (ANACS) already does this. Many of us believe that this is a worthwhile way to differentiate coins with superior eye appeal from average examples.
I was not proposing that we do away with the PL, DPL & DMPL designations, however that we ADD the option for an additional designation of Cameo, Deep Cameo or Ultra Cameo if the specific coin qualified from a contrast perspective.
As an example, one could have a grade and designation combination of Grade, Field Reflectivity & Device Contrast such as the following examples:
The amount of cameo contrast can have a significant impact on the eye appeal and desireability of a particular coin. I will often admire a strongly cameoed Prooflike (PL) Morgan Dollar more than a moderately cameoed Deep Mirror Prooflike (DMPL/DPL) Morgan Dollar.
As we know, most post 1900-1904 minted PL/DMPL Morgan Dollars do not exhibit the amount of cameo contrast as do earlier dated Morgans.
Please see the following 1878-CC Morgan Dollar photos for discussion purposes. This is not intended to be a thread specifically about this particular coin, but more of a discussion about the general topic.
For reference, the upper images in each set (below) were taken in Natural Sunlight, while the lower images were taken using GE Reveal illumination from 2 bulbs. I find it interesting how the natural sunlight images appear to have stronger cameo contrast, while the artificial light images appear to have more of a 3D rendered image.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this subject, as well as your comments and observations from your collecting experience.
1878-CC Morgan Dollar
One of the major Third Party Grading Services (ANACS) already does this. Many of us believe that this is a worthwhile way to differentiate coins with superior eye appeal from average examples.
I was not proposing that we do away with the PL, DPL & DMPL designations, however that we ADD the option for an additional designation of Cameo, Deep Cameo or Ultra Cameo if the specific coin qualified from a contrast perspective.
As an example, one could have a grade and designation combination of Grade, Field Reflectivity & Device Contrast such as the following examples:
- MS-64 DMPL Cameo
- MS-64 DMPL Deep Cameo
- MS-64 DMPL Ultra Cameo
- MS-64 PL Cameo
- MS-64 PL Deep Cameo (Probably fewer PL coins would have enough device/field contrast to qualify for the DCAM & UDCAM designations)
The amount of cameo contrast can have a significant impact on the eye appeal and desireability of a particular coin. I will often admire a strongly cameoed Prooflike (PL) Morgan Dollar more than a moderately cameoed Deep Mirror Prooflike (DMPL/DPL) Morgan Dollar.
As we know, most post 1900-1904 minted PL/DMPL Morgan Dollars do not exhibit the amount of cameo contrast as do earlier dated Morgans.
Please see the following 1878-CC Morgan Dollar photos for discussion purposes. This is not intended to be a thread specifically about this particular coin, but more of a discussion about the general topic.
For reference, the upper images in each set (below) were taken in Natural Sunlight, while the lower images were taken using GE Reveal illumination from 2 bulbs. I find it interesting how the natural sunlight images appear to have stronger cameo contrast, while the artificial light images appear to have more of a 3D rendered image.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this subject, as well as your comments and observations from your collecting experience.
1878-CC Morgan Dollar
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
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