What do you think this Barber Half Proof grades?
Morgan13
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Potential purchase. I can't wrap my head around the grade.
Maybe you guys can help me understand.
I dont just buy everything I see anymore.
I have my own opinion of grade but it does not match up with PCGS.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
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In most cases, Proof coins can’t be graded accurately from images, because the extent of any hairlines can’t be determined. That said, since you asked, I’ll guess PR63, with plenty of hairlines that aren’t apparent in the pictures.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I'd accept PR61 or Details Cleaned.
The "tell" here is the tone pattern and the look of the cheek. Low grade Proofs have a very similar look to them when you've seen enough. Higher grades do not have that same look.
I owned a PR63 CAM that had more hairlines than that, so my initial impression of this one was 65, but I’ll back up one point to be conservative, and guess 64.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
PS- regardless of whatever the technical grade turns out to be, I like the eye appeal. Handsome coin.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
@FlyingAl guessed the grade. I had no idea. Its a proof 91. My intention is not to humilate anyone so I put the grade out there.
It looks like a 65 or better to me FROM images alone. I am in uncharted waters here and I do not know what would give up a grade of 91.
For the price its fair but im not sure if I'll buy it. Still thinking. It looks like great eye appeal, again, from images alone.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7
I would imagine this is a net graded cleaned Proof that has since heavily retoned. To me, those types of coins do not represent good value, and a nice PR66 could be found for a little over double the cost of this one. Five points make a world of difference here, for example here's a PR66CAM:
My gues is PR66. Nice coin!
As I posted earlier, the problem with grading Proofs from images, is that the extent of hairlines can’t usually be seen in images. Therefore, you cant know that or if the posted coin has fewer hairlines than yours.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I'm with @FlyingAl I think it's cleaned and retoned.
True, and I took your comments into account. I proceeded with a guess, is all.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
PR61my final wager. It appears have numerous scratches, hairline marks across cheek and neck. My first impulse was 60 but will be nice, bump up to 61. Lots of hairline marks drag it down. Most likely result of cleaning.
Tarnish in lt field of a green nature - PVC? Yuck. Not surprised it hit a details grade.
I have a 63 or two that have a similar look. I need to upgrade them - they have a sort of polished look without much contrast. Bad purchase decisions to complete early proof sets.
It’s not particularly smart to wager a grade guess of 64 after the OP has stated that the coin received a detail-grade, due to “questionable color”. But that’s what can happen when you don’t read relevant posts in a thread.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Grading brilliant proof coinage from images can be a fool's game, but of course we often attempt to do it, anyway. However, the coin in the OP looks like it has hairlines and the color is awful (just being honest here...it looks like secondary toning after being abused).
I also realize that you have already posted the PCGS opinion, but what I wrote was my opinion before I read what PCGS (or anyone else) thought.
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Mark, the coin is graded PR61.
I think its graded PR61 at best. You can see the hairline marks.
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What is the minimum grade do you feel is acceptable for Proofs?
Depends on the coin, series, and collector. For me, 64 is my low grade. Past then and they get too liney for my liking. I have 65s I love, and I have 68s I love. Just depends.
Thanks, Alex. Since the OP wrote “91” twice, I thought he meant detail grade 91 (questionable color), which could result from a cleaning (one of your guesses).
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.