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This 1880/79-O VAM-4 is destined for regrade at either PCGS or NGC. What would you predict?


Official PCGS account of:

www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com

Comments

  • hummingbird_coinshummingbird_coins Posts: 1,447 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Either 64+ or 65 is all I feel confident enough to say from those images.

    Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
    Life is roadblocks. Don't let nothing stop you, 'cause we ain't stopping. - DJ Khaled

  • Rc5280Rc5280 Posts: 789 ✭✭✭✭✭

    "destined for regrade"

    Which TPG had graded it, and what grade did they give it that would warrant a regrade? Did you crack it?
    Thanks.

    PS: It's hard to determine the level of chatter under that lighting, but a 64 or 65 looks reasonable to me too.
    Also, it's a strong looking strike front & center✓

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 29,482 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 26, 2025 12:36AM

    64/65
    Note: I'd like to see that In hand

  • Morgan13Morgan13 Posts: 1,768 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I am going to say AU58.

    Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
    Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
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  • seatedlib3991seatedlib3991 Posts: 1,290 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I am the absolute last person on earth who should complain or denegrate a picture. Still, this picture has shadow areas that seem almost deliberate. I would need a bright light photo to give an honest assessment. James

  • coastaljerseyguycoastaljerseyguy Posts: 1,650 ✭✭✭✭✭

    80-O, one of the 2 beer bucks and noted for sliders. Anywhere from AU58 to MS62.

  • Wolf359Wolf359 Posts: 7,665 ✭✭✭

    I had a coin like that. Obverse haze came back ALTERED SURFACES. Do yourself a favor and pour acetone on the obverse. If it instantly evaporates, you are cool. If it sits there, the coin has been altered - do not regrade.

  • hummingbird_coinshummingbird_coins Posts: 1,447 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Wolf359 said:
    I had a coin like that. Obverse haze came back ALTERED SURFACES. Do yourself a favor and pour acetone on the obverse. If it instantly evaporates, you are cool. If it sits there, the coin has been altered - do not regrade.

    By "like that" do you mean same date/mm, similar in grade, or what?

    Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
    Life is roadblocks. Don't let nothing stop you, 'cause we ain't stopping. - DJ Khaled

  • cheezhedcheezhed Posts: 6,038 ✭✭✭✭✭

    63

    Many happy BST transactions
  • Wolf359Wolf359 Posts: 7,665 ✭✭✭

    @hummingbird_coins said:

    @Wolf359 said:
    I had a coin like that. Obverse haze came back ALTERED SURFACES. Do yourself a favor and pour acetone on the obverse. If it instantly evaporates, you are cool. If it sits there, the coin has been altered - do not regrade.

    By "like that" do you mean same date/mm, similar in grade, or what?

    I mean a Morgan Dollar I thought was BU but was hazy like OP's.

  • TallahasseeCoinClubTallahasseeCoinClub Posts: 25 ✭✭
    edited September 28, 2025 1:28PM

    It is currently graded NTC MS-66! Surprisingly, it's by far one of the nicest 1880/79-O dollars I have ever seen. However, as some have noted, it's hazy and of course, the slab insert prevents examining the edge. Assuming there are no problems with haze or an invisible edge issue, I grade it in-hand as MS-65/64, as the reverse shows a few more marks than the obverse.

    Official PCGS account of:

    www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com

  • RampageRampage Posts: 9,518 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Based on the photos, I would estimate MS62 to MS63, as I see what appears to be a little whispy lines on the obverse.

  • vplite99vplite99 Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Good luck!!! Please let us know.

    Vplite99
  • RampageRampage Posts: 9,518 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @TallahasseeCoinClub

    How are your grading skills? How is the luster of the coin? I am concerned about the luster and wonder if maybe it had been over-dipped at some point.

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 15,169 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @TallahasseeCoinClub said:

    This 1880/79-O VAM-4 is destined for regrade….

    It is currently graded NTC MS-66! Surprisingly, it's by far one of the nicest 1880/79-O dollars I have ever seen. However, as some have noted, it's hazy and of course, the slab insert prevents examining the edge. Assuming there are no problems with haze or an invisible edge issue, I grade it in-hand as MS-65/64, as the reverse shows a few more marks than the obverse.

    “Regrade”typically refers to a coin in a TPG holder being resubmitted (to the same company) in that holder. My grade guess is MS62, shot 58.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • CryptoCrypto Posts: 3,901 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I agree 62 is the most likely outcome.

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,891 ✭✭✭✭✭
  • jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 10,684 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Wolf359 said:
    I had a coin like that. Obverse haze came back ALTERED SURFACES. Do yourself a favor and pour acetone on the obverse. If it instantly evaporates, you are cool. If it sits there, the coin has been altered - do not regrade.

    Predicament.
    That might damage the holder plastic and if you take it out of the holder then regrade is less likely to benefit you. Hmmph.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • braddickbraddick Posts: 24,984 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have next to zero confidence in my ability to somwhat hazzard a grade estimate based on those images.
    Good luck with the coin though. It is a rare one.

    peacockcoins

  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,380 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @TallahasseeCoinClub said:
    It is currently graded NTC MS-66!

    i.e., it's in a fancy 2x2 someone wrote MS66 on.

    Surprisingly, it's by far one of the nicest 1880/79-O dollars I have ever seen. However, as some have noted, it's hazy and of course, the slab insert prevents examining the edge. Assuming there are no problems with haze or an invisible edge issue, I grade it in-hand as MS-65/64, as the reverse shows a few more marks than the obverse.

    The haze is worrisome, and there's a patch of friction on the tip of the bust. Bust it out, treat with acetone as mentioned, and post better pics if you can.

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,913 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Ms. Liberty’s cheek suggests MS-64, but the hazy luster might give it a lower grade, MS-63 or 62. The “third world grading company” “MS-66” is off the table.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • CryptoCrypto Posts: 3,901 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 29, 2025 8:47AM

    people need to know the difference between mint surfaces and impacted surfaces. Look at the frosty luster directly in front of her ear, in a Gem that would cover her entire cheek. The luster breaks in front of the E (pluribus) is friction, the wispy lines in the fields and matte spots on top of some of the letters are all signs of friction. The perfect example of a slider

    People often confuse absence of wear / metal loss as the baseline for UNC and then count the marks when assessing 60-67 but impacted luster and mint surfaces is the baseline assessment when grading to see if it even classifies as UNC. The tricky part is it can have some circulation and still slide in an MS grade but its celling is lowered 62 typically with exceptions being for specific series like early Bust coinage

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