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Morgan Silver Dollars - Blast White or Toned?

I was looking at the two graded Morgan Silvers that I have and the NGC one, graded one higher (MS64) than the PCGS one (MS63) made me think; why would the NGC one get the higher grade when it had uneven color and looked significantly more toned? I love the look of my pcgs silver dollar, and I think that the white shinier ones should get a higher grade, but what are y'alls opinions


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    interpolsinterpols Posts: 51 ✭✭✭

    @interpols said:
    I was looking at the two graded Morgan Silvers that I have and the NGC one, graded one higher (MS64) than the PCGS one (MS63) made me think; why would the NGC one get the higher grade when it had uneven color and looked significantly more toned? I love the look of my pcgs silver dollar, and I think that the white shinier ones should get a higher grade, but what are y'alls opinions


    i just don't understand how people like their morgans toned unless it's like crazy colors

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    Rc5280Rc5280 Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Here we go again.

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    interpolsinterpols Posts: 51 ✭✭✭

    @Rc5280 said:
    Here we go again.

    bruh mb if you don't like talm but why spread negativity :disappointed:

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    MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 30, 2026 8:27PM

    @interpols said:

    @Rc5280 said:
    Here we go again.

    bruh mb if you don't like talm but why spread negativity :disappointed:

    Maybe he was thinking of this recent thread by the same poster: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1120381/toning

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

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    interpolsinterpols Posts: 51 ✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:

    @interpols said:

    @Rc5280 said:
    Here we go again.

    bruh mb if you don't like talm but why spread negativity :disappointed:

    Maybe he was thinking of this recent thread by the same poster: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1120381/toning

    oh that was on gradin

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    World67World67 Posts: 13,088 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Guess

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    CregCreg Posts: 1,617 ✭✭✭✭✭

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    IkesTIkesT Posts: 4,270 ✭✭✭✭✭

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    GoobGoob Posts: 431 ✭✭✭✭

    @interpols said:

    @interpols said:
    I was looking at the two graded Morgan Silvers that I have and the NGC one, graded one higher (MS64) than the PCGS one (MS63) made me think; why would the NGC one get the higher grade when it had uneven color and looked significantly more toned? I love the look of my pcgs silver dollar, and I think that the white shinier ones should get a higher grade, but what are y'alls opinions


    i just don't understand how people like their morgans toned unless it's like crazy colors

    One reason could be strike quality of course, so maybe check if the 63 has a weaker strike than the 64 (hair above the ear and eye on obverse, breast feathers on reverse)

    "Another day, another Collectors Universe forum scrolling session."
    - Someone, probably

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    jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 41,095 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Goob said:

    @interpols said:

    @interpols said:
    I was looking at the two graded Morgan Silvers that I have and the NGC one, graded one higher (MS64) than the PCGS one (MS63) made me think; why would the NGC one get the higher grade when it had uneven color and looked significantly more toned? I love the look of my pcgs silver dollar, and I think that the white shinier ones should get a higher grade, but what are y'alls opinions


    i just don't understand how people like their morgans toned unless it's like crazy colors

    One reason could be strike quality of course, so maybe check if the 63 has a weaker strike than the 64 (hair above the ear and eye on obverse, breast feathers on reverse)

    Weaker strike will not differentiate between a 63 and 64. Color is also a secondary consideration. Look at "degree of preservation". In those grades, it's mostly the marks. Compare them to PCGS photograde pictures - ignoring the color.

    If you don't like toning, don't buy toned coins. But don't expect the grade to reflect your bias. "Attractive toning" will boost the grade. If you don't like toning, you're really going to hate the price tag.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

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    cheezhedcheezhed Posts: 6,317 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I can’t make a judgment based on those pictures

    Many happy BST transactions
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    TheMayorTheMayor Posts: 258 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Ignoring state of preservation, I think the pricing hierarchy is something like:
    1. Exceptionally toned
    2A/2B. Nicely toned = blast white
    3. Average toning
    4. Ugly toning

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    WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 10,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I like both, but won’t pay a silly premium for color!

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

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    m4832m4832 Posts: 109 ✭✭✭

    Toned for me. Usually.

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    interpolsinterpols Posts: 51 ✭✭✭

    @Walkerfan said:
    I like both, but won’t pay a silly premium for color!

    I dunno, if I'm paying like a 100 bucks for a coin (hopefully less when silver goes down), i'd rather do the extra 20 to make it smthn that i like

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    WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 10,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @interpols said:

    @Walkerfan said:
    I like both, but won’t pay a silly premium for color!

    I dunno, if I'm paying like a 100 bucks for a coin (hopefully less when silver goes down), i'd rather do the extra 20 to make it smthn that i like

    I would do that in a heartbeat. That is nothing. I’m talking about the people who pay thousands extra for color.

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

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    interpolsinterpols Posts: 51 ✭✭✭

    @Walkerfan said:

    @interpols said:

    @Walkerfan said:
    I like both, but won’t pay a silly premium for color!

    I dunno, if I'm paying like a 100 bucks for a coin (hopefully less when silver goes down), i'd rather do the extra 20 to make it smthn that i like

    I would do that in a heartbeat. That is nothing. I’m talking about the people who pay thousands extra for color.

    not even in my scale of thinking, i'm poor 😭

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    WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 10,269 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 31, 2026 9:13AM

    @interpols said:

    @Walkerfan said:

    @interpols said:

    @Walkerfan said:
    I like both, but won’t pay a silly premium for color!

    I dunno, if I'm paying like a 100 bucks for a coin (hopefully less when silver goes down), i'd rather do the extra 20 to make it smthn that i like

    I would do that in a heartbeat. That is nothing. I’m talking about the people who pay thousands extra for color.

    not even in my scale of thinking, i'm poor 😭

    Not to worry. There are cherry-picking deals and opportunities to be had for the astute buyer. I bought a NGC MS 66* Walker with a lot of nice color for $325. I saw two less comparable MS 64* walkers in a dealer’s inventory for $4000 each. I laugh every time I look at it and smile every time I think of mine. :) And no, the date/mintmark of the dealer coin is not any rarer, either.

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

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    fathomfathom Posts: 2,106 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'm partial to blast toned.

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    BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,779 ✭✭✭✭✭

    White with great luster, unless the toning attracts me. Most of the toned dollars range from ugly to ordinary. The "pretty ones" are natural and worth a strong premium or from a bottle. Often, like the apple in the Garden of Eden, here are snakes out there who are always ready to create "the bottle babies" and sell them.

    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 ... ?
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    CatbertCatbert Posts: 8,181 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Have you looked at CoinFacts images of Morgans graded similarly? Please go look there and see if you find any information to help you tell the difference. Cut your teeth on Morgan dollar grading. This is the one series that should be easiest to learn.

    Seated Half Society member #38

    "She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
    running like a water color in the rain...."

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