Grade the Morgan

Rob85635 · November 6, 2003 12:44PM

Greetings friends, tis your humble newbie Rob. I am posting some scans of one of my coins. Was wondering if I could get some input on grade. This is an 1884 CC Morgan in its GSA container. For some reason the reverse looks like it has some tan rust looking marks, I don't see them at all on the coin so I am wondering if the scan caused it??

Anyway, someday I will send it in for grading but wanted to get some opinions. This is my best coin, hehe.

Obverse

Reverse

Rob

fountainheadgold · November 6, 2003 12:48PM

Rob, i would grade the obverse Ms65-66, but the reverse Ms64, so ms65 total

fountainheadgold · November 6, 2003 12:49PM

By the way A big Welcome

dollardude · November 6, 2003 12:52PM

Rob, she is a real beauty. I would grade her MS64 due to the hit on the eagle's breast on the reverse. If it wasn't for this hit, I would have graded her MS66. She has fairly good luster and a moderately strong strike. The obverse frost is amazing! There is a bit of toning on an otherwise white coin.

Edited to Add: My 1884-CC PCGS MS64 was the very first PCGS slab I ever bought! I got her from Rare Coins of New Hampshire.

Tassa · November 6, 2003 12:55PM

Welcome Rob.

Nice coin.

Wolf359 · November 6, 2003 12:55PM

Assuming the luster is strong, I agree with MS65 and the comments on the Obverse. Incredible! That small hit on the Eagle cuts the grade from a strong 66.

techeff · November 6, 2003 1:05PM

Nice original skin on that girl! With the hits she'll probably bring a 64/64. Good luck and welcome!!

stman · November 6, 2003 1:18PM

I really like the look of this piece. Nice puffy cheek, pretty smooth, clean fields, and the luster is probably nice and frosty. I want to 66 this sooo bad, and I don't think the hit in the eagle's breast will hold it back.

Hmmmm.... nope I got to stick with being a grumpy tech grader. I say a real nice 65.

BigAl · November 6, 2003 3:08PM

A tad weak above the ear. Assuming you send it to NGC, I'd bet it comes back a 66, however PCGS would probably grade it ms65 75% of the time. Nice GSA.

RNCHSN · November 6, 2003 4:19PM

This one would go MS-64 tops! Strong hits at the eye brow, and nose! VERY NICE fields though, and a nice creamy luster!

I would send it into NGC for the GSA grade tape they use on these coins, just to leave it in the GSA holder.

RNCHSN · November 6, 2003 4:19PM

.........and welcome to the boards!

Placid · November 6, 2003 5:14PM

65, maybe 66 on a good day. Nice coin

mintluster · November 6, 2003 5:32PM

Welcome!

You are looking at a SOLID PCGS MS65.

I would slab it PCGS if I were you, to maximize it's value.

darktone · November 6, 2003 7:07PM

66 maybe better

razorface1027 · November 6, 2003 7:25PM

Very NICE, Very NICE!...65.4...

fivecents · November 6, 2003 7:30PM

MS66. That is very clean for a CC Morgan.

Nice coin!

wallstreetman · November 6, 2003 7:33PM

I wish my 84 looked like that! Too bad about the hit in the reverse field, it knocks it down to a 65.

nwcs · November 6, 2003 8:45PM

65 because the reverse wouldn't down grade the coin too much.

Spudmasher · November 6, 2003 9:12PM

Easily a MS66, and possibly a MS67. Seen far worse in 66 holders from both PCGS, and NGC.

BillJones · November 6, 2003 10:55PM

I'd call it MS-64. The luster seems to be subdued. An MS-65 should have more "pop." At any rate the reverse is no better than MS-64, and that should settle the question.

There's a chance that it could get an MS-65 because CC dollars some times get a "push" from the services. I've certainly seen MS-65 graded dollars that had more marks than this one does on the cheek.

Still I'd say that the lack of luster will land it in the MS-64 grade.

XpipedreamR · November 6, 2003 11:00PM

Welcome!

Very nice coin. I have no problem seeing it in a MS 65 holder.

Gilbert · November 7, 2003 12:44AM

<< <i>I would grade her MS64 due to the hit on the eagle's breast on the reverse. If it wasn't for this hit, I would have graded her MS66. She has good luster and a strong strike. >>

I am curious why a few of you would downgrade the coin base on the reverse, particularly two grades as stated above. Usually the obverse carries the grade and tends to show more flaws than the reverse.

In any event, I think it's a pretty nice specimen and could get a 65. I think there a few too many '84CCs with semi and prooflike fields for this one to get a 66. I'm not saying SPL or PL fields are required for the grade of 66; only that 84CCs are plentiful with full strike, good luster and a good proportion of SPL and PL. It is less baggy but it is also subdued and there is room for improvement in the strike centrally, both obverse and reverse. That is, for what I would expect of a MS66 '84CC.

jgrech · November 7, 2003 1:11AM

I would say 64 due to the reverse hit, but a chance for 65. Also, I would not crack it out of the government holder. If you want it graded, send it in the holder to NGC. GSA coins are consistently bringing more money if they are in the original holders.

nwcs · November 7, 2003 1:14AM

BTW, I just don't see any way that reverse hit would limit the overall grade to a 64!

dollardude · November 7, 2003 1:34AM

I still think PCGS would not allow a gem grade of MS65 with a moderate hit anywhere on the coin. However, I agree with some of the other comments in that you should get it slabbed "in place" by NGC so you don't alter the original GSA holder. NGC would probably give you an MS65 grade in this case, as their standards are different.

In any case, she is a real beauty, and you should be proud of her!

JLW · November 7, 2003 2:47AM

Looks like a solid 65 to me!
Joe
P.S. Welcome to the forum

BillJones · November 7, 2003 6:38AM

<< <i>BTW, I just don't see any way that reverse hit would limit the overall grade to a 64! >>

If graded properly a coin is only as good as its worst feature, and the eagle's breast feathers on this piece have minor hits and shiny spots, which grades it MS-64.

I've got an 1883-CC with an MS-66 reverse, but it's only an NGC/GSA MS-63. If you would like pay me MS-66 money for it because of the reverse, send me a PM. Heck if you want to buy it in any case, send me a PM.

fivecents · November 7, 2003 6:46AM

<< <i>I still think PCGS would not allow a gem grade of MS65 with a moderate hit anywhere on the coin >>

PCGS would allow several moderate hits on a MS65 coin. A MS65 is not a perfect coin, not even close to perfect. The MS65 grade is right inbetween a Beat up MS60 and a prefect MS70 grade.

The CC grading factor is why I would guess; MS66.

dollardude · November 7, 2003 7:56AM

Fivecents, I'll agree to disagree. All I can do is cite an example. I don't believe there is such a thing as a "CC grading factor". I just got my grade on the Morgan 1885-CC that I submitted raw to PCGS. I guessed she would grade MS61 due to a moderate hit on the obverse, and she did, in fact, grade MS61. The hit was a bit larger than the one discussed here, which is why she graded lower. The MS65 and higher grades are very strict, in my opinion only, because they are certified "gem" quality. Anyway, my 1885-CC is in the mail back to me. When I get her, I'll post a picture, and you can judge for yourself.

MrKelso · November 7, 2003 8:31AM

I will say MS66 for this Gem Welcome to the Forum.

pmh1nic · November 7, 2003 9:05AM

I'm calling it a 65. If the reverse matched the obverse I'd call it a 66. Given the hits on the reverse I dropped it a point.

jdimmick · November 7, 2003 9:57AM

Nice looking coin with eye-appeal, but not technically a 5 by far.

Best you can get on this is a 64 IMO, to many contact marks in prime focal feature area's, ashame though because the fields are really clean.

Dog97 · November 7, 2003 10:13AM

That's a nice clean frosty coin but I think the bag marks on the cheek & nose will keep it at 65.
Gilbert I think the rev marks are acceptable for a 65.

segoja · November 7, 2003 11:16AM

MS66 All Day. I'll back my grade up with a buy offer at MS66 bid levels.

That's one nice CC.

SELL IT TO ME!

Grade the Morgan

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