Home U.S. Coin Forum
Options

Wear or Poor Strike ? Morgan up for Auction

Wear or Poor Strike? I still struggle to understand how experts determine the difference. I found this extreme example while looking through the beautiful catalog of ANR. There is complete lack of detail above the ear consistent with wear ! But guess what - It is graded MS66. I can only surmise that the clean fields tipped the scales in favor of UNC. Are there other clues in this picture ?

Link to Auction


image

Comments

  • Options
    coinbufcoinbuf Posts: 12,448 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Cannot tell, link not working.
    My Lincoln Registry
    My Collection of Old Holders

    Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
  • Options
    Probably a light strike, given it graded 66 at NGC.

    Nasty scrape to the right of the eagle and some hits on the eagle's breast -- you can probably find better examples in MS-66.
  • Options
    coinguy1coinguy1 Posts: 13,484 ✭✭✭
    Max911, now that I have viewed the images.....

    Wear often differs in appearance from weakness in strike, in that it manifests itself as a different color (such as a whitish or grayish color) from the non-worn portions of the coin's surface. Wear will also often be accompanied by missing luster in some areas, along with light circulation marks and/or hairlines on other parts of the coin.

    It also helps to be aware of the typical strike qualities/characteristics of whichever coin, date and mint is being examined.

    I see no evidence of wear on the coin in question and actually, the strike isn't all that bad either, at least compared to a number of other dates in the Morgan Dollar series.
  • Options
    Thanks. Is there any publication that helps with the typical strike qualities/characteristics of Morgans Dolars. That would sure help !!!
  • Options
    anablepanablep Posts: 5,204 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How the heck does this grade 66? NGC must be on crack...
    Always looking for attractive rim toned Morgan and Peace dollars in PCGS or (older) ANA/ANACS holders!

    "Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."


    ~Wayne
  • Options
    Wolf359Wolf359 Posts: 7,666 ✭✭✭
    Oustanding luster I think and the 'cc' point bump (wagon trains east to transport coins) gives it a 66. Probably would grade 65 today.

    Grading link with Strike guide, and other cool things for Morgans
  • Options
    MonstavetMonstavet Posts: 1,235 ✭✭
    QDB's Morgan Dollar Red book discusses weaker strikes versus stronger strikes, and gives year by year breakdown. IMHO, you could do better on a CC coin, they are not rare in 65/66 and can be found with better strikes. Be patient.
    Send Email or PM for free veterinary advice.
  • Options
    80-CC Morgans are known for weak strikes...
  • Options
    coinbufcoinbuf Posts: 12,448 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Ok the link is working now, not the best example of an MS66 but as Jack said many "CC" Morgans are given extra bumps by the TPGs. Often "CC"s come with multiple heavy bagmarks due to the harsh travel conditions out of the CC mint.

    Chris
    My Lincoln Registry
    My Collection of Old Holders

    Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file