Guess the Grade...Peace Dollar

CoinsAreNeat · September 25, 2008 9:53PM

Crazy4Coins · September 25, 2008 10:10PM

Very nice looking coin. I'll give it a high end 65 grade.

CoinsAreNeat · September 25, 2008 10:35PM

I would like to hear more opinions...

Broadstruck · September 25, 2008 10:38PM

Post the medium... not the large as that's like HDTV and tears the coin apart I can see into Ms. Liberty's pores.

CoinsAreNeat · September 25, 2008 10:43PM

AbesNeighbor · September 25, 2008 10:43PM

AU 58 Cleaned / dipped.

Rub on the wing and very little detail on the Eagles feet. Pretty coin. I love Peace Dollars.

Dipping shows all the hits.

CoinsAreNeat · September 25, 2008 10:45PM

It can't be dipped or cleaned if graded by PCGS.

Broadstruck · September 25, 2008 10:47PM

I like the reverse on this coin, AU58 money is what I'd offer no matter what the label says... sorry that large tru-view was scarry this early before a cup of coffee.

pmac · September 25, 2008 10:52PM

Georgous 64 or 65. I'm still stuck getting an uncirculated 34-s.

ColonialCoinUnion · September 25, 2008 10:56PM

I'd guess 65.

Mercury · September 25, 2008 11:20PM

MS63

asin · September 25, 2008 11:25PM

ms 64

DwaineO · September 25, 2008 11:27PM

While the obverse appears to be struck fully the reverse is a weak strike which keeps the grade down a little. Since I know the grade I can't guess, but wanted to share some of my thoughts on the coin.

mike92694 · September 26, 2008 12:24AM

64

STONE · September 26, 2008 12:29AM

I'll say 65. I've seen low end 65's look like this and I've seen high end 64's that look like this, so for me it's a toss-up.

BUT, it could also be an awesome 58, I'm not sure.

CoinsAreNeat · September 26, 2008 12:53AM

Those of you who said 64 are correct...PCGS gave this coin a 64...I really thought it was 65 but it was a learning experience...Thanks DwaineO for sending it in for me....Those of you who said 58, I can never see it going 58...why would you think 58?...Thanks again for all of your opinions...

Connecticoin · September 26, 2008 1:02AM

<< Those of you who said 64 are correct...PCGS gave this coin a 64...I really thought it was 65 but it was a learning experience...Thanks DwaineO for sending it in for me....Those of you who said 58, I can never see it going 58...why would you think 58?...Thanks again for all of your opinions... >>

Peace Dollars are very tough to grade -- many that have the "look" of a gem (like that one) will grade 64. I suspect the chatter on the eagle on the reverse may have held it back from a 65. A very nice coin nonetheless.

crypto79 · September 26, 2008 1:02AM

It could go 65-66, If it was a 35p 66 but I would go 65 for that 35s. Luster being the limiting factor. VERY well struck for a 3ray, super nice. also dipping on peace dollars tend to take their frost away so I would say that one hasn't been dipped but you never know. I could see that in a 65 holder some day or with a sticker. the lack of cartwheel hurts peace dollars and the 35s is a hot mover right now in the set so they might be a little tight on them.

jmj3esq · September 26, 2008 1:05AM

Thats one of the cleanest looking Peace Dollars I have seen. Probably MS65.

AbesNeighbor · September 26, 2008 1:15AM

I am happy for you that it is a 64. I have sent many of these in for grading.... Actually looking very similiar to yours. It's a beautiful coin, by the way. While the hair is OK I would expect better for a 64 or 65. The fields are magnificent and that probably carried the grade. There are numerous hits on the tierra that I thought would keep it out of the MS category.

The reverse, as you pointed out is not struck aswell as the Obverse and Usually the an MS grade requires better definition for the Eagles claws. The wing has some apparent rub. <aybe I should dip mine before sending them to PCGS?

But you know what, I'm a collector and apparently not a very good grader.

DNADave · September 26, 2008 1:15AM

Come ON!

I'd say 66 with a shot at 67 not dipped, and nice. Anyone here collect Peace Dollars?

crypto79 · September 26, 2008 1:31AM

<< I am happy for you that it is a 64. I have sent many of these in for grading.... Actually looking very similiar to yours. It's a beautiful coin, by the way. While the hair is OK I would expect better for a 64 or 65. The fields are magnificent and that probably carried the grade. There are numerous hits on the tierra that I thought would keep it out of the MS category.

The reverse, as you pointed out is not struck aswell as the Obverse and Usually the an MS grade requires better definition for the Eagles claws. The wing has some apparent rub. <aybe I should dip mine before sending them to PCGS?

But you know what, I'm a collector and apparently not a very good grader. >>

Strike is the key. I think people forget the gem does not mean perfect, it means -5 points for damage. Altough the lack of cartwheel and the hit's on the tierra = a PCGS 64 on that day

Tbar · September 26, 2008 2:39AM

This coin looks like a solid 64. Not a chance at 65 at pcgs imo, although pcgs really bumps for luster in peace dollars if it has strong luster in hand.

Weak strike on the wing is very very common for alot of the branch mint peace 1$. If it was a 35p it would be a 63 as those are abundent in well struck gems.

MikeInFL · September 26, 2008 2:44AM

65 was my first thought, but knowing how tough PCGS is in giving away 65's on this year/mintmark, I'm going to guess 64.

crypto79 · September 26, 2008 2:45AM

yes a 35p with that strike would be a 63( although I have never seen one that week on a 35p) but a 35p with those feilds would be a strong canadate for 66.

lcoopie · September 26, 2008 3:13AM

this shows me how important strike is to the grade

MarkInDavis · September 26, 2008 3:36AM

The comments here show that not a lot of people know how to grade these well. I am probably in that category myself. By contact marks and luster I'd say it could easily go 66+ (fields are spectacular a few contact marks on the tiara rays near the B in liberty and a small hit on the eagle's wing) but the strike is very soft (look at the detail in the hair). Consequently probably only a 64, but a very nice one.

Mercury · September 26, 2008 2:16PM

Ok, I said MS63 earlier. I actually thought MS62 but I was giving it an extra point because it was a S mint. Which in my opinion the major grading companies do.

DNA Dave, I normally agree with your opinions on Peace Dollars and have to admit I have felt your opinions superior to my own. However, in this case I feel you are off.

I could see if we were discusing only the picture in the orginal OP. If that was the case you could say MS65 mabye MS66, but MS67?

But, looking at the picture in the 4th post, the strike and the detail on the hair above the ear on the obverse is weak and their is some major rub. The strike on the reverse in even weaker. The detail is missing from the bottom breast, wing, legs and claws. (as someone else mentioned) In addition their is rub or wear on the wing.

I do admit the luster is all there on this coin and in my opinion is the only thing that saves it from being a 62 OR 63.

A grade on 64 does not shock me. I whould not buy this one at a 64 unless I saw it in hand and it was diffrent from the pictures.

Grading is an opinion, and everone has one.

edited to add. not dipped IMHO

lkeigwin · September 26, 2008 3:01PM

<< Come ON!

I'd say 66 with a shot at 67 not dipped, and nice. Anyone here collect Peace Dollars? >>

Yes, I have a nice registry set of Peace dollars. And I like this one very much. I would give it a solid 65. There are some issues with the tiara, hair and eagle's tail that probably hold back the grade. Crack it out and try again? It's a lovely coin!

BigMoneyLewis · September 26, 2008 4:42PM

Having personally assembled a set of MS Peace dollars , and having spent many many hours
looking at this particular series, I would have guessed MS64-MS65 . This coin is a real beauty .
MS66 is a streetch at PCGS (but not a problem at NGC), but I could see it . If you submitted this coin 10 different times
you might get it in a 66 holder once at PCGS . My guess is 5 times it would come back a 64 , 4 times a 65.
Anybody that would have graded this one MS63 or below "needs to go back to driving a truck"
(that's what that guy told Elvis)

Lewis

Steve27 · September 26, 2008 6:02PM

As with all MS coins, there are two key factors in grading, these are strike and hits/dings/abrasions. In this case, the weakly struck eagle's wing keeps it from grading above 64 (too bad as this is a super nice coin).

lasvegasteddy · September 26, 2008 6:32PM

had i been here before the grade was revealed

i would of been in the 64 crowd as the tiarra scatter would of held it back form way higher

sweet coin and if i may ask

are you to find a 1935-s 4 ray to sit by it too?

tsacch · September 26, 2008 10:34PM

I love peace dollars, prefer them with a little color, but that is an easy 65 in my book. I am not sure why 64, other than they are hoping you sell it to one of the graders?

veryfine · September 26, 2008 11:44PM

<< Those of you who said 64 are correct...PCGS gave this coin a 64...I really thought it was 65 but it was a learning experience...Thanks DwaineO for sending it in for me....Those of you who said 58, I can never see it going 58...why would you think 58?...Thanks again for all of your opinions... >>

I agree. It looks like a 65 to me, or a really high end 64.
AU-58 is always a safe guess in this forum. It makes the graders in here seem ultra conservative and tough. In other words, "PCGS will give it an MS grade, but it doesn't meet MY strict standards."
But in fairness to the AU-58 crowd, it is difficult to see slight traces of wear in a photo, and sometimes incomplete striking or light discoloration confuses the viewer.

lkeigwin · September 27, 2008 1:18AM

Peace dollars are tricky to grade. Among the toughest, I think. So many were weakly struck. The pricey high relief '21 is notorious for its poor strike.

And if you buy into the current thinking that a weakly struck but otherwise perfect coin should never be graded over MS65 then it is easy to understand why PCGS assigned a 64 to this gem. It's the market grade. I could see 66 as its technical grade.

Here's are (not great) photos of my '35-S 65. Better strike but more distracting flaws. OP, I like yours better!

TomB · September 27, 2008 1:22AM

It has been my experience that TrueView images make coins appear slightly nicer than they are in-hand, so the difference in grade estimates might be due somewhat to that effect.