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 Replies: 14 / Views: 586 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
554 Posts |
Would appreciate your thoughts on this coin I recently purchased (and probably overpaid for, but am still happy with it). I've never been great with photos and it's proven hard to capture, so apologies in advance. The surfaces are potentially mirrors and I can read text a few inches away. Anyway, let me know what you think. I als understand if it's not possible given the images. Thanks!    |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11888 Posts |
At least MS65. Very nice. Some die polish lines in the fields. Left obverse field slightly disturbed but still looks gem. Thanks for sharing.
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.comEdited by numismatic student
01/06/2026 12:20 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2170 Posts |
I also think this is a lovely 1879-S Morgan. The only issue is that the obverse lower-right rim is distracting...
. . . I'll give it an MS64+
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36745 Posts |
A beauty, I agree with NS, looks like some die polish lines. MS-66.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3647 Posts |
Absolutely beautiful coin! The mirror surface sometimes makes scratches look more serious than they are. On the obverse, there are a few marks west of the nose and a few rim dings. The reverse has a small number of light contact marks. The devices on both sides are fantastic. This looks like MS-65, and quite possibly MS-65 PL. Fantastic coin. Check the VAM on this one. It has the mint mark set left, so decent starting points for the reverse of 1879 with that mm location include VAMs 14, 36, 70, 79. 86. 90, 110, and 156. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
554 Posts |
Thanks everyone! Debating on sending this one in to PCGS. If I do, I'll update the thread down the road.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1773 Posts |
Strong 65 if not 66. Mark off the nose probably keeps it out of a 66.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10542 Posts |
Quote:
Debating on sending this one in to PCGS. A few hundred dollar price rise from 65 to 66 - it may be worth it. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
74223 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
18665 Posts |
typical strong strike for this common year and this one is right at the top for sharpness. keep in mind (which a lot of folks dont understand), MS65 is not a perfect coin, neither are 66 and even 67. an MS66 coin can have a few minor marks so long as they are minor and not distracting. saying that your coin looks like it can make MS66. if you post in the future be careful with lighting glare as it can cause shadowing and alter what we see. grading by photo is hard enough to get right. as for PL the glare is too much to tell for sure.
when looking at slabbing consider the possible value of the coin at retail. as she sits raw if at 65 about $150 a 66 would be around $175. slabbed at PCGS $240 and $320. these are just rough numbers.
consider the grading costs if you are not aware. A PCGS subscription is $69 plus grading fee $23 plus shipping and ins both ways. as you can see it can chew up quite a bit of the value of a coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
554 Posts |
I would be using a voucher, but thanks for the advice!
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Valued Member
United States
398 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18665 Posts |
TPG's are little more stringent on commons like the 79S. there is only two reasons one should slab a coin
1. its a rare coin and requires authentication and protection
2. you are planning on selling the coin and the cost of grading doesn't chew up most of the value
I understand you would be using a voucher but in this case, but why? unless you are planning on selling it. if it was mine I would just put her in an airtite. its a nice example. I think the obv left field hairlines, scuffs and the circle on the E in AMERICA would preclude a 67 imo.
f you think she can pull a 67 or 66PL then it may be worth a shot to send her in, please repost it with the grade if you do.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
554 Posts |
I agree with you in general. If I were to send this one in, it would be to protect it (much like the airtight), but also make it easier to sell by myself or god forbid my family in the long future.
You could argue, I could just document that but that can get lost.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18665 Posts |
if you have any concerns about a sale down the road then using a voucher would be prudent especially if it was in the hands of a non-collector.
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Replies: 14 / Views: 586 |
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Posted 01/06/2026 12:30 pm
