I just received this dime I got at a recent Heritage Auction. I already shared it in the grading forum, but I'm making a different post here, asking a very different question.
In the grading forum, several people guessed AU(55), which is interesting because I just saw that on the PCGS photograde page for this design, this same exact coin, minus two defining features IS the AU(55) example, when PCGS themselves have this coin in an MS(63) holder. I don't think they are similar coins--I think they are the same--the diagnoal lines on the obverse, the exact patterns and colors of toning--there are just two things missing in the Photo Grade picture--a little mark on Liberty's forehead on the obverse, and the diagnol line that goes through the eagle's head on the reverse--other than that, I think it's the same coin.
In hand, the luster on this dime is much better tthan it looks in these photos. I'm posting the True View photos, my own photos, and the photograph photos (in that order).
Here is my question: What happened? Why would this be the Photograde example for AU(55) when the same company graded this MS(63)? And did they photoshop the Photograde example? Why are those two identifying characteristics missing? I doubt they just suddenly appeared. The coin is in an older PCGS blue lable holder, like the ones they used around 2000, that don't let us see the rims of the coins that well.
Here is my MS63 coin.




Here is the AU55 photograde coin


Here is the slab
