1909 VDB

Nice LWC Dave! The reverse might be improved, at least once you conserve it, it won't get worse.

I'd venture AU-55 with a broken "R" too cool error.

Nearly hit free fields and rims, I agree with MS62-63

Actually, it's your product I had in mind. RIBUS and the VDB have stuff around them which needs to go away, and if I could ameliorate the color contrasts even a little I'd be happier.

For the record, I purchased this coin from Alaska Coin Exchange. They called it MS65(IIRC), and they are one of only a very few whose sight-unseen grading I trust without question. I personally think it to be no worse than 65, unless strike quality plays a greater role in LWC grading than I'm aware of. There are minor marks on the face which require pixel-peeping to identify; you can see a couple here if you look close enough. The only notable marks on the reverse are a small ding at the top left of the N in CENTS, and two small marks on the right of the crossbar of the T in the same word, neither of which are prominent even in this type of unforgiving digital photography. The triangular feature above VDB was something odd which blew off after I noticed it, and is not part of the coin.

Dave - You have the coin in hand, I can't tell exactly what you seeing. If you're going to try VC, I'd use the toothpick method rather than soaking the whole coin.

Personally, I don't think the coin would make 65 unless it looks a whole lot better in hand. With strong cartwheel luster and less direct light, it may bump up. Strong light tends to pierce through the patina and make a coin look worse than what it is in hand. At best I might go 64 due to the splotchiness, weakness in the are in LIBERTY, reverse rim ding at 9 o'clock and the spots on the left wheat.

Your thoughts are appreciated, guys. Tomorrow I'll throw enough light at it to kill the color and reveal the true "harsh halogen lighting" details; these images are what the coin looks like to the naked eye.

I am plainly a rookie with grading LWC's. Many factors which would go by the wayside when grading Morgans are in play here.

Kind of funny, but, in hand, I bet this coin is a stunner...except for the finger print (may not even see it in hand).

With the skills and technology that SuperDave has, I wonder if the three of them (skills+technology+superdave) are not actually hurting the grade on this one.

Be kind of fun for 10 or 20 people to sit around a table passing around a coin and letting them loupe it...write down seperate grades for OBV and REV.....and then tabulate at the end.

OK, I brought the halogen Thermal Weaponsâ„¢ to bear, and here is the result. Exposure went from 1/160 to 1/500, and I had to let the coin and the staging area cool afterwards. Literally.

Found another ding on the N I hadn't seen before.

It's weak, as you see it, for reasons unknown. I can't see anything which would indicate a postmint event.