| Author |
 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,337 |
Page 2 of 2
|
|
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Canada
11922 Posts |
|
|
Valued Member
 Canada
94 Posts |
Wow! When I purchased it, it was advertised as a MS60 Morgan dollar. It is good to know it is 3-4 grades higher! I have one more question though.. Since this is such a weird pattern of toning do you think it is detrimental to the coins value? If it is artificial does that devalue the coin? All information is appreciated! |
|
Bedrock of the Community
 United States
18725 Posts |
i think its more like the MS60 you were told. the toning may be artificial and could affect value as it detracts from the eye appeal.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3283 Posts |
The first place I look for mid range (or higher) Morgans is the
Eagle's breast and your doesn't have the crispness, so I'm agreeing with
Panzaldi on this one. Also I agree with your assessment of the toning,
weird pattern is usually AT.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
Artificial toning to hide wear. AU55 only.
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
94 Posts |
Alright, because of the difference in grade evaluations given in the above comments I have rescanned the coin in a higher resolution. It also resembles the coins colors when looked at by the naked eye.   Thanks for all your help guys! |
|
Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
The toning is definitely artificial and seriously detracts from the value of the coin. I can't swear it's Uncirculated, but it appears so and would be in the 63/64 range. Have a look inside the mint mark for evidence of a repunch; many 1884-O varieties have repunched mint marks.
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
94 Posts |
Thanks for all the help guys!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
1751 Posts |
Definitely AT, maybe lightly circulated. Usually when the breast is that flat, the legs will look... weird. They look fine here.
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
94 Posts |
If this coin were sent to a third party grading service, say PCGS, would the artificial toning affect the grade it would receive? If so, is it even worth getting graded?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
933 Posts |
Yes details artificially toned is what the holder will say
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
Even with that heavy artificial toning I can usually see mint luster on an uncirculated coin. I see no luster whatsoever on this one, leading me to believe it's a cleaned coin that was toned to hide this. My guess would be AU-55 details/cleaned and AT.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4989 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
522 Posts |
I'm trying to learn this myself, so I don't really know but isn't that wear (obverse) on the brow, above the ear, the lower middle curl, and on the hair below the L, I, T, and Y (all of which I believe are high spots)? Looks like those areas are rough as opposed to weakly struck. It also might be that the " toning" was placed where it is because it does cover some of those areas.
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
I'm trying to learn this myself, so I don't really know but isn't that wear (obverse) on the brow, above the ear, the lower middle curl, and on the hair below the L, I, T, and Y (all of which I believe are high spots)? Looks like those areas are rough as opposed to weakly struck. It also might be that the " toning" was placed where it is because it does cover some of those areas.
You have to consider strike quality with New Orleans Morgans; their indifferent strikes make grading all the more difficult. The areas you mention, being high points on the coin, would also suffer from a poor strike. With that said, you've made me look closer at the coin and I'm reconsidering my opinion of it to conclude it's circulated. I'm saying this based on the look of the eagle's talons, the two largest leaves on the wreath and the relative "roundness" of the hair immediately above the ear. These are the three places where a weak strike first appears, and the two reverse features do not usually wear early in the circulation process. The talons show enough detail to conclude that it wasn't a bad strike to begin with. They're usually the first to go. So, one has to think that what looks like "wear" on this coin likely is. |
|
Page 2 of 2
|
Replies: 17 / Views: 2,337 |
Page 2 of 2
|
First Page
Posted 09/23/2013 1:54 pm
