An 1858 Gold Dollar For Your Grading Considerations

remember that this is a small coin, probably saw some circulation and is struck in a soft metal. from Bill's previous posts, i'd say it is likely a very attractive and problem free example, especially in hand.

i'd say AU-58 or even MS-60-61.

You can't see any hairlines when when you see the coin live. My photgraphy sometimes seems to "invents" something that is not there. There are scratches on the piece. One is aobove Ms. Liberty's cheek, and the other is between the "S" and "O" in "STATES OF." Once more the picture makes them look bigger than they are.

MS-62

AU 58

There is a tiny amount of wear on the high points of the design, both sides. (hair at Liberty's temple, band on wreath), so cannot be an MS grade, unfortunatly.

AU53 to 55 range.

I know I'll never convince you, but this coin is a PCGS MS-64. The piece probably spent some time with the reverse side up in a 19th century velvet lined coin cabinet. It does not take much to put fine hairlines on a gold piece. Gold is really soft and marks easily.

If you look at this coin with a 5X glass you will won't see much in the way of hairlines. What you will see is an original coppery surface with semi P-L luster. The hairlines show up under a 10X at certain angles.

After reading Scott Travers' book (and from my own limited experience with grading gold), there's no way I'd see this as full Mint State...sorry. That obverse field shows what appears to be a lot of "rub", friction, or whatever.

Wow, 64! No wonder PGCS rejected my application.