Guess The Grade Of The New Acquisition 1880 S Morgan

To me, a 63. No more than a 64 with the jaw dings.
On toning, my preferences are evolving over time. Sometimes, I will see a coin with such eye-catchingly beautiful toning that I know I will never see another one like it. A real head turner. Invariably I come across these while looking for something else. These are the ones I want most. I'm not alone. Last week I bookmarked a David Lawrence listing for an MS64 1901 Barber dime. Not only was it exquisitely colored, but Liberty's face was actually pink flesh-toned. It had a 100%+ premium, so I believed I could think it over. Wrong. It's already gone.
Then there's subtlety. I have a Seated dime (1884) with the most beautiful aquamarine tint. I have an 1857 Flying Eagle cent that looks white in bright light, but which has a warm, golden hue when the lights dim. Even an attractive patina can give a coin unique character. It's not easy to find really appealing true originals, but I have some that remind me of a fine woven suit that looks one color from a distance, but up close is really a multitude of different colored threads.
I would choose a really special coin like those just described over the kind of blast white coin I used to prefer. Nowadays, when I see a lustrous blast white 19th Century coin that is not a Morgan, it just looks dipped. That doesn't mean I dislike the coin, only that there is nothing particularly special or unique about its personality.
But eye appeal can be fleeting. Many toned coins can be double ugly. I don't like those at all.

MS64 the hits as already pointed out are probably worthy of a full point deduction. This was a nice MS65 with out the field chatter and hits, just the hits would've made MS64 IMO of course.

Toning?

I like it if it's lightly colored, not dark colors, I also like very satiny original white, I'd stay away from anything with spots, most of the molted (unless it's canvas mint bag or end roll patterned) splotchy toning too is no bueno for me. Rainbow or light pastel colors are best.

Well congrats, but hey, please wait 48 hours to post results so the rest of us can pitch in!

Thanks.

I can see it coming in at MS65. I had it at MS64+. MS66 I think is a little much

the only toned coins I like are not black, brown or mottled and are symetrically toned. I normally dont purchase them. one reason is that many times I've found the toning (which you normally pay a premium for) loses its look over time. I had a beautiful 1837 dime that was purple and now some 15yrs later its an ugly black that I dont care for

Showing why grading off a single flat image off a computer monitor is not good enough. I disagree with PCGS on this one, I can see a MS65 but no way is a common (also very common in very high grade) 1880-S Morgan with hits like this one has should be in a MS66 holder. A better call on why it's important to have a knowledge of grading and why certain coins get assigned a particular grade, buy the coin because it fits your collection or investment needs, not blindly based on a third party opinion. Doubt this one would get approved by CAC.

Speaking of CAC this type of coin holdered compared to many other 1880-S MS66 coins would not make the grade. It does appear to have some amazing luster, and a photo can make impairments look worse than they really are, the other way around is possible too.

Because of the toning, which I hate with a passion, and the scratches/gouges, no way I would go over MS63. Could have been a great coin, I don't care how they graded it. Without the gouging and toning, I could easily see 66.