1876 Trade Dollar You Vs ANACS Small Holder

Probably best to leave in ANACS holder. TPGs are tough on Trade dollar grading. Here is my ICG MS-62 as a reference.

Yes, but the mirrors on the OP example come up a little short to get the PL designation in today's grading standard. I would put the mirrors in the semi-prooflike category. In some of the older holders, Morgan PL examples can be found with mirrors less than 2" clarity, but the coin's would often have a strong cameo. PCGS has graded 3 Trade dollars as PL and NGC has graded 31 Trade dollars as PL. If you every want to get a PL or DMPL designation, send it to NGC.

Not everyone, as a few of us here knew it was a business strike.

Fooled me, though I did question a few points of weakness on the reverse. Don't know this series well enough. Thanks for sharing @Slider23.

There's been an interesting, ongoing write up in The Numismatist (I think it was) on Trade dollars. Piqued my interest in the series that I've always put on the back burner.

Panzi...

I think you need to check again as at least two of us got it correct as a MS business strike and no one hit the actual MS61 ancient ANACS grade. Old ANACS white holders still hold many undergraded coins. This may be one of them. Bottom line is it is a nice pickup no matter what it grades.

Can't be both. it's either one OR the other!

I thought it was an MS strike because the rim and the beads just did not have that "look" that the proofs usually do. I think it would at least crossover as-is, but **might** get a 1 point bump.

There is only one way to find out.