Could Someone Confirm My Sanity?

especially when the coin in question is an 1893CC (China problem), PL surfaces. (tooled, whizzed, at least harshly cleaned). I feel bad for the 21 bidders who have it bid up past $450.

Could you imagine (and I DO NOT mean this at all by implication), if some of the more well-seasoned people on this forum pulled this; it would shake e-bay to the core, given the incidence of fake TPG slabs.

Fortunately, PCGS is trying: U.S. Patent No. 8,376,133.

I'm not an expert on varieties of Morgans but something is not right about the eagle feathers on this. if it is genuine it has been polished to death and tooled. at best AU - Improperly cleaned and altered.

Definitely cleaned/polished/whizzed/something-ed. Looks real to me though.

Via a google search:

Whizzed (Tooled): A coin that has been polished by using a jeweler's tool, Dremel, steel wool, or a fine-wire brush. A whizzed coin will either have a mirror finish or fine lines will be evident on its surface. It doesn't have to be on the entire coin, it could just a be one small spot. Regardless, of  how much, a coin with any unnatural lines is considered a damaged and cleaned coin. Sometimes these lines can be masked with improper photographing techniques. But even the most disguised picture will have certain characteristics to look for.

One, the seller with use light glare to mask the surface details of a coin. Two, the seller may photograph the coin at a certain angle so all the coin details aren't apparent. Three: Use photo editing software to soften, smudge, or blur the cleaning lines. If you think the seller has manipulated their photos or trying to mask a coin's problems, ask for different pictures. If they offer an excuse like "these are the best I can take", then don't ever bid on their coins.