1904-O Morgan

This is actually not a terrible strike for New Orleans, but they were doing better by 1904. I cannot blame you for liberating it; it's a good-looking coin which I wouldn't be surprised to consider Mint State if I had it in-hand.

First thing I look at with a "slider" Morgan is the talons; second thing is the highest points of the lower hair.

On this coin, you see the typical sort of vertical "stripe" of weakness from the eagle's neck down to the talons. That's weak strike; by the time a circulated coin shows that much "wear," symptoms of circulation should also be showing on the wingtips and largest bottom wreath leaves. That's not happening here.

Under your lighting, I'm really not seeing any rub on the highest points of the lower hair, either. With that said, the coin could have circulated briefly and then sat long enough (decades) to acquire a patina capable of making the whole thing look "original." That's why I'm qualifying this by saying I wouldn't make any firm decisions without the coin in-hand. And the nature of the marks might sway me into calling it circulated even if I can't find wear. Some marks just_don't_happen unless the coin is clanging around with others in a pocket, although the distinction between pocket and bag is iffy.

News flash: grading is subjective.

All the same, it deserves a place in a decent collection. It's worthy.

Added note based on something somebody said in another thread - the "weak strike/wear" line between involvement of the bottom leaves and not is a narrow one. You can already see that manifesting in the left leaf, which happens before the right. That relative lack of involvement is part of the reason I'm being equivocal with this one.

I'm ready to stick Lucky Cuss up just for the information of who his dealer is.