Morgan Dollar 1884 + 1885 Grading

What price point are we paying?

Both are MS-64 for me.

Bowers book "Guide Book of Morgan silver dollars" is a great book for Morgan dollars

64+, 64

before I get into your coin. only post 1 coin per thread.




if you are going to buy raw morgans you will want to study up on the various mints at that time. where wear occurs first and where any strike issues would show up so you don't confuse the two. this is the most challenging for a newbie. for N.O. mint coins they had period from 86 to 97 where they severe issues with strike so one has to be careful about grading these. there are also some earlier pieces that are below average for strike but not as bad. the 84(O) falls into that where strikes are known to be soft to average.

weakness would be seen first in the hair above the ear and eagle breast. your obv is well struck for this year but you can see the weakness in the breast feathers.

you are looking for breaks in the luster especially the cheek. overhead light can cause glare and obscure this as well as shadows. in you case, its hard to tell how much of the original luster remains on the cheek due to shadowing.

the majority of UNC morgans can be put in the MS63 box. its the broadest grade out of all of the MS grades. so I say to myself, are there enough marks/scratches and flaws to reduce the coin to MS62 or minor enough but the luster is pretty much intact which I would assess a 64 grade. if neither apply then you have a MS63 coin.

i think your coin is MS64 - a tad better than what a 63 would look. this of course is if the luster is not missing on the cheek

you 1885 appears to have been lightly dipped. there is a dull look to the surfaces when you compare the 2. there is a fine line between a lightly dipped coin that grades straight and one over dipped that would pull a details designation. based on your photo I think it would grade straight and i'd grade it MS63+/64 however value wise I would not pay retail for it.