quote:
Originally posted by keh
... it seems harder for me to tell the difference between a mint state example and an AU example. The Peace dollar seems to have a generally poorer strike/less detail than the Morgan.
Are there any websites for Peace dollars or other online references, like there are for Morgans?
Thanks!
First, my strong advice is not to buy raw
Peace dollars. I would have said "unless the dealer is reputable and reliable," but after getting burned one too many times, I only buy certified silver dollars.
Grading
Peace dollars is one of the gnostic mysteries that only the initiates at PCGS, NGC and ANACS know how to magically perform. I posted pictures earlier (reproduced below) of a 1928
Peace dollar that I acquired at a live auction in January from a very reputable dealer (Stacks). In the catalog, it was described as "a tic or two away from gem." I paid, well, a good deal +15% buyer fee. Without saying how much, it would've been a pretty good price if it really was a MS64 - which, by the way, it is, or at LEAST a 63. I sent it to PCGS and got an AU58.
I know that subtle attributes such as the Eagle's shoulder are hard to evaluate from photos, but that said, judge for yourself from the pics. (Incidentally, I sent the coin back for regrading and PCGS stuck with AU58. On another dealer's recommendation [not Stacks], I cracked it out and sent it to NGC. Will post results when it comes back - which should be this week).
What's worse, I've got coins graded by PCGS MS64 that are in a lot worse condition than this one, IMO. So if this comes back AU58 from NGC, I'm completely stumped
Posted 04/25/2006 3:58 pm
