Grade This 1885 O Morgan Dollar

here 2 more photo's...

while the New Orleans strikes are notorious for being weak...MANY TIMES its a crutch....MEANING every year was a weak strike....this is not so...I forget exactly which are the effected years,,I know 1879-0 is one year, and the 1890's but perhaps someone can fill in the usual KNOWN years of weak strikes, but not all years are weak strikes....Much like 1881-s is known for such STRONG and detailed strikes even in lower MS grades.....I will hold back my own guess....and await that the new pictures are good enough for a true assessment and why...even if it be for the year as some coins are graded by....

and the reasons why? No Offense, Just as we are trying to gather why any coin is worthy of any grade...what points separate one grade from another in general...Thanks for your opinion..

To rule out AU, I think the reverse is critical. The breast feathers, top of the legs, and talons show great detail and seem to be fully coated with original mint luster. In the first set of photos, the hair on the obverse also appears to be completely coated with original mint luster making it all but impossible this coin ever saw circulation. Those all would be some of the first areas to show rub. The cheek OFTEN gets some luster scuffs in an MS coin from a mint bag so none of that is unusual some MS-60 to MS-62 coins look like they have been in a knife fight with a piece of sandpaper.

1st, I like the green undercloth you ALWAYS USE FOR the coins back drop, LOL.

I believe the strike is rather nice and strong for this mint, the luster is not consistent overall, the distracting marks on Anna's face are an eye sore and take away from the over all grade, not much, but do. it is a circulated coin, which is evident by the wear and rub marks shown
The obverse exhibits denticle wear, especially at 12 o'clock, the hair above the ear and above the date and to the left also,exhibit wear, the cap also shows wear being on the relief, the high spots on the obverse.
the reverse shows a decent strike and some wear in a few places, wing tips and the lower portion of the left wing base, also the right talon show rub marks or wear along most of the wreath, especially the right side and the bow, showing the most wear, note, being the relief, it is expected to find wear there as it is one of the higher places on the reverse. The rim ding at 8 o'clock is also a distracting eye sore and will distract from the overall grade, the reverse luster is more obvious and stands out as original.
I have a problem with the coins overall original luster, I am not sure what I am seeing but while it appears the luster is there, I am not sure about it being ALL ORIGINAL, if it was IMO, the coin would exhibit more patina or toning. The marks stated on the right wing are also on the left, just the picture brings out the marks on the right better because of the light usage to take the picture.

I am attributing the dark spots, on the coin as dirt and overall the coin shows no bag marks except for the face, which I am amazed at, In my opinion the coin would grade a AU58+ with possible details, with regards to the finish on the overall coin's appearance. This is just my opinion. PS, I would grade the coin in MS except it shows it WAS circulated, therefore can NOT be an MS coin. Again, my opinion......Also check the Red Book in the front few pages under conditions of coins for the sheldon scales definitions about a mint state coin, no trace of wear,(to be uncirculated)

Good point on the reverse rim ding that would also keep it out of MS-65 since a rim bump should extend no more than 50% of the way to the denticles

The scary thing nowadays is that an AU-58 coin ($) and an MS-64 one (usually $$$$) can look nearly identical. Takes a high level of expertise to differentiate there are slabbed PCGS 58's that I swear should be 64's.

Fenton states, "The scary thing nowadays is that an AU-58 coin ($) and an MS-64 one (usually $$$$) can look nearly identical. Takes a high level of expertise to differentiate there are slabbed PCGS 58's that I swear should be 64's." I would also remind others that the topic of grading is VERY subjective and is basically just another persons opinion, which you usually pay for!

In my opinion, this is an excellent observation which I would enjoy picking the reasoning and rationale behind a statement like this, which, IMO, Is Today's reality, sad, but true........

I would like to NOT post any coins for now, but instead, grade with others to see just where we as a group stand on this topic.

I am also amazed that NO ONE has either flipped, or spoke out about my grade opinion on the 1885-0 coin, I posted comments that I expected some negative feedback, I will admit, I did so to rattle the pen, if you will, some comments were loaded and so far, no one has commented about the topic of how could a coin of such strong strike, wear in spots but still a nice coin, be considered a AU58 graded coin,when some clearly gave the coin an MS64 grade any one care to dig in................