Need Help In Grading 1904 Double Eagle...

Nice photos!
I call it AU-58. I see a trace of wear at the top of Liberty's hair. Fields are almost mark-free which I think makes this a premium example. Luster is the limiting factor. The reverse shows decent luster (which confirms your photographic technique will capture it) but the obverse is much more muted. The darker areas in the fields and on Liberty's eyebrow and neck are the result of light circulation IMO.

The 1904 is the most common Liberty double eagle, with thousands of them grading Mint State. I would not invest the fee to have this one graded since an AU grade will not increase the value over a raw coin.

Still, one heckuva Christmas present!

I agree with the above comments that your coin is likely a 55 or 58. However here's a Double Eagle of mine, that is very similar to yours, that graded MS63 at PCGS. While mine is not a strong example of a 63, the grade adds quite of bit of money to it's market value.

My first love is ancients, so I will not offer a grading opinion; I will leave that to others on this thread, whom I respect.

I notice that the rays feathers and rims are reasonably undamaged.

What does intrigue me is the differential in opinions expressed here verses the TPG opinion.

I was reading in another Forum as a lurker, on the subject that TPG's are over years are becoming increasingly generous in their gradings.

Why is this?

A reason that I could tender on the matter is that TPG's are subject to commercial pressure, and if a client is not happy with a grading, he is tempted to submit the coin to another TPG, looking for a higher grading.

Perhaps a new thread should be started re inflationary gradings.