Info needed on what to look for to grade dollars.

[Seafury007]

Hi All!

I have recently gotten into collecting and am collecting dollars from Morgans to present. I have acquired mostly NGC or ANAC's graded coins and have no problem finding a value info for them but I do have several Morgans and quite a few Ikes that are not graded or are graded way higher than they prob are (SGS), I plan to have the SGS coins regraded thru NGC as well as the loose coins (Morgans, and Ikes).

What I would like to know is does anyone know of a book that states what to look for in a coin by year and type that would make it certain grades. For example I have a few Ikes same year that I can definately tell one is AU but not sure if best one is MS64 or AU. I mean it appears from my searching that some coins graded NGC MS64 appear to be AU if I go by hairs above ear on morgans. Apparently some years didn't have a good strike.

I am looking for this info so that I will not be submitting coins that I have to invest more money into only to find that they are AU and now my cost is higher than the value of the coin.

I was told about a set of books "The Accugrade System:....." and I have found several sources for them but I am leary as I found out that the author is noted for sending out graded coins that are graded higher than they should be. Are these books also same as the grading standards this guy puts out or are they fairly correct with the info contained.

Any other sources or books?

 

Thanks to ALL! Rob

[melmcbee]

Here is an awesome site for grading Morgans.

http://home1.gte.net/res05izg/index.htm

[michael]

[Oldtrader3]

With AU's, look for darker luster breaks on the high points of the coins. On Morgan's, these will be on the hair over the ear, on the cheek under the eye, on the cap and cotton bolls. The eagle's breast feathers and talons are a good indicator on the reverse.

 

Ike's are a little more difficult because they often have scuffy surfaces and they are low relief. Again though, look for darker luster breaks.