1904 double eagle grading 64 and 64+ 0

[Jeremy468]

I am just continuing to work on my personal grading skills before advancing to again buying more expensive coins at some point that are not already graded. So these two were graded in the same lot and the second one earned a +. In my very amateur opinion though, the 64 actually looks better and the 64+ seems to have more distracting marks. 

My understanding is the coins are reviewed by at least two graders, so does anyone have an eye to discern why the 64+ earned that over the 64?

Thanks again for sharing your experience!!

[J P M]

I am new at this grading but I would say it is the wear on the hair not the face that makes the 64+ the better hair is my guess.

[Lem E]

Maybe a little better luster on the 64+ ?

[Woods020]

The 64+ appears to be a better strike and more luster. Look at fine details in the stars and the letters of Liberty. Now pictures are hard to say for sure but if you look closely based on these pics it does look stronger on the +. Remember grading is a composite of multiple factors including strike quality, number and placement of marks, luster/eye appeal, etc.. It is possible for one coin to have more/more distracting marks but grade higher in total. This one seems the + has a lot better strike and only slightly more marks. My opinion of course and others will surely give theirs if mine is wrong. 

Edited July 8, 2021 by Woods020

[Coinbuf]

@Woods020 pretty much nailed it, collectors often focus too much on marks and not on the look of the coin.   In todays market grading room the luster is the top priority especially when splitting grades at the plus and star levels.  The plus coin has much better luster and a better overall "look" than the 64 coin, yes there may be an extra mark or two but the graders felt that the better luster carried the coin past those marks and awarded a plus.   This is rather subtle at first but if you look at enough plus coins you can start to see that "look" that graders see when awarding plus grades.   Remember not to focus on the marks so much and see the coin as a whole. 

[gmarguli]

The 64 has some surface residue. The 64+ appears to have a more consistent look in the fields. Over all, not a big difference between the two.