Proof Morgan Dollars

[stretch777]

I recently purchased a 1881 Proof Cameo 65 Morgan Dollar certified by NGC for my collection. I have never purchased a Proof Morgan Dollar before and on close examination of the coin, the field appears to have polishing marks and is not a complete mirror surface as are the proof coins of today. My question, thus far, which nobody has answered to my satisfaction is are they result of polishing the blanks in the 1880's, or possible did a previous owner polish the coin and NGC grade the coin Proof 65 Cameo without mention of cleaning on the holder. I know they do not grade harshly cleaned coins, but would a cleaned coin of the proof manufacture be graded? Any information that you can provide regarding the process of proof coins in the 1880's and ? polishing marks would be greatly appreciated.

Ken

[midijab-migration]

I can't envision an NGC grader making that gross an error. Are the polishing marks hairlines into the surface or are they raised striations indicative of die polishings. I don't know enough of individual morgan proof issues to know if proofs of that year suffer from that diagnostic. I know, striations such as that are one diagnostic of Proof Hi Relief Saints. Also, 1868 seated quarter dollar proofs suffer grossly from that. Hopefully a morgan expert will chime in.

[nwcs]

Well, remember that proofs of that era will not look like proofs of this era. The mirrors come in a wide range of depth. The polish lines are most likely minor hairlines. Minor hairlines will limit the grade but not make it ungradeable unless severe. Also there can be die polish lines visible on a proof.

[Gallienus]

While hardly a proof collector I add my 2 cents.

Die polishing lines are very different from hairlines. The first is added by the mint and I do not devalue a coin for these. They are common on early Latin American Repblcan. gold coins.

 

Hairlines are damage done by improper cleaning. Many nice coins have these and if light enough they can be tolerated.

 

The two are distinguishable under good magnification or perhaps a setero microscope. Die polishing lines tend to be raised and can continue thru parts of the design.