What is your grade guess for this coin?

[BillJones]

I would go MS-66 on it. If it were anything other than an 1881-S dollar I'd say MS-67 is a possibility, but the grading on those can be quite tough. I've seen MS-65 graded 1881-S dollars that were close or as nice as this. I think that there is a very slight abrasion on the cheek of Ms. Liberty that is not on the holder.

 

I have seen similar grading for the gold dollars from the 1880s. Those coins were often very well made and very smooth. With some searching you can find examples in MS-65 and even MS-64 holders that look to be better than the grade assigned.

 

Edited to say I wrote this without looking at the assigned grade.

 

[MarkFeld]

I would guess the coin is: UNC DETAILS OBV IMPROPERLY CLEANED as I have a 1878 S Morgan that has the same scratch marks on the lower cheek that NGC graded UNC DETAILS.

 

It is unlikely that a coin would be graded "Unc. Details" for anything close to that minor. My guess is that yours had other problems or that the "scratch marks" were more severe.

[$ilverHawk]

Saw the posted MS65 grade. Coin is sharply struck, luster looks good. No marks in focal areas. Don't see the cheek issues that some posters are referring to.

 

Quite honestly, I would not argue with a grade of MS65 or MS66.

 

Carl

[Tyler N.]

It looks 67 to me.

 

Edited to add: that was before I realized the grade had been posted.