Grade designation question 1 1

[Jeff Roeder]

I am looking at an 1894 S morgan silver dollar with a grade of 

" NGC MS-61 ★"  I have never seen that before and would appreciate clarification.

Thanks

Jeff R

 

Edited December 5, 2019 by Jeff Roeder

[Ronnie@NGC]

Thank you for your message. 

NGC assigns its trademarked Star Designation to coins with exceptional eye appeal for their assigned grade. More information can be found here. 

[Jeff Roeder]

If the star designation indicates "exceptional eye appeal" in the grade then why wouldn't it just be upgraded to a "+" or the next grade, say MS-62?  By NGC definition....It's important to remember that coins with the Star () Designation can fall anywhere within the grades to which they are assigned. For example, a coin graded NGC MS 64 could be at the lower end, mid-range or higher end of NGC MS 64.  To me, the STAR makes no sense at all.

Thanks for the response.

Jeff

[coinsandmedals]

I think you are conflating the difference between eye appeal and technical grade. The star designation is used to denote exceptional eye appeal for the grade. The plus designation is used to denote a coin that is on the upper end of the assigned grade (i.e., is very close to being the next grade). It is possible for a coin to be in the upper end of the assigned grade range, but have “average” eye appeal. In this case, the coin would get the plus designation but not the star designation. Likewise, a coin can be an “average” example in so far as technical grade but have exceptional eye appeal (relative to similarly graded pieces of the same type, year, mint, etc). In this case, the coin would receive the star designation (for the eye appeal) but not the plus designation because the coin is not on the upper end of the assigned grade range. It is possible for a coin to be on the upper end of the assigned grade range but also have exceptional eye appeal. In this rare case, the coin would warrant both the plus and the star designations. Does that make more sense? The star and plus designation serve completely different functions. 

Edited December 7, 2019 by coinsandmedals