I Tested 4 Morgan Dollar Grading Methods Side-by-Side – PCGS Submission Results vs. Alternatives

I Put 4 Morgan Dollar Grading Methods Head-to-Head – The Results Might Surprise You

When I inherited a roll of raw Morgan dollars, I didn’t just want grades – I wanted the truth. So I became a grading guinea pig, testing every major authentication approach on the same coins. From my kitchen table to PCGS headquarters, here’s exactly what worked (and what wasted my time and money) in this real-world showdown.

The 4 Grading Methods I Tested Side-by-Side

1. Old-School Visual Grading

My Approach: Spent weeks with a loupe comparing my coins to PCGS CoinFacts like a detective solving a case

• What Worked: Free, great for learning subtle differences
• What Didn’t: My hopeful eyes kept seeing extra points

My biggest misses:

• 1884-CC: Guessed MS64+ (PCGS said MS64)
• 1928 Peace: Dreamed of MS65 (Reality: MS64)

The Cold Hard Truth: I consistently overgraded by about half a point – beginner collectors beware!

2. Asking the Internet to Grade My Coins

My Approach: Posted coin photos everywhere from Reddit to specialty forums

• What Worked: Crowd wisdom spotted flaws I’d missed
• What Didn’t: Opinions swung wildly – like a 3-point grade range

The 1884-CC became a Rorschach test:
Forum Grades: MS62+ to MS65 (PCGS Final: MS64)

3. The CAC Shortcut

My Approach: Sent my best-looking coins to CAC before PCGS

• What Worked: Their green beans predicted PCGS grades perfectly 3/4 times
• What Didn’t: That $75 per coin stung when they said no

Plot twist: The 1928 Peace they approved later got upgraded at PCGS – showing even experts miss sometimes

4. Going Straight to PCGS

My Approach: Bit the bullet and sent them all for official grading

• What Worked: Undisputed market acceptance
• What Didn’t: The waiting game tested my patience

Final report card:

• MS61: 1 coin (the “problem child” 1878)
• MS63: 2 coins
• MS64: 5 coins

Where Each Method Surprised Me

The Grading Rollercoaster

Biggest Shock: My 1928 Peace Dollar became the grading controversy champ

• My optimistic guess: MS65
• Internet verdict: MS63-MS64
• First PCGS grade: MS64
• CAC said: “Yes, but…” with green bean
• Final chapter: Upgraded to MS64+

What’s Really Worth Your Money

3 Smart Moves I Learned the Hard Way

1. The Budget-Savvy Grading Pipeline

Now I use this step-by-step filter:

1. First cut: Toss obvious low-graders (save submission fees)
2. Crowdsource check: Let sharp-eyed collectors find flaws
3. CAC test: For borderline beauties
4. PCGS finish: Only the winners go for certification

2. When That Green Bean Means Green

CAC’s approval mattered most for:

• Coins sitting on grade borders
• Pieces with stunning eye appeal
• Tricky series where graders disagree

3. The Upgrade Lottery Tickets

These traits predicted my successful resubmissions:
Mirror-like fields > toning • Few distracting marks • Crisp details

The Takeaway

After this grading marathon, three lessons stick with me:

1. Everyone gets it wrong sometimes – even PCGS upgraded one later
2. CAC beats the spread – their approvals brought auction premiums
3. The crowd sees what you don’t – multiple eyes catch more flaws

The winning strategy? Mix mechanical grading’s consistency with human judgment’s nuance – your collection (and wallet) will thank you.

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