Morgan dollar grading has gotten complicated with all the recent PCGS announcements. As someone who has submitted hundreds of Morgans over the years and watched grading standards shift multiple times, I learned everything there is to know about what these changes actually mean for your collection. Today, I will share it all with you.
PCGS dropped some news that’s going to shake up how we think about our coins. New grading standards hit next month, and they’re specifically targeting inconsistencies that collectors have been griping about for a while now.
The big change? Strike quality evaluation. If you collect Carson City Morgans, pay attention here. PCGS is finally acknowledging what experienced collectors already knew – that CC mintmark alone shouldn’t command premiums when the strike is flat as a pancake. The new criteria will actually examine whether the coin was well-struck, not just where it was made.
That’s what makes this update endearing to us serious collectors – it rewards quality over hype. They’re also cracking down on dipped and cleaned coins. Too many processed coins were slipping through with grades that made purists cringe.
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Here’s what matters to you right now: your existing slabs stay valid. But submit the same coin today versus next month? Different grade possible. Dealers I trust are all saying the same thing – hold off on big submission batches until we see how these standards actually play out in practice.
NGC hasn’t announced matching changes, which creates its own headaches. Different standards at different services means more homework for buyers.
The Morgan market moves hundreds of millions annually. It’ll absorb this. Grading standards always evolve. Smart collectors adjust and keep collecting.
