To this day, many Morgan Dollar collectors believe coins in Old Green PCGS holders were under-graded. PCGS in the 1980s was inconsistent in its grading. True, many coins were graded a point or even two points under where they would be today. But then almost as many were accurately graded according to current standards. However, because so many people believe OGH Morgans are under-graded, several eBay sellers have been photoshopping their OGH wares, especially since the older PCGS number doesn’t also result in a TrueView photo where flaws can be readily seen.
Even though we discovered these doctored examples, knowing how the process is done can help you with any coin, especially Morgans with its generous fields.
Using a tool on Photoshop, you can easily turn an MS64 coin into a supergem:
I did that with this coin:
While it is common knowledge that eBay sellers in particular often doctor their coins, removing flaws with photo-apps, Proxiblog calls attention to this practice with PCGS green holders. Book author Scott Travers, and others, have touted OGH coins as under-graded. If you believe that, you are also apt to believe the Photoshopped coin can be resubmitted for an upgrade.
Not.
One of our followers, Craig Frick, brought this practice to our attention with this doctored photo:
You have heard the phrase, “Buy the coin, not the holder.” That is especially true with Old Green Holders.
One final point. If you collect Morgan dollars, you must know how to grade. See this article for instructions. Otherwise you will likely be scammed at one time or another by unethical sellers as profiled here and elsewhere on Proxiblog.
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You can find more information about types, varieties, errors, grading, bidding and buying in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider buying or gifting the work for a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist blog. Thank you.
