Morgans with varieties, how long?

nwcs

I've recently begun working on the Morgan dollar with varieties set. It's slow going (especially on my salary! :-). I was wondering those of you who've done the Morgan dollar thang, how long has it/did it take you to assemble your collection? Did you mostly go raw coins and then slab 'em? or did you go find any good slabbed coin to fill the slot? Were you picky or did you pick some as placeholders?

Thanks!

Neil

lava

I think a few good rules to follow are as follows:
1. Buy only slabbed, either PCGS, NGC or ANACS. Of course for registry purposes, ANACS doesn't help, but the average eye stands a greater chance crossing from ANACS than slabbing a raw coin. That is not intended as a insult to anyone, since I believe I fit into that category. I always like a second opinion, from a professional, who is willing to insure that opinion.
2. Buy eye appeal.
3. Compromise for tougher dates -- buy them when you get the chance. For the more common dates, wait to get the grade and look you want.
4. It goes pretty quick, but the journey is fun regardless, so enjoy.

nwcs

Thanks for the ideas. It will be great when I get done, but I suspect it will be a while. :-)

DennisH

Hello NWCS!

I was the first Set Registry member to finish the Morgan with varieties set, and it was no easy task. It took seven years.

My approach was to try and buy each coin only once, so I took a very long time to find just the "right" (grade and eye appeal) coin for each and every date. Only a handful of my coins were not mint state, so the cost aspect was a limiting factor, too. Nevertheless, I've since decided to upgrade about 20 dates.

The decision to add ALL the varieties -- PCGS actually attributes four other coins that aren't included in the with varieties set -- forced me to make some concessions.

First of all, some of the scarcer varieties simply are not available for sale in PCGS holders. Period. (Re-read this statement at least three times.) As a result, I was forced to buy ANACS coins and raw coins, and then take my chances sending them into PCGS.

It was a sobering experience. I actually got one ANACS coin, and one NGC coin, to come back the same grade from PCGS. You will most likely have to do the same thing.

Most of the varieties are around to some degree. Some are not. There is one coin you will have massive trouble finding in any grade at all -- 1902 micro-O. The 1903 micro-S and 1901 doubled die reverse are also difficult, but mostly because no one wants to sell the nice ones (XF or better).

Good luck on your hunt!!

-- Dennis Halladay

nwcs

Thank you for your insight, Dennis. I knew I had started a long journey! I had no idea just how long, though. Hopefully, I'll join you on that list someday. :-)