If coins could talk: a wonderfully original, well-circulated and well-lived Morgan
airplanenut
Posts: 22,231 ✭✭✭✭✭
I have a lot of Morgan dollars. Most are toned, and while I may have a circulated one or two that I picked up as a kid and can't remember, everything is uncirculated. Among US coins, the design isn't my favorite, but nice ones can be really nice, and I try to buy nice ones. It's rare that I handle a heavily circulated example, and even when I do, they're usually nothing special. Last week, this coin crossed my desk as an eBay consignments (it sold yesterday--I'm not trying to advertise it here) and it thrilled me. Even wear with deep original color. I've always loved the historical aspect of coins, and boy, to think of the stories this coin could tell.
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Comments
Jeremy . .
You hit me "where I live" . . . .
Sooooo true! How many times did it cross a bar during that turn of the century time when a cowboy came in from the range with his pay . . .and this silver dollar provided dinner, stabling for the horse, a hot bath, lodging, and one shot of rotgut whisky!
The supplies it bought at the Mercantile. A bag of 6-penny nails, 30' of rope, a bag of penny candy and 15# of flour.
A silver dollar at that time was half a day's wages for a laborer . . . and yes . . .if it could only tell!!!!
Drunner
I like the circulated cameo look. That is a nice Morgan and I am not a Morgan fan.
Nice perfectly worn and preserved example. A full set like that would be neat
Ike Specialist
Finest Toned Ike I've Ever Seen, been looking since 1986
...her worst story might be the moment she was unboxed over at NGC
I will try a lousy photo of a circ cam Morgan. Here goes...
The story's she could tell !!!
Nice!
I like the old Morgans that have 'seen the action and lived a full life'...A hefty silver coin one can hold in hand and almost feel history....Cheers, RickO
It's not just the look of this Morgan ... It is the date...1893. And the US economy slid into a Depression that well surpassed the panic of 1877. Most folks today just do not have a connection to how tough things were in 1893. There is one great story one of my profs shared with us over 40 years ago. Inasmuch as I would like to share it, I would not want to be responsible for derailing a terrific thread.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
That bought a lot back than. I just paid $11.50 for Six paper towels. Nice Morgan.
100% Positive BST transactions
I have had many Morgans in the past but now am settled into really enjoying that look. Circulated Morgans are so interesting to look at.
Nice looking coin!
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You're tapping into the "feel" many lowball collectors have while searching for their coins in a quest for the lowest yet problem free state possible!
peacockcoins
I'd think that the coin paid for vice also.
I've always thought a raw date set (or basic date/MM set if you were more ambitious) of Morgans in an album with this EXACT look would be awesome.
CoinKat is so right . . . . . .
Can't derail . . . . . . but I am sure he / she has a good one. The amount of wear needed to get to that perfect circ-cam look is substantial . . . . .and there would be sooooo many transactions needed.
Hey . . . . the cowboys really did not come off the range until about 1915 . . . .this one saw some good life . . . .
Drunner
I love the look of that coin. I also like QDB's idea that coins are "portals to the past." So, I'd like to read CoinKat's tale.. Among the things I enjoy about this forum are the intrathread digressions.
Nice one! I agree that that the circulation history is part of the appeal. Who knows exactly what the coin has been to used to purchase and in what locations.
Here's one of my few Morgans. It's was one that my grandfather handed down to me. Since it's not in a holder, I used it as a test target for true axial lighting.
Here's a good companion for it I recently sold.
Nice looking 93-s...
At some point, there will be a wave of support for coins that served their intended purpose. Not all coins within a set need to look alike... They just need to share a common bond that they made a difference in lives and communities throughout the country. And the further measure of quality is how well they survived in achieving a purpose. The 1893 that started the thread has the look... Especially for those that seek to have the grading spectrum represented in their collection.
My set is housed in a Library of Coins Album which has three volumes... The grades range from the VF30 range on up through a small handful of MS examples. It's a few shy of being complete.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
As folks have mentioned before, how many times do you think this coin passed between folks purchasing things to wear down to a VG? 1,000, 5000, more? I have a Peace dollar on my car key chain that I've handled multiple times every day for the past 20 years and it went from AU+ down to F. That's like 10,000 touches.
Possible probs here . . . .a second post . . . and another coin pic posted . NO attempt to derail . . .just following up. Please don't rip me for the attempt to expand the OPs wonderful message . . .
I teach HS English. I love it. But I am actually a misplaced History teacher. English is just easier to instruct and allows me a bit more freedom . . . . BUT . . . I use Indian cents in To Kill a Mockingbird (look it up - oak tree) . . . . $20 Libs in Huck Finn (on the river as bounty hunters arrive at the raft) . . . and Ivy Baker (Priest) notes to all kids (she was our senior class President at Bingham in 1925 and the lead in the school play). I give out $200 face in early FedRes and Silver Certs every year . . . .
BUT . . . I run a metal detector . . . take our history dept. out to the Tokyo Trolley in Wendover, and have a ranch that actually (honest!) is at the confluence of the Mormon, Oregon, and CA Trails. The intersection is on the north 40 of my property.
Good gravy . . . when I think of where and what happened to the coinage that has worn down to F-VF from that time. What about Colonial pieces the are still wholesome . . . and down to AG3 . . .just because we NEEDED them to buy an ax, some nails, or a (RARE) treat of horehound for a kid who last had something sweet 3 months before . . . AND I GET TO HOLD IT IN MY HAND !!!!!!!!!!! (Ok, you Forum Sainted Ones . . . I used Caps. Let's see you grade 35 essays a day during Coronavirus before you fire off a response !!!!!!)
To me . . . this is the bulwark . . . the foundation . . . the CORE of what collecting is all about. Oh . . . YES . . . I would love to be TDN, or Stewart Blay, or Cardinal. I envy you and wish you the best . . . always !!!! (You and others inspire us and motivate us . . . ) BUT . . . there is room in the pool for those of us who may be a bit limited in picking up masterpieces of history that are able to draw us back to a grimy, dusty, ranchhand with a months pay jingling in his pocket, tying up a horse in front of a saloon . . . and walking in to a (much) needed (20 days ago) bath and dinner. This half below might have slid across that bar . . . . . . . . . .Pic below)
Or . . . it was a gift from a Grandma to a favorite grandson . . . went from bank to bank to bank until it got paid out to a merchant who then used it as change in the mercantile . . . PLEASE . . . Forumites! Treasure the memories these pieces of metal are TRYING to tell us. That F-VF Flying Eagle you have in a dogeared 2x2????? Oh . . . what it could say!!!!
My posts generally are too long and buried . . . so the views (and comments) are minimal . . . but it sure feels good to voice the opinion.
Respect the coin's HISTORY! I hope you make money on it (I try to also) . . . but revel in the past . . . .!!!!
Have a GREAT day . . . . get a good deal . . pick somebody off . . . .but in the end . . . look at the past!!!
Drunner
That does have a cool look to it