I traded nearly half of my collection for this one coin.

Tramp

I traded a sizable portion of my collection for this PCGS 1889-CC in MS-62.

I've been looking for the right 1889-CC in MS-62 or higher for a long time. I finally got the shot at one and with my wife's approval. I was nervous and excited all at the same time negotiating the deal. I guess I sweetened the pot enough for the trade to happen. Just excited and kudos to my supportive wife.

Does this Morgan have the PL appearance or am I imagining? PCGS wouldn't miss something like that would they?

ifthevamzarockin

Very nice!

braddick

Such a sweet coin, for sure.
I'd venture as there is no contrast on the lettering both obverse and reverse it would not garner the PL designation.

pursuitofliberty

WOW! Serious coin.

Congratulations, and yes, cheers to the supportive wife! Buy that girl an extra special Valentine!!

Looks very much semi-PL, and based on Legend's appraisal from last it sold publicly, seems they agree. It also appears strong for the grade, not just enough to warrant the bean, but also to be very close to one up. My opinion from images of course, but that looks like a GREAT coin!

alefzero

Nice coin and a good choice for a little asset concentration. A surprisingly higher fraction of mint state (and AU) 1889-CC Morgans exhibit some degree of prooflike claims, compared to other dates.

Tramp

Here's another pic. Thanks Todd @pursuitofliberty for reminding me about Legend's being mentioned as the prior public auction. I saw it but didn't go to the linked site.

CoinCoins

Impressive. Great coin.

I think if it was a common date it'd go 63 if not 64.

david3142

That’s a very impressive Morgan! I’d say it looks semi-PL and has excellent eye appeal for a 62.

BillJones

Most AU or Mint State 1889-CC dollars are Proof-like or have PL characteristics. The mintage was low, and the dies were fresh throughout the production run.

Nice coin!

jfriedm56

Beautiful coin. I can only hope to imagine having one in the future. You can only be extremely happy with your new coin- Congrats!!!!

LeeBone

Love it.
Hope to have one of these too someday...

ricko

Very nice CC Morgan.... Congratulations on your acquisition. Cheers, RickO

Yorkshireman

That is impressive!
Congratulations on your new coin.

[Deleted User]

That is one awesome Morgan. CC are my favorite mint mark. Your very fortunate to have that coin. Congratulations!

Shamika

You did well and I suspect you will never regret the trade.

dsessom

Good grief, that is a rare key Morgan that you just don't see often. I am currently learning about the Morgan series, and that is a really nice coin for a 62. It seems that TGP's are a bit tougher on key dates than they are with common ones because that coin looks better than many 63's I have been seeing, and even some 64's. Congratulations on the acquisition! That is something to be proud of for sure!

JW77

Awesome coin, scarce date for the series and should do well over time. CAC sticker to boot reflects great eye appeal. Enjoy your new acquisition.

Walkerfan

Wow, I’m impressed! Iconic coin! You were wise to get one that was CAC stickered.

MarkInDavis

@braddick said:
Such a sweet coin, for sure.
I'd venture as there is no contrast on the lettering both obverse and reverse it would not garner the PL designation.

My understanding is that PL and DMPL are about reflectivity and CAM and DCAM for proofs are about contrast.

The coin does have some PL qualities. Hard to judge if it is all the way there without it in hand.

braddick

^
Excellent point!
You are right.
-Based on the second photo though I still would think it's a no-go.

golden

Very nice coin and it sounds like that you have a great wife! I remember back in the Spring of 1968 I bought a bag of 600 circulated Silver Dollars from a banker for $1.75 each. There were 2 circulated 1889-CC Dollars in the lot. Those were the days.

1630Boston

Congrats @Tramp

lilolme

Cool.
Doing any other Morgan CC?
On the grading I have noticed that most 89CC don't have the luster (frost) of the previous year CC's. I believe the luster helps some CC's get a little grade bump versus strict contact mark comparison. But in the case of the 89CC the luster might hold the grade down from the others.

DennisH

@Shamika said:
You did well and I suspect you will never regret the trade.

I agree. Congrats!

TPRC

Congrats! I am working my way down to a box of 20. For US coins anyway, except for my 1c, 5c, and 25c sets, and, of course, my HTT and CWT tokens and medals. Then there are my ancients and Irish collections. Sigh......

Elcontador

I've seen many of the more common 82-84 CC Morgans, and I've seen 3s look far worse than your coin. Perhaps they have higher standards for the 89 CC, but normally they used to be 1/2 to 3/4 point looser on grading CC Morgans due to their stage coach ride to San Francisco.

Tramp

Not sure if these pics help with my inquiry of PL. This is a few inches from the hat:

Tramp

@lilolme said:
Cool.
Doing any other Morgan CC?
On the grading I have noticed that most 89CC don't have the luster (frost) of the previous year CC's. I believe the luster helps some CC's get a little grade bump versus strict contact mark comparison. But in the case of the 89CC the luster might hold the grade down from the others.

@lilolme Yes.

Also, definitely not a problem with luster.

https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-mint-state-dollars/everyman-mint-state-carson-city-morgan-dollars-1878-1893/alltimeset/312487

lilolme

@Tramp said:

@lilolme said:
Cool.
Doing any other Morgan CC?
On the grading I have noticed that most 89CC don't have the luster (frost) of the previous year CC's. I believe the luster helps some CC's get a little grade bump versus strict contact mark comparison. But in the case of the 89CC the luster might hold the grade down from the others.

@lilolme Yes.

Also, definitely not a problem with luster.

https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-mint-state-dollars/everyman-mint-state-carson-city-morgan-dollars-1878-1893/alltimeset/312487

Nice set. You are maxed out on all the other dates in that Everyman MS set.
No upgrades for you. But can always move to another set. So many to choose from.

Your 89CC looks like mine. When you compare the TV of your 79, 82, 85 to the 89 the obverse device / portrait (and reverse) on the 89 has less boom to it. It is one of the things with the 89CC as they generally do not come as lustrous and frosty as the earlier ones. Perhaps your's is all in the photo.
Note, can not really look at the fields and compare since your 89CC has some PL to it and others do not - different luster.

I know mine can look okay by itself but when compared side by side with my other earlier CC luster bombs a difference is seen. I would not call it a problem but just not as strong as others.

Tramp

@lilolme. Actually I'm quite surprised and actually elated that this 1889-CC MS62 stands up so well against ALL of the 64 I have even side by side. As good as the TVs are, setting the coins side by side the 62 hold is own to the 64s. Can you post a pic of your 89-CC? Thanks!

thebeav

That's a beautiful Morgan !
Just the look I can enjoy in a 62.
Congrats on a great pick up !

divecchia

She is a beauty for sure. Congrats on a great looking piece.

Donato

marcmoish

Great trade great piece, you did good, you da tramp!

7Jaguars

Basically identical to the 1889CC in 62 that I had and sold - could not afford to hold but made out on the sale....

Jimnight

Nice one!

lilolme

@Tramp said:
@lilolme. Actually I'm quite surprised and actually elated that this 1889-CC MS62 stands up so well against ALL of the 64 I have even side by side. As good as the TVs are, setting the coins side by side the 62 hold is own to the 64s. Can you post a pic of your 89-CC? Thanks!

Glad to hear it. I want to say I am not criticizing your 89CC but just trying to pass along what I have seen from collecting these (Morgans and the CC). I think your 89CC looks quite good.

This former Wurt 89CC which I have seen a few times has some of the best overall luster for an 89CC that I recall and I think why it got the grade bump. This is the link.

https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/mycoinfacts/1889-cc/2066725/204634

PM sent.

AUandAG

With so few minted it is quite common for Uncirculated coins to have PL or DMPL fields. Yours is close but does not quite appear to get there.
Nice pick up for sure.
bob
Give your wife a hug from the forum!

OAKSTAR

shortnock

Darnfine specimen. Darnfine trade. Darnfine wife.

1madman

Funny that legend’s picture makes the coin look like a cleaned/washed out AU details coin. That company has got some serious issues if they’re posting poor photos like that of key coins. All the other photos of that coin in this post look nothing like that picture.

NeophyteNumismatist

very nice coin!

Tramp

@1madman said:
Funny that legend’s picture makes the coin look like a cleaned/washed out AU details coin. That company has got some serious issues if they’re posting poor photos like that of key coins. All the other photos of that coin in this post look nothing like that picture.

Agree. My Samsung phone takes higher quality pics.

DelawareDoons

Looks semi-PL and nice for the grade. Congrats on a major, major acquisition.

logger7

Curious how you figured how to trade on that expensive coin? I have never done well in trades with sharp dealers.

Tramp

@logger7 said:
Curious how you figured how to trade on that expensive coin? I have never done well in trades with sharp dealers.

@logger7

First, I have to say that I consider myself very fortunate and I don't take it for granted. Second, I've purchased from this well respected, nationally known, sharp, dealer twice in the past. Third and probably foremost factor is what I offered in trade: 24 pieces of gold, an assortment of slabbed and raw ($1, $2.5, $5, $10 and a couple of $20 Liberty's, $2.5, $5 and $10 Indian gold, one Double Eagle and a few $50 Gold Eagles), an NGC 1889-CC AU50, nearly completed Mercury dime set (minus 16-D) in Dansco album, 1/2 complete Mercury dime set in AU/MS in Dansco album, 40 oz silver bullion and cash to boot.

Never underestimate the power of building a relationship and establish report with a dealer. I knew the dealer had this coin listed on his website, so I emailed him prior to the show to make sure he was attending the show and to see if he was bringing the MS-62. If so, I'd see him on Saturday. He responded yes to both. Arriving at his table that busy Saturday morning he eventually got to me and I re-introduced myself since it had been a couple of years. I soon sat down and listening to his interesting stories, while he also helped other collectors, and I shared a few of my own, only after all the good times shared did business and negotiations start. Can't rush a deal and you can't show all your cards all at once or even show emotion. BTW, he also had (has) an outstanding '89-CC AU58, beaned, so I had a decision to make. He pulled out from his glass case both coins for me to hold and look at, the MS-62 and the AU58, which I did. Taking my lighted loupe, evaluating each. After talking about each coin and their fabulous features, I pulled out of my back pack and laid out all the gold coins I was offering to trade.
He looked at them and then left with them retuning later with an itemized list and total, which he showed me and of course it was not nearly enough for an even trade, not even close and not a surprise to me. Then I pulled out the NGC '89-CC laid it on the table, which he took and left again and returned with a new total; he sort of lowballed me on that one. After he showed me his revised total of everything, I had more than enough at that time to trade for that very nice AU58 and that's when my wife spoke up and said, "go for the MS-62." Somewhat shocked, I pulled out of my backpack the merc's followed shortly after with the 40oz of silver and $2800 in cash to further bolster my offer.

Oh, I wasn't finished yet. He hadn't yet budged on his price, so I threw down an offer that was $1500 under his asking price. BTW, negotiations can be fun. He looked at me, then looked away, then looked back at me, he pondered some more and then, he said, "OK" to my offer and started to write the invoice. Of course, I still had to write a check for the difference.

That was fun, nerve racking and exhilarating, all at the same time. From the time our conversation started that morning at about 9:30 to finalizing the sale took roughly 2-1/2 hours.

He was asking premium for the MS-62 beaned coin and rightfully so. However, I'm certain he made money on it. He's a sharp dealer, very knowledge and he's been in the coin business a long time. He now has my inventory, didn't pay full price and now he can flip it and make good profit off those coins too. I see it as a Win-Win for the both of us. He didn't have to lug that coin back home without a sale, made a profit and has more inventory to sell for more profit; I drove home happy with a Super coin and less inventory.

Super honest dealer who offered a very fair market price for everything, even though he may have lowballed me on that AU50 '89-CC, but he did come down $1500 from his initial price, so that more than made up the difference in my mind.

Sorry about the looooong story, but the coin deserves a really good story!