Morgan dollar collectors wish to know...

Insider3

Please post a timeline as best you remember for the designations of PL, Semi-PL, DCAM, UDCAM. When/why was Semi-PL dropped? Anything you remember about the PL designations. We have Obverse PL why not Reverse PL?

I'm not a Morgan dollar expert but I'll start: The first I ever heard of PL coins (late 60's early 70's) was when I saw Al Johnbriar (RIP) going through Joe Gallo's (RIP) rolls of Morgan's and paying a little more for the PL coins. PL and Semi-PL were used for many years. Then, the big grading companies added DMPL and Semi-PL was dropped. At least one TPGS brought back the Semi-PL designation although I've been told that a Semi-PL does not bring more value to a coin. It would be educational for Silver dollar experts to post the timeline for all these designations.

Crypto

I remember David Hall proselytizing the dangers of 1 sided PLs to investors in the early 80s.

Not necessarily an answer to your question just a little extra piece of the story.

Typekat

Good question!
All I can contribute is that Semi-PL was never used as a designation by PCGS or NGC.
Also, that back in the 60’s and 70’s there were a few pioneering dealers (many in the western US) who set their own standards and sold accordingly.
To your last point, I would say that even though semi-PL status is not ‘officially’ recognized, many collectors DO value that ‘look’ and sometimes cameo-ish contrast as opposed to a satiny lustre.

lilolme

I don't recall anything. However, this is from an article written by Randy Campbell.
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I found the Greysheet / CDN when it changed the category name from proof like to DMPL - Nov 17, 1989.
Not sure that it worth much.
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This is a paragraph from a Wayne Miller section:
"Although fully prooflike dollars are readily distinguishable from the more common frosty-luster specimens, this difference was not articulated until the early 1960's. Dean Tavenner, then proprietor of the Cartwheel in Missoula, Montana , is believed to have been the first major dealer to publish a separate price listing for prooflike silver dollars."

GoldFinger1969

Wow, look at those prices during the Coin Bubble.