Ideas for collecting Morgan dollars

cinque1543

Let's say one wants to build a collection of Morgan dollars, not the full set but a subset that a) follows some sort of theme, and b) consists of 5-15 coins in grade MS60 or better. For example, one might choose to build a collection of Carson City coins, which would consist of 13 coins (excluding varieties).

What are other some imaginative ways to build a small Morgan collection focused around a common theme?

coastaljerseyguy

For a small set, you could do the 1st year 1878 8TF, 7/8TF, Rev 78, Rev 79, 78 - S and 78 CC. All in MS63-ish for around $1,300

oldabeintx

My type set includes the 8TF, a toner, something from each mint, a proof, a PL, a DMPL. The 21 is a bit different as a type. I will likely add more interesting varieties. If you primarily do type, a little imagination can build a pretty nice set of Morgans, each one distinctive. I like the CC subset idea, something about the CC mint, silver mines, early Nevada.

291fifth

One exceptionally nice example from each mint. "Exceptionally nice" should be defined to meet your own preference.

[Deleted User]

A set of a single date/mm showing various die states and types of luster.

M4Madness

Carson City Morgans definitely fit both your A and B criteria. MS60 for all years is doable, if your budget allows. XF45 was the ceiling for my set. LOL!

Good luck in your quest!

Mr_Spud

I’m going for a date set, BU but raw, in a vintage Wayte Raymond National Coin Album. Bigger set than what the OP is wanting, but I think it will be a nice looking set once it’s complete.

In my mind, Morgan’s are so readily available and easy to grade that I don’t see the need to have them slabbed unless you have one with extraordinary toning or if you are going for a pop top, so that’s why I’m going with raw coins in an album.

M4Madness

I threw together 75% of a various grade date set once in a few weeks' time, but a friend talked me out of them for $700 and I abandoned the quest. Lol!

dhikewhitney

A grading set from poor to gem

Rampage

I am working on a grading set for a popular Morgan variety.

yspsales

8TF have a great following.

Alot of rare VAM's

coinkat

You could select a year within a decade and assemble a year set for each decade of the series… that might offer some choices that might fit into your collecting objectives. Good luck…

Eldorado9

If it was me, I'd go with one coin from each mint, P, S, O, CC, D. That's only five coins. I would get them in as high a grade as possible, to really show the beauty of the design....Killer luster a must!

Steven59

Get a good job and don't have kids or get married - my only advice

dcarr

Here is my set of 13:

"1887-CC" (concept pattern):

"1905-S":

"1906-D":

"1909-o":

"1920-D":

"1921-D" (100th anniversary 1921-2021):

"1922-D":

"1964-D":

"1995 [P]":

"2022 [P]":

"2022-O":

"2022-S":

"2022-CC":

david3142

@oldabeintx said:
My type set includes the 8TF, a toner, something from each mint, a proof, a PL, a DMPL. The 21 is a bit different as a type. I will likely add more interesting varieties. If you primarily do type, a little imagination can build a pretty nice set of Morgans, each one distinctive. I like the CC subset idea, something about the CC mint, silver mines, early Nevada.

I would highly recommend that first idea. One of the coolest things about Morgan dollars is the huge variety of surfaces and looks - different luster, toning, mirrored surfaces, etc. No other series can come close to matching that. You could combine that with one from each mint too.

Here are some examples:

Rainbow toning:

Deep mirrors:

Bright white:

johnny010

I personally found my CC F15 CAC or below set multiple times more fun and much harder than my mint state CC CAC set.

One you can do in an hour and one maybe a year.

alaura22

Just do a year set at the highest grade you can and make it a CAC set

BillJones

It’s more than 10 or 15 coins, but you could do a year set with coins in the grades that fit your budget. 1893, 1894 and 1895 pose the biggest challenges, but lower grade examples are affordable.

cinque1543

Thank you all. Lots of great ideas here, and maybe still more to come!

cinque1543

@alaura22 said:
Just do a year set at the highest grade you can and make it a CAC set.

When you say “year set”, does that mean one coin from each mint for a given year? So about 4-5 coins in total, as also suggested above by Eldorado9?

alaura22

@cinque1543 said:

@alaura22 said:
Just do a year set at the highest grade you can and make it a CAC set.

When you say “year set”, does that mean one coin from each mint for a given year? So about 5 coins in total, as also suggested above by Eldorado9?

No,
one coin for every year, 1878, 1879, 1880 ect
It can be any mintmark for any of the years
Like this:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/dollars/morgan-dollars-major-sets/morgan-dollars-date-set-circulation-strikes-1878-1921/1021

alaura22

OR THIS:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-mint-state-dollars/everyman-mint-state-morgan-dollars-date-set-1878-1921/8151

anablep

Redfield, GSA, or other special slabs

Rollerman

I have a raw year set, one coin for each year regardless of mint mark. Dansco has an album for this or at least they did. I also had a slabbed set which I sold here a year ago when I decided to cut down my collection some. I kind of have sellers regret about that, my family could have sold them much easier than the raw set. Both sets were fun, the 93, 94, and the 95 coins were nice AU's the others were MS 63, 64 and 65. I tried to match them eye appealwise.
Another option, and it will be a bit more expensive, is a collection of Redfield dollars. I also have several of those Morgans and a couple of Peace dollars. I've always been fascinated by the Redfield hoard story.
You could do a set demonstrating the various types of toning, bullseye, crescent, rim, rainbow etc. I think someone already mentioned that option, but it's a good one, I have a large group of toners also (got them before they went nuts!).

Typekat

A sort of variety set maybe:

1878 (8tf, 7tf, 7/8 tf), the 1921, which is an entirely different design, and the modern 2022 issues, one each Unc. and Proof.

Add a mintmark year set such from a common year such as 1882: Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Carson City. Add a 1921 Denver to complete the MM set.

A Redfield and GSA holder Morgan would both represent great hoard stories.

Whatever you do, it should be fun!

cinque1543

@coastaljerseyguy said:
For a small set, you could do the 1st year 1878 8TF, 7/8TF, Rev 78, Rev 79, 78 - S and 78 CC. All in MS63-ish for around $1,300

Per the Redbook, it looks like there are 7 different 1878 Morgan’s, the 5 shown below, plus the 1878-CC and 1878-S. Sound right?

coastaljerseyguy

Yes 7 if you want both the 7/8 strong & weak varieties. If > 4 of the underlying feathers show, it is the strong variety and as you have shown, generally more expensive.

Pizzaman

@dcarr said:
Here is my set of 13:

"1887-CC" (concept pattern):

"1905-S":

"1906-D":

"1909-o":

"1920-D":

"1921-D" (100th anniversary 1921-2021):

"1922-D":

"1964-D":

"1995 [P]":

"2022 [P]":

"2022-O":

"2022-S":

"2022-CC":

There's a unique idea, a counterfeit set.

BillJones

I would never collect a Morgan Dollar date and mint set. It's too many coins and too much money, although I did build a couple of sets for collectors when I was dealer. I started a date set of Morgan Dollars a couple of times, but lost interest.

I do find the history of Morgan Dollars and the political maneuvering around them interesting. Here are two sets that have stuck with me for many years.

This set contains five of the six designs and mints for the 1878 Morgan Dollars. The missing coin is the 1878, reverse of 1879.

Here is the "missing coin," the 1878 reverse of '79.

I also put together this set of "all mints" Morgan Dollars. The incentive for this was a set that Bowers and Merena was offering this set at the time (many decades ago) for $125. I wanted to see if I could build it for less and I did.

Given a price of $125 for this set, you can see that the numbers have gone up quite a bit. You will also have a hard time finding raw coins in some instances, if you want to do the Capitial Plastics set.

Eric_Babula

I like a few of those ideas:

1. All 1878 Set.
2. All CC Set.
3. Toning types.

I might have to steal those ideas!

ProofCollection

How about a grading set for one particular date/mm?
P, F, G, VG, VF, XF, AU, MS... It's 27 or so depending how far you go but if you pick a common date it would probably be pretty affordable.

AUandAG

Complete O mint mark set was fun to do for me. CC's are wonderful too and certainly a bit more pricey. Just a few keys in the O set that you'll have to dig deep for.

bob

seatedlib3991

i once built a set with 1 coin from each mint from each decade. 18 coins in all. you can be as extravagant or as frugal as you wish. James

seatedlib3991

I forgot to add that finding coins that were well struck and matched the rest of the set actually involved the coins of 1921.

hummingbird_coins

Toning types is a great idea.
Classic rainbow crescent, cat's eye, blueberry, textile, pull-away, terminal, PCI/old NGC holder toning, Redfield, the possibilities are endless!

Walkerfan

A one per date set or GSA CCs

MorganFanatic

I put together a Carson City GSA set from 1800-1885,and have the otter years in Certified Condition.
Sticking with the GSA Theme i also have Four GSA Morgans that arent Carson City.
I put together a set of the High mintage Philidelphia mint years from the 1880's in MS 64 condition. this was pretty easy as they aren't very expensive.

1921 Morgans are very plentiful and easy to get MS 64or 65 for reasonable prives.

Morgans are such a great series its easy to set a theme to collect

Overdate

I have a 6-coin set in a Capital holder, one from each mint (reverse showing in front) plus one obverse showing in front. The set also features one from each decade, and includes the first and last years struck for circulation. For the obverse I selected a 2023-S proof.