Blast White Morgan Dollars

cinque1543

I know that many individuals prefer toned Morgans, and there is of course nothing wrong with that. However, I prefer untoned, blast white Morgans. I don't own any, but am looking for my first one, maybe like the PCGS/CAC one in the attached image.

I know silver can spot and discolor over time. But if a coin has made it to present day in blast white, are there any special storage precautions I would need to take to keep it looking blast white? I'd hate to buy one and then look at it in 20 years, and find that it's turned all spotty.

winesteven

Like you, I’m part of the large minority that prefers highly lustrous, Mint State blast white Morgan Dollars. These coins look today exactly as the designer Morgan envisioned they would look as they came off the press!

Decide on your approximate budget for each coin, so you’ll know what grade to look for, for each coin. Be choosy, as you’ll see plenty. Look for sharp strikes, nice detailed breast feathers, and minimal marks on the cheek, neck and fields for the grade. Only buy problem free coins!!! Only by looking at a lot of coins in the grades you want, will you then be able to see coins that are above average for the grade. Not every coin graded MS65 for example, looks the same. Some are nicer than others, and it’s ok to pay a bit more for a coin with nicer eye appeal for the grade.

Here’s one of mine, a common date:

Steve

JBK

I love blast white silver but, especially where I live, toning is often pretty much inevitable.

Also, fans of blast white Morgans should be aware that the coins might not have always have been that way.

winesteven

@JBK said:
I love blast white silver but, especially where I live, toning is often pretty much inevitable.

Also, fans of blast white Morgan's should be aware that the coins might not have always have been that way.

True, many blast white coins may (or likely) have been dipped, but apparently every one of those that I buy have been dipped gently enough to still merit a CAC sticker.

Separately, in the world of expensive fine art, it is accepted and encouraged to have paintings hundreds of years old undergo "restoration" to have the bright colors which have been made "dull" for a variety of reasons now show the brilliant colors the artist created. As such, not only am I fine with blast white classic coins that have been gently dipped, but a large minority of other collectors are too. I know this from the aggressive bidding on these coins at auction. Let's not forget the story of the Emperors New Clothes. Maybe over time other collectors will join this large minority, lol.

I've been shown many truly ugly coins by dealers, and they try to rationalize it by saying "Well, that proves the coin is original". Yes, it is indeed original, but still ugly. With that said, i agree and admire MANY "attractively" toned coins.

Steve

JBK

A professional and careful dipping might be acceptable to most, but I am a little concerned that demands for a perpetual blast white condition might result in eventual overdipping, and once that happens there is no turning back.

winesteven

@JBK said:
A professional and careful dipping might be acceptable to most, but I am a little concerned that demands for a perpetual blast white condition might result in eventual overdipping, and once that happens there is no turning back.

True, and to each his own.

CAC will not sticker overdipped coins. So for now, I'm getting tremendous pleasure from my highly lustrous blast white coins that look exactly as the designer envisioned. I happen to love highly lustrous coins, and toning has a tendency to cover lovely toning to some extent, based on the amount of toning.

Steve