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Morgan Dollar - Carbon Spots or gunk?

ProofCollectionProofCollection Posts: 7,627 ✭✭✭✭✭

I'm looking at buying this Morgan, it has these spots on it. I know carbon spots can't be removed. I'm thinking these are not carbon-related. And when I say "carbon spots" I don't know if carbon spot is the correct description, you know what I mean. It kind of looks to me like surface gunk that could possible be removed with restoration. What is everyone's opinion? This is the only picture I have.

Comments

  • Morgan13Morgan13 Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Thats there forever unfortunately.

    Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
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  • Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 9,564 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 18, 2026 5:42PM

    I would pass as I avoid that kind of material. Is this a graded or raw coin?

    Investor
  • MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 38,621 ✭✭✭✭✭

    yeah. is it raw?

  • dipset512dipset512 Posts: 286 ✭✭✭

    I had a Morgan with spots like those. A dip didn't do anything. Acetone with a Q-Tip reduced it some, but not all the way completely.

  • ProofCollectionProofCollection Posts: 7,627 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's in a PCGS slab.

  • MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 38,621 ✭✭✭✭✭

    that takes out experimentation.

    the 2 spots on the reverse look like carbon spots

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,642 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If it’s slabbed, it’s a hard pass. That’s too many factors to make the deal work.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 47,415 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Those so-called "carbon spots" actually tarnish or toning spots. They appear to be small and few in number and they wouldn't bother me. If those small spots bother you, pass on the coin and look for another Morgan dollar.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • ProofCollectionProofCollection Posts: 7,627 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PerryHall said:
    Those so-called "carbon spots" actually tarnish or toning spots. They appear to be small and few in number and they wouldn't bother me. If those small spots bother you, pass on the coin and look for another Morgan dollar.

    Tarnish or toning could probably be removed with restoration, correct? Or is it permanent? that is the question.

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 47,415 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ProofCollection said:

    @PerryHall said:
    Those so-called "carbon spots" actually tarnish or toning spots. They appear to be small and few in number and they wouldn't bother me. If those small spots bother you, pass on the coin and look for another Morgan dollar.

    Tarnish or toning could probably be removed with restoration, correct? Or is it permanent? that is the question.

    In my experience, the spots can be lightened but never totally removed by dipping. IMHO, the degree of improvement is not worth the cost of getting it reslabbed including the cost of two-way insured shipping.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

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