Morgan experts-Did I get hosed?

Blackhawk · January 6, 2003 1:31PM

Here's a link to a 1880-CC GSA Morgan that I bid on yesterday. What do you think that the grade really is?

Thanks,
Bill

1880-CC GSA

Placid · January 6, 2003 1:33PM

Click saver. Sold as MS-64+.

stman · January 6, 2003 1:37PM

Are you aware it's a 80 rev78?

Edit to add: I don't think the seller knew it either or probably would have wanted more money. I think you got a good deal.

Placid · January 6, 2003 1:38PM

No expert here but the pictures are kind of small to judge from but I would guess 63-64 depending if the darker marks are luster streaks or hiding hits.
In my opinion for the price you either got a fair deal or got a great deal.

Blackhawk · January 6, 2003 2:10PM

I noticed the reverse after I bid on the coin. Now I'm trying to figure out what overdate it is by looking at these scans.

Mike921 · January 6, 2003 2:54PM

I thought that reverse looked like a 78 I had to go back and look at the date. I thought that was only in 79. Hmmmmm

Mike921 · January 6, 2003 2:58PM

I think you have a very nice coin there. Looks like your getting more than you expected also. I think it looks like a solid 64, as long as those marks on the obverse do not have scratches or nicks with it then I think it has a good chance at being 65.

Good Job I would have used "Buy it Now" also if I would have seen it that is!!

relayer · January 6, 2003 3:04PM

I hate to tell you this, but I graded it MS63.

The last thread I graded it MS66 - and it was a 64

dorkkarl · January 6, 2003 6:44PM

ms-61

K S

MadMarty · January 6, 2003 8:29PM

Hey Karl, why a 61??? I was thinking a 63/64.

Spudmasher · January 6, 2003 9:22PM

Easily a MS64 looking at the scan. Seen worse in PCGS holders graded as MS64. Better coin being the 1880-CC/REV 78 (VAM 4). Fast disappearing in the GSA holders of this specific variety. Heritage has a 64 PCGS Dmpl for auction in the Fun Show Auction (Signature Sale) Lot # 7819. Only 2 higher as Dmpl's than that particular coin.

dorkkarl · January 6, 2003 9:42PM

based on prev. experiences.

WAY back when, i bought a couple gsa's on ebay w/ similar pic's. what i discovered was that upon receipt, the dark areas as shown in the digi-pic above, what look like black streaks were actualy heavy bagmarks/abrasions, & the coins were MUCH worse, & i do mean MUCH worse than what the digi-pic implied. they looked just like this 1, ms-63++ in the listing.

this was before i wised up to the "enhancements" of digi-pics, as shown by russ, et. al. maybe you'll get lucky & the coin really will look like that, but friend, i gotta tell ya, i doubt it. & w/ cc's in gsa's, your playing w/ fire anyway. i have looked at mountains of gsa's, & the bottom line is, 95% are heavily bagmarked, at least 95% of what's left in gsa holders. there's not much left to be cherry-picked these days. to make matters worse, looks like the rev. of this 1 got nailed too.

blackhawk (hockey fan?), i hope i'm wrong, but suspicion is you got hosed if you went much above '60 money. the seller ought to have included a closeup of just the coin, or revealed the truth about the # of bagmarks.

hope i'm wrong, but just wanted to be honest.

K S

MacCoin · January 6, 2003 10:02PM

even if it is 63 but looks closer to a 64 to me. 8 over 7 no matter what rev. you didn't get hosed at all

TONEDDOLLARS · January 6, 2003 10:41PM

ms63 nice buy

Mike921 · January 6, 2003 10:53PM

I was looking at the coin again and think I noticed something. I may be wrong but just wanted to mention it.

I have been doing some research on VAM's and there is one called the Donkey's tail (VAM 1A), which is a die break at the bottom right of the "D" in dollar making it look like a donkey's tail. If you look closley it looks like a freakin donkey's tail

Only thing is, where I saw this VAM listed it only mentions it for the 1887-P. Does anyone agree or do I just not know what they look like??????

paigowjohnny · January 6, 2003 11:38PM

I'll call it a 63 from the scan....but believe me you didn't get hosed. I got an 80 rev. 78 in an auction a couple weeks ago that was a little more marked up than yours for 380+shipping and was happy to get it. You scored !!!

greghansen · January 6, 2003 11:44PM

MS64

Gilbert · January 7, 2003 12:25AM

Great coin at a great price. Even if it were a MS60/61 you got it at 60 ask (with the increased interest in CC dollars), which is an accomplishment in itself.

VAM 4 is a Top100 variety, and will always have a following, but it is not scarce and may not bring any premium above that of having the B2a (flat breast or Rev of 78) reverse.

Mike921,

I do not see evidence of the "donkey tail" on this coin. (Actually the result of a die crack through the bottom of the D which has become filled somewhat and creates a extended blob along the crack, hence the resemblence to a "tail" on the lower right of the D)

BTW Bill, looks like at least a 63 in the pic, but I agree with Karl that a great many GSA CCs offered these days are quite baggy; let us know what you think once you have it in hand.