Opinion on this Morgan Please

Lori

I have been offered this morgan for $529 and believe it is a good deal for the grade and beauty. It would be my biggest purchase to date and it makes me nervous. I was hopping some of you might be able to tell me if that is a fair price for the beauty as well as the grade for this coin. Here is the picture:



Lori

nwcs

I think the coin looks nice, but given the holder, the type of color, etc. I would not pay more than $250-300 for it.

cacheman

Lori, I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news but this isn't an MS67. 80S's are known to be found in less baggy condition than others and this appears to have a number of disturbances on the fields, particularly in front of Anna's face and some marks on her cheek too. It looks closer to a 64 but I would need to see the reverse to voice a complete opinion. S

jbsteven

I would give it a ms65-66 and pay roughly $250 for it

Lori

Two additional photos I was given:



Lori

greghansen

Way overgraded. I was looking at other coins in your collecgtion. This does not even compare favorably with the ICG MS65 you have in your collection. The untoned portions of this coin has NO luster. Very flat affect. There is no way a coin is going to get a MS67 with that appearance. I concur with the MS64 maybe market graded to MS65 because of the attractive toning. I can tell from your other coins you like color, but I would definately advise you wait for another opportunity.

paigowjohnny

pass on it....

dragon

Ok Lori, I'll give you the lowdown on toned ICG graded dollars. For the most part, ICG is well known for overgrading coins with attractive toning, sometimes by as much as two full points. ICG also has a reputation for being significantly looser on Morgan dollars than PCGS (as an example) in grades of MS65 and above. While there are quite a few nicely colored pieces in ICG holders, most are overgraded by AT LEAST a full point IMO, and some even worse. While it is true that many spectacular toned pieces are valued by their colorations and patterns moreso than the grade, a gorgeous colored MS67 will be worth a lot more than the same coin in MS64 or MS65.

Now about the coin in question. It's very hard to tell from your pic but that piece does not look like a 67 to me, maybe a high end MS65 or low end MS66 at best. In fact, the simple fact that you are being offered this coin for less than a generic, untoned PCGS 1880-S in MS67 coin would sell for should tell you something right off the bat regarding how ICG grades toned coins. This piece however is pretty (going by your pic), and if you REALLY like the colors, $529.00 is not unreasonble IMO even though the coin is most likely not a true MS67.

dragon

DCAMFranklin

I would pass on it. I think you will be able to find a more attractive piece.

jeffnpcb

Lori, It is a fairly common date, as well as 1881-S, and even PCGS has grade over 1200 in MS67. I would check on the mext Teletrade Rainbow Auction where they have alot of Binions and you can view most of them with full tone. You may also be lucking too grab it for less than the price he's asking!

Lori

Thank you for the help. I decided to pass and take your advise and look elsewhere and stick to pcgs or ngc slabs.

I just love this board. It saves us who dont know much about coins a lot of money.

Lori

MadMonk

I agree with the some of the others. Stay away from that coin! If you really want to spend that kind of money, get a date that is more rare, more desireable for KNOWLEDGEABLE Morgan collectors.
I learned a lot about my selected series before I spent any big money (anything over $50.00, to me is big money). I've spent $1400.00 on a key date coin in one of my sets. and numerous $500.00 to $1000.00 pieces. In all these cases, I collected that series for about 3 yrs, and knew the ropes; what type of coins you usually saw for the date (eye appeal, toning, grades). i.e., even full time dealers would ask my opinions on the series. I collect toned coins. It took me a year to truly understand what beautiful toninfg really was, where to find coins like that, how it affects grade, what I truly and really liked for the long term. (i.e., pieces I would always get a thrill to look at).

coinguy1

Hi Lori,

I don't think we've spoken before, but I will add this :

There is no way for people, no matter how expert they might be at grading, to give accurate grading opinions of high grade mint state and proof coins, in particular, based on images. It might be fun to try but the reality is, it can't be done, by anyone.

Please keep that in mind when you seek opinions here. Based on probability, alone, sometimes you will end up receiving good advice and sometimes get bad advice, but it wont be because any of us can grade accurately, from viewing images. Sorry to give you that news but it is the truth and you need to know it.

nwcs

Point taken, Mark. Something to keep in mind. Especially for images like this one which have a high jpeg compression which distorts it.

MadMonk

Coinguy1 is absolutely correct. I have some lock 65's and 66's that if imaged would look lower/ higher
etc. A lot of newer collectors see an image of a coin graded 65, with no noticeable marks. They think, hey that's clean, I can make a killing cracking it. So they bid/buy. Well guess what, the coin doesnt have the luster needed for the loftier grades, or it has a pretty noticeable hairline that the scan / image doesnt show, etc., etc. My main concern is that you seem to be a new collector, and your nervous about spending the cash. There are more coins than money out there.

banknote1

Mark is correct! You just can't grade a high grade coin from a photo. IMO the coin does look nice, and has good color...

Dog97

In this case the grade really doesn't matter because the coin isn't that hot looking. For $529 I need to think more than it's just another toned Morgan. (yawn)

DCAMFranklin

Here you go Lori. JUMP on this one!

LINK

Lori

This is a raw coin though. I have been told to stay away from them until I know how to tell At from real toning. I have a AT one that I thougth was real. In fact I have it in to be graded at ANACS along with a blue 1964 nickle and a weird 1964 penny still in the cello. Here is the AT Morgan.


I think they still will slab it even if it is at at ANACS right? Does anyone know.

Lori

RotatedRainbows

Yes, they will grade it UNC details Net MS60 Artificial Toning.

maddox

I would pass, granted it's a nice looking Morgan, but the coin does not deserve the grade. I would put it at 65, maybe even 64. Hard to tell from a photo. I'm kinda tough on grading and the fields are not clean enough for this grade.

But if you like it, buy it

coinkat

Lori:

As Morgans come, the 1880-s is probably the second most common date there is...and it is readily available in MS 66 and MS 67. While the coin you have been offered is attractive, I tend to agree that an accurate grade in such a lofty mint state grade such as 67 can not be made from a photo/scan (I call it my own technically challenged view of coin grading...). Personally, I think you could probably find something as nice, perhaps in a 66 grade if that is not issue, for $300 less. Then use the $300 towards another Morgan that you like...just some thoughts.

BRdude

I'd have to cncur with the majority here Lori. For that kind of money you need one that JUMPS out at ya!! ESPECIALLY if it is a common date like this is.