GSA Morgan Question

CoinAddict

I just found this auction on eBay
GSA Morgan
I wondering if you can make more money if they are still sealed in its government boxes or if it is opened. If you can make more money on them when they are sealed then I want to know why he opened it to take pictures.

nwcs

Yes, if it is still sealed it will sell for a premium. But everyone will assume it is an 1884-CC and I think the last time I saw a sealed one sell, it sold for around $300.

nwcs

I actually looked at the auction now. Original materials usually add a small premium to the coin. I thought you meant sealed as in never opened.

CoinAddict

The seller said in the auction that it was unopened until he opened it to take the pictures. If he had not opened it in otherwords he could have probably made more than what he will make at the end of the auction.

Dog97

Opening the box doesn't hurt it but opening the plastic case makes it just another Morgan. (yawn)
If you are refering to opening the shipping box sealed GSAs do bring a prem as bidders will bid crazy money on the slim chance they get a better date & grade coin.

AtcBob

I have a 1882-CC Morgan in the sealed box with the COA, black box etc... are common? Or are the 1884-CC's more common?

Bob

DaveG

Currently, the 82-CCs are fetching about $5 more than either the 83-CCs or the 84-CCs.

As I recall, the 82-CCs used to fetch a bit more.

gsaguy

CoinAddict,

An unopened, unmarked GSA recently sold on ebay for $400. So yes, generally the coins are worth more in the unopened boxes than they are once opened. Obviously, if the coin proved to be a better date piece, or a high grade or nicely toned piece, it might bring more money. In this particular auction, the seller says it was unopened but he doesn't show the original shipping box. It could have been one of those where the date was marked on the outside of the box.

I sell unopened, unmarked GSA's from time to time and I tell the buyers to play the odds and assume that the coin within is the most common, 1884-CC, and that it will exist in the typical grade for these coins, MS60-62.

In recent years I've seen two really nice coins come from the unopened, unmarked GSA packages. One was a beautifully toned 1885-CC in MS66 and the other was a blast white 1884-CC also in MS66. I'm sure others have gotten lucky but I bet the average coin grades MS63 or less and is probably an 1884-CC.

To me, the reason for buying an unopened, unmarked GSA packaging is the novelty of owning a part of history that is slowly but surely disappearing. Let's face it, every time one of these changes hands, the chances are that it will be opened and the original packaging destroyed. How many remain today? Certainly fewer than yesterday.

GSAGUY

Edited to add: The photo of the original box finally downloaded. It appears that it was indeed unmarked based on the color of the shipping box.