Morgan question - 1st coin

MajorDuty

I guess my question really has no one, specific answer, so I'm ljust ooking to hear some opinions.

I don't own a single Morgan silver dollar, yet, and I know very little about them. While I do not have any immediate plans to aquire a full set, I would like to get myself a few to start a fledgling collection. I want to start in the 1800's, and I'm wondering what year/s would be a good place to start. I'm not yet familiar with key dates, low mintages, etc. So, if you were to start off with a certain year or mint location, which one would it be, and why? I understand this is kind of vague and subjective; I'd just like to read some opinions.

Thank you,

~Maj

flaminio

Well, Morgans were minted from 1878 through 1904, and again in 1921. Does any date in that range have any personal significance to you?

For my type set, the year 1892 was personally significant, so I chose to get an 1892 Morgan. Perhaps something along those lines would work for you.

Wolf359

You can get a nice pleasing uncirculated 1885, 1886, or 1887 Morgan for $25-$30 dollars. I'm sure a
board member here or your local dealer could oblige you.

paigowjohnny

I my opinion...and the way I got started...do a "date set". That is, one coin from each year, as opposed to each mintmark.

With the exception of the 93-95...tough in any grade...you can get real nice MS coins for reasonable prices.

If you only want to get one or a couple fo r the type...I'd recommend the early S mints...78-82 S.....they are usually well struck and very attractive in mid-high MS, and relatively inexpensive...

MajorDuty

I'd love to hook-up with some dealers here. I know there are several, or rather I think there are several, I just haven't taken the time to seek them out. I found a site selling certified MS-63 Morgans for $49, but I have no idea if that is a good price, or what. They're not certified by PCGS, btw.

1886 means a little to me because that was 100 years before I graduated. :-) *shrugs shoulders*

What are the key dates? I probably should get myself a book, huh?

Steve27

It all depends on your budget, but I would consider a common date (e.g. 82, 83, or 84) Carson City Morgan in a grade of MS 63-64. While this will cost in the neighborhood of $200, they'll never go down in price, and they're a nice piece of history.

Wolf359

1886 means a little to me because that was 100 years before I graduated. :-) *shrugs shoulders*

You wanted ideas, so don't critize when you get them. As far as key dates, look at the PCGS price
guide.

skompier

<< <i>1886 means a little to me because that was 100 years before I graduated. :-) *shrugs shoulders*

You wanted ideas, so don't critize when you get them. As far as key dates, look at the PCGS price
guide. >>



Hmm..is he criticizing himself?

I just started collecting Morgans too. I collect Morgans that I like and can afford. A year set is a great place to start. I will get a CC someday soon.

Steve

jdsinva

You can always join the growing VAMming ranks and collect them that way. Although I collect Top 100 & Hot 50, my pet project is the 1878-S VAMs. Outside of the super-high graded and key date VAM coins, most can be found fairly inexpensive.

kranky

Go get a copy of the Guide Book of US Coins (aka the Red Book) which is a great general reference on all US coins. While it lists the mintages, those numbers aren't especially informative for Morgan dollars because so many were melted.

For a recommendation on where to start, I'd agree with paigowjohnny - the early S mints are readily available in high grade, look great and are relatively inexpensive.

CarlWohlforth

I recently sold some common date Morgans that were graded MS 64 by PCGS. They went for around $50 on eBay. I was hoping for more. Anyway I would agree with the suggestion to buy a Red Book if you don't have one yet. I also agree with the idea that you could look at a few early S mint coins. Sometimes they come with frosty devices and look really nice for a modest amount of money.

greghansen

If I didn't own a single Morgan, I think the first thing I would do is buy a 1880-S, 1881-S or 1882-S in about MS63 or MS64 for between $35 & $50. Those are common dates, but you can get some well struck, amazingly lustrous and smooth coins for those common years without breaking the bank, just with a little patience and looking around.

If I was going to 'take a flyer' on a $50 and under 'key date' I'd try to find a nice VF-XF 1886-S or perhaps a nice troublefree VF 1889-S or 1892-S...if you can find them. Unless you know the series though...don't buy a raw VF-XF...your going to wind up with cleaned or impaired crap. Much better off buying a nice slabbed MS63-64 common date, until you've looked at enough raw morgans to know what a nice unimpaired circulated coin should look like. This for example should be the look your striving for when selecting a circulated VF Morgan:

MajorDuty

<< <i>1886 means a little to me because that was 100 years before I graduated. :-) *shrugs shoulders*

You wanted ideas, so don't critize when you get them. As far as key dates, look at the PCGS price
guide. >>



Huh? It was far from a criticism. Let me rephrase that, then. There are really no dates in the 1800's that are special to me, but if I had to pick one, I suppose I'd pick 1886 for the reason stated. That's why I shrugged my shoulders; I certainly was not criticizing something someone was kind enough to share an opinion about a topic I started. (I said, 1886 means A LITTLE to me, not it means LITTLE TO ME.) Sorry, but I really don't see where you're getting negativity from anywhere in that post.

Jeez.

Thank you for the input; I'll check out the price guide. I'm sure there is much information in there that would be helpful to me.....and the guide won't bark back.

Great replies by all of you so far. Thank you very much. That was exactly what I was looking for. These Morgans are really cool coins.

paigowjohnny

A good ref to buy up front is Q. David Bowers' Red Book of Morgan Dollars...a very interesting read !!

ER

Get the book(s). QDB's Red Book on Morgans is small and easy to read. Also, the Red Book of U.S. Coins. These are good start.
Edit: Paigow Quick Draw McGraw.

jmcu12

I think Morgans are beautiful.

My own personal favorite:

1885 CC in a GSA holder. Not only do you have a great looking example, you have the history of the Morgan series, the GSA sales, and the Carson City Mint; all in the palm of your hand.

Others have their favorite mint and year; this is mine.

Read up on them, you wont be sorry.

As far as reading material, I love the Red Book by Mr. Bowers and the Encyclopedia by Van Allen and Mallis (The VAM book)

Good luck!!!

itsnotjustme

If you want only a few and on a limited budget, can I suggest a low grade DMPL. I picked up 4 recently on e-bay for $74 to $200 each. You can see them in this thread here.

Also, I agree with a nice S mint example from the early years. An MS65 will run you $125-140, or a 63/64 at prices others have noted above.

p.s. Are you in the military. I am, and I also graduated in 1986.

ibzman350

"I don't own a single Morgan silver dollar, yet, and I know very little about them"


The first thing I would buy is some books,any of the above mentioned will work.


BTW



Herb

TheRaven

I figured that Morgans where minted in 5 decades at 5 different mints. This seemed an interesting way of doing it.

So I got the following:

1879-S MS-64
1884-CC MS-63
1897-P MS-63
1904-O MS-63
1921-D MS-63

All are PCGS graded and cost me $250 in total when I bought them, so not expensive to do, however the CC is quite a bit more then the $110 I paid.

Jdurg

I've only got a few Morgans myself, and that is mostly because of the year set I'm putting together. (An example of every coin minted in the year 1880 from each mint). So I was able to get some nice 1880 Morgans off of E-Bay for about 20 bucks each. The 1880-S I got is VERY well struck and still has a brilliant cartwheel luster to it. Amazing how it's still in pristine shape after 125 years. There are some nick marks in the fields and on Liberty's cheek, but that's about it. Once my 1880-CC arrives later this week, I'll post some photos. (I'm now a bit saddened that the 1880-O I got looks to have been dipped and/or polished sometime back. Oh well. )

greymars

I love Morgans, and currently have a 1879s MS65 PL on layaway at a national dealer
Also working on a Basic Circulation Set, under the name "Light of Mars"
check it out if you wish

Gary

anablep

I will echo what TheRaven said. Go for one dollar from each mint in a different decade. Or go for one year from each mint (like 1882 P, CC, O, S) as an example. (BTW there is no P mintmark on Morgans)