Growing as a collector: Morgan love/hate/neutrality

shirohniichan

It seems that when I run across US coin collectors, the majority of them are Morganphiles (if they take themselves really seriously, they object to that moniker and say they collect "Liberty Head Dollars").

When I started collecting I found an 1879-O dollar in a dealer's box for $3.00. Wow! A coin almost 100 years old from a Mint I'd never heard of before for only 3 bucks?! I was in love.

After I while I thought Morgans were getting pretty boring. There was no way I could afford a date run no matter how many lawns I mowed, and the design looked less impressive once I got to know more about US and foreign coins.

Once I got into 19th century type coins I almost loathed Morgans as they filled dealer lists, cases, etc. I thought collectors were focusing on them too much and ignoring seated coins, busties, etc. What was so danged interesting about coins that sat for decades in vaults when there were so many others that circulated widely as a medium of exchange? Sheesh.

Now that I'm reading about the Specie Resumption issue, arguments for the free coinage of silver, etc., I'm finding them somewhat interesting again. One thing that appeals to me is that I can actually hold circulated silver coins from the 1870s (the '79-S and other common ones), feel their heft, and examine them closely without worrying about damaging them and making them worth less.

For the rest of you who don't collect them by date, mintmark, or (heaven forbid) VAM, what do you think of this popular series? Why?

bidask

Common dates are pretty in high grade MS.

CoinJunkie

Not enough options above. Are we talking about Sunnywood's collection or a dipped common date
MS63? The former just may be "the greatest thing since sliced bread".

QuarterCollector

Never like them. I'm not fond of the obverse design. Way too much going on in Liberty's hair. Also, she looks more like a man than a woman. Rivals the Barber series. I am more of a Bust fan. Reverse, on the other hand is quite nice.

Tom

Aegis3

With very few exceptions, I find Morgans to be Bland.

MidLifeCrisis

Generally, I think Morgan Dollars are pretty boring. However, I will always have a place in my collection for an 1878-CC Morgan because my grandmother gave me one when I was about ten years old and that started me out in this hobby.

shirohniichan

<< <i>With very few exceptions, I find Morgans to be Bland. >>

mirabela

I used to love them. Then I concluded there was no good set of them I could build that I'd actually be able to afford, and I dumped all of them that I had (around two dozen) except the one in my type set. I didn't buy another one for years. Recently I bought another one, though. And then after that, I bought another, but it was just something I thought I could resell. But today I bought yet another. So now I have four. And I kind of like them. Where this is all headed, I don't know.

SeattleSlammer

Morgans are so ubiquitous it's to be expected that many would find them boring. But of course, there's a good reason they're so ubiquitous, too....so many people love them. Even the ugliest examples contain an ounce of silver.....that heft in hand is hard not to like. Still, it's easy to become numb to row upon row upon row of dull white examples.

That's why for me they either need some really nice color, some really nice mirrors/contrast, or they need to be in the 67+ class and be nearly flawless with booming luster. I don't think I'll ever get tired of those types.

golfer72

luv em

clarkbar04

I find a lot of them boring. I went from buying a raw 63 on ebay every couple of days a few years ago to a nicer one every other month or so. This was after a long hiatus of collecting so it felt new again, and I have finally found the ability to contain myself.

Currently pondering another series to collect, just haven't decided yet.

BillyKingsley

I am indifferent on them. they aren't something I go nuts over. I don't see why they are so popular because there are a lot better designs out there.

I have two by the way!

But I much prefer the Peace dollar...

Bayard1908

I liked them when I was a boy. I have no use for them now.

silvergoldnut

love them and i am lucky to have them all.
vams , rainbow tones got to have them too !!!!

sweetwilliet

I voted "They are the greatest thing since sliced bread." Of course, pl and dmpl morgans are even better, and probably top the invention of the wheel. The only thing that rivals morgan dollars are Skittles.

DorkGirl

I used to think that they were the only coin worth collecting..........then I was lured over to the Darkside

lcoopie

they are big
they are silver
they are old
they cost less than flowing hair, draped bust, seated, and trade dollars
so I am stuck with them

airplanenut

I'm not too fond of sliced bread, actually...

LeeBone

<< <i>love them and i am lucky to have them all.
vams , rainbow tones got to have them too !!!! >>



What he said...

thatboyaintright

Started with Morgans, now I have taste..

Steve27

I agree that Morgans are more hype than substance, but those DMPL versions are quite appealing (I own one).

sumnom

They're OK, I guess. I don't really feel the need to go out get one though. My collection is Morganless.

BAJJERFAN

There are a lot of folks who pooh pooh the plethora of Morgans at shows, but from what I see a ton of folks flock to them.

shirohniichan

Morgans are so ubiquitous it's to be expected that many would find them boring.

They're found everywhere, too.

Heavily circulated silver dollars from the 1870s and '80s have a strange appeal to me as they were actually used as a medium of exchange rather than only as a deposit against which silver certificates were issued.

mumu

They have the widest gamut of unique toners. Blast whites, once you have one in DMPL and in frosty white, youve had them all.

RWB

I suspect many older collectors were drawn to Morgan dollars because they were the oldest uncirculated coins available for face value from banks.

barbershopper

I didn't collect them in my first era, 1943-1961, when I got married.
The second era began in 2002. I started completing sets and replacing
3 I had sold in the early '60s.
Then I got a chance on the Bay to buy a complete set of Morgans.
22 grand and every coin except the '95-P in XF45 and up.
Just couldn't pass that up and have been very happy with my decision.
I did replace the '95-P COPY with a genuine PR62.
JT

Raybob15239

I collect Morgan VAMs. I enjoy digging thru dealer junk boxes, cherry picking varieties.

dizzyfoxx

I think they (especially the monster toned) are grossly over-rated. They seem to be more prevalent than flies at a picnic.

anablep

I don't really go for the blast white coins and generally ignore those Morgans.

I don't really go for the wild end roll, mint bag or "Battlecreek" toning either.

I prefer a nicely rim toned, lusterous coin with an antique look to it.

When I find one, amongst the throngs of Morgans out there, I am happy...

Rollerman

I'm thinking you are missing a couple of options in your pole. If your pole were grades they would run A+, D+ (maybe C-) and F. I really like my Morgans, but I have sets of other series and really love my 7070 type set which would probably be the last thing I'd get rid of if I were ever forced to do that.
So my "grade" would be B+. I really enjoy them, but I have other interests as well.
Pete