Morgan Dollar Dilemma

Bochiman

So, some series, such as Morgans, I don't always like to have multiple examples slabbed. Too many other coins I could go after.
Recently, I sent in a crossover submission and another submission of raw coins. Each submission had an 1896 morgan. (Edited to add: Both are graded MS64)
I hadn't really planned on that, but I was taking quality NGC/PCI/ANACS coins to cross with one submission and had had this 1896 for more than a few years from k6az. I called it "burnt toning" as it is kind of dark.




In the raw submission, I was taking a handful or two of what I thought were my top morgans to submit, for phone. This one graded what I thought it would when raw.
This one we bought last year at a local show because my son liked the EOR toning on the reverse (and, I did as well).



So, I like toned morgans, and now I have 2 of the same year/mm. Not everyone likes toning the same. Given that they are both slabbed by PCGS and both are the same grade, and both recently graded in the same month (noting that for consistency sake), which would YOU keep it you kept only 1.....and why? Would it be the toning? The marks you can see? You prefer obv toned coins? A coin toss?

Stupid

Both are nice. I like the top coin with the toning on the obverse and reverse.

lasvegasteddy

i'm in the i'd keep the 1st one crowd here...
way better toning coverage
way better color
don't really see marks
obv or rev but always better when both
no coin toss after getting busted in the 5th grade for pitching quarters

messydesk

I like the first one better. The roll end toning is a little distracting for me and I don't like where it turned dark brown.

BryceM

If you can't decide between them, keep both of them!

123cents

Both have great toning!

AUandAG

Sorry you have to get rid of either of them. I'd keep them in the fold until I hit a show that
had a coin I really wanted. Then would pull both of them out and shop them around
and sell one to get the new looker.

bob

Justlooking

This one is an impossible choice.

BAJJERFAN

I sorta like the endroller myself, but then again 1896 toners aren't exactly scarce. If you don't have a big premium in them, I'd keep both. One doesn't tend to see a lot of rainbow types in the 1896 dated coins.

sbeverly

I'd chose the first one. I like the toning more evenly distributed.

Twobitcollector

I really like 1st one, but I would keep both

joeykoins

I hope you make the right decision. This is a hard one,to decide. I prefer #2, because I like when one side is toned and the other side isn't. The reason being is, there should be no question,whether or not the coin has been cooked.Good Luck. Both are nice coins,anyway.

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>I like the first one better. The roll end toning is a little distracting for me and I don't like where it turned dark brown. >>



Here is one with some brown/burnt sienna which I kinda like.

PerryHall

They're both nice coins. I would keep both of them if at all possible.

rkfish

for me.....end roller for sure.

TheBigB

I like the one with the end of roll toning better.

lcoopie

I kind of consider all non key Morgan's as a group
The date is not too important.

No keys here

Bochiman

I appreciate all the comments so far, and welcome further comments.
I will say that I was inherently prejudiced against one of them, initially, but some of the comments have made me step back and take another look, which is why I posted the thread.

I liked the fact that they were both trueviewed, and graded the same, in the same time period, as that makes it a more apples-to-apples comparison instead of blaming anything on lighting from different pictures, angles, sizes, etc.

I'm still not sure which I may ultimately end up keeping. I'm not in a huge hurry, though I am going to start downsizing a few coins soon....(a dealer recently listed a few coins we need for our core collection but they aren't cheap as they are all pretty much in the key/semi-key part of the series).

Hmmmmmmm....decisions, decisions, decisions.

joeykoins

Knowing those two beauties you have, I wouldn't mind being in your predicament!