Can someone please identify this?

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Toadman455
Toadman455 Posts: 26 ✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

Hello, I just acquired some coins. About 40 Kennedy half dollars, a can of 1976-77 pennies, a few other coins, but one is so worn I can't see a year or anything that identifies it, I'll try to load a couple of pics. Anyone know what it is, year, and possible guestimation of value? Thanks.

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  • TomB
    TomB Posts: 23,189 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Howdy and welcome.

    If it's a genuine US Mint product it is a Morgan dollar and appears to have the date 1881. It has also been heavily polished and/or cleaned and might have been in jewelry or a belt buckle at some point. It currently has about $28 in silver value.

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  • Toadman455
    Toadman455 Posts: 26 ✭
    edited June 25, 2025 10:54AM
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    Wow, thanks for the fast reply and the cool info. These were my Grandfathers and my Dad had them in a box since 1978 so no telling what happened to it before.

  • dipset512
    dipset512 Posts: 290 ✭✭✭✭
    edited June 25, 2025 11:12AM
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    I could be wrong, but that looks like a 9 instead of an 8.

  • Toadman455
    Toadman455 Posts: 26 ✭
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    It does. My Grandfather passed in 1978 and these coins have been in a box and unopened since. The newest coins in the box are 1977.

  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,132 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @dipset512 said:
    I could be wrong, but that looks like a 9 instead of an 8.

    The last year of production for Morgan Dollars of that era was 1921. The second digit in the date is an 8, even if the heavy wear on the coin might lead you to speculate otherwise.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • RedRocket
    RedRocket Posts: 1,924 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Look at the rims. Definitely a 1921.

  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,132 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @OnBendedKnee said:
    Look at the rims. Definitely a 1921.

    I sure don’t see the third digit of the date being a 2

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • Toadman455
    Toadman455 Posts: 26 ✭
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    Any suggestions to what I can clean/wipe it with that may reveal more detail?

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    don't clean or wipe it. keep it as is

    trying to bring up the date will only make that area an ugly mess and damage it further

    what won't hurt to try, in this case, is a putting a sheet of paper over the area and use a angled pencil side to side over the date to see what that shows

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • seanq
    seanq Posts: 8,835 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @MFeld said:

    @OnBendedKnee said:
    Look at the rims. Definitely a 1921.

    I sure don’t see the third digit of the date being a 2

    My initial read on it was 1921. On that third digit, the curvature through the center coming from the upper right to lower left is wrong for an 8, and it does not look like the lower right curve comes all the way back to the center.

    For coins this worn, I actually find it helps to hold the coin further away, zooming in on the picture creates too much noise and prevents patterns in the image from being recognized.

    Sean Reynolds

    Incomplete planchets wanted, especially Lincoln Cents & type coins.

    "Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
  • hummingbird_coins
    hummingbird_coins Posts: 1,671 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The date is definitely 1921. The way they were made that year gave them a distinctly different wear pattern in low grades - as @OnBendedKnee mentions, much of the design mushes together while the rims can remain nearly full. It is a good lowball example, and if the mintmark, or lack of one, can be determined, it could be worth $35 to the right person.

    Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
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  • 291fifth
    291fifth Posts: 25,218 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The Silver Dollar, regardless of date, has an odd wear pattern that suggests that the rims were somewhat protected while the devices were subject to very heavy wear. As TomB wrote, it was probably in some sort of item like a belt buckle. Some collectors like heavily worn coins like that but I don't know how they would view that particular coin. (I'm not one of those collectors. To me it is strictly a bullion item at this point.)

    All glory is fleeting.
  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Cleveland 117, San Antonio 109

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • jacrispies
    jacrispies Posts: 1,638 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I can make out the 1921 date fairly well.

    "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:33. Young fellow suffering from Bust Half fever.
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  • World67
    World67 Posts: 13,098 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @OnBendedKnee said:
    Look at the rims. Definitely a 1921.

    Agreed, it's a 1921.

  • Toadman455
    Toadman455 Posts: 26 ✭
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    @MsMorrisine said:
    don't clean or wipe it. keep it as is

    trying to bring up the date will only make that area an ugly mess and damage it further

    what won't hurt to try, in this case, is a putting a sheet of paper over the area and use a angled pencil side to side over the date to see what that shows

    I will try that, thank you.

  • Toadman455
    Toadman455 Posts: 26 ✭
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    @seanq said:

    @MFeld said:

    @OnBendedKnee said:
    Look at the rims. Definitely a 1921.

    I sure don’t see the third digit of the date being a 2

    My initial read on it was 1921. On that third digit, the curvature through the center coming from the upper right to lower left is wrong for an 8, and it does not look like the lower right curve comes all the way back to the center.

    For coins this worn, I actually find it helps to hold the coin further away, zooming in on the picture creates too much noise and prevents patterns in the image from being recognized.

    Sean Reynolds

    Thank you, I will try and create some better pics.

  • Toadman455
    Toadman455 Posts: 26 ✭
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    @Barberian said:
    Nice thread. Toadman is getting some top numismatic analysis on his low-grade Morgan dollar, and I learned something new as well.

    Yes, thank you all for all your help and info. I have to say this is my first coin experience and something tells me it won't be the last, ha.

  • GaCoinGuy
    GaCoinGuy Posts: 2,867 ✭✭✭✭
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    @Barberian said:
    Nice thread. Toadman is getting some top numismatic analysis on his low-grade Morgan dollar, and I learned something new as well.

    This is the stuff that makes these boards do great.

    imageimage

  • Toadman455
    Toadman455 Posts: 26 ✭
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    Well, glad I could help, ha. This is VERY interesting stuff...

  • Toadman455
    Toadman455 Posts: 26 ✭
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    I took two more pics using a lighted magnifier and it's clear you can see 1921. I just thought everyone may want to see what it actually turned out to be. Thanks again to all.

  • Toadman455
    Toadman455 Posts: 26 ✭
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    Here's the second, not sure why it didn't post along with the first one:

  • AngryTurtle
    AngryTurtle Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭
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    Nice job on the pics! They are definitive.

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    good job on the second set of pics

    1921 morgan dollars are wildly common to the point that dealers- looking at much better condition ones- will pay "less base value than other earlier dates

    yours is so bad off it won't have any premium over silver value (some better coins like morgan dollars have allure and bring a bit more than a bunch of worn 1964 quarters)

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 26, 2025 6:44PM
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    1921 melt value

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • Toadman455
    Toadman455 Posts: 26 ✭
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    Thanks again everyone! It was an experience that I enjoyed. This may have got me started on something else to take up more of my time, lol. I got some magnifying glasses and one on a stand with a light ring around it yesterday.

  • privatecoin
    privatecoin Posts: 3,853 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Toadman455 said:
    I took two more pics using a lighted magnifier and it's clear you can see 1921. I just thought everyone may want to see what it actually turned out to be. Thanks again to all.

    Good picture.

    Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc

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