Judge the quality of my first Morgan

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dragonwalker
dragonwalker Posts: 25 ✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

I posted previously about being new to Morgan coins. I thought I’d post a picture of the coin I discussed and the first Morgan I got at a local coin show, it’s a 1878-CC graded MS63 by PCGS. I want to ask people’s opinion of what they think about that grade for this coin and why, and ideally, to elaborate if they think it’s graded high, low, or just right for the grade, or even if it should be another grade. I’m trying to decide if I should use this coin as a good example of a coin I have to base what a Morgan MS63 should be.

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  • MICHAELDIXON
    MICHAELDIXON Posts: 6,758 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I think it is graded correctly for a CC dollar. Go to coin shows, club meetings and look at other dates and grades and acclimate yourself to Morgan dollar grades. Do not base all MS 63 dollars on this one example

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  • TomB
    TomB Posts: 23,192 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    One thing we can only guess at is the quality of the luster. My first impression upon seeing the obverse was MS62+ while the reverse looked like MS63+. I then read your post and see it is graded MS63, which is something that appears reasonable. However, even if it is reasonable, it doesn't mean it is necessarily acceptable.

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  • david3142
    david3142 Posts: 3,693 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I think 63 is the right grade but it’s on the low end to me. Most CC Morgans in your range are plentiful. Take your time and be discerning. You are doing a good job here asking for feedback. Bear in mind that people here are likely to grade conservatively on average,

  • dipset512
    dipset512 Posts: 290 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November 16, 2025 3:33PM
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    @dragonwalker said:
    I’m trying to decide if I should use this coin as a good example of a coin I have to base what a Morgan MS63 should be.

    What I do is go to the GreatCollections Auction Archive and select the coin I'm interested in and look at 1 grade down and 1 grade up and only year starting 2024. I say this because that's when I see when there are GreatPhoto's for most the coins starting in 2024. I then look at a bunch to try and gauge what made a coin get MS-XX grade.

  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,153 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    From what I can see in the images, the coin looks like a low-end MS 63 example to me.

    When pursuing coins such as this (with high populations) there should be numerous opportunities to acquire them. So you can afford to be patient. That said, I know from personal experience, as well as from having observed and interacted with other collectors for decades, that it can be extremely difficult to be patient.

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

  • World67
    World67 Posts: 13,098 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @coinbuf said:
    The rev is nice but the obv is rather baggy. CC Morgans are commonly seen with lots of marks due to how coins had to be transported out of Carson City so CC Morgans tend to get a bit of leniency. My personal grade would be MS62.

    +1

  • golden
    golden Posts: 10,538 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Be patient there are plenty of Morgans out there.

  • Morgan13
    Morgan13 Posts: 2,698 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I dont want to knock your coin but you did ask why its the grade it is.
    The obverse has taken alot of hits to it.
    Fortunately for you its an 1878 CC so when you go to sell it you will be able to find buyers. That doesn't mean you won't take a loss depending on what you paid.
    The reverse looks pretty nice.

    Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
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  • cheezhed
    cheezhed Posts: 6,409 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Okay CC. VAM 9

    Many happy BST transactions
  • 291fifth
    291fifth Posts: 25,218 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Low end MS-63.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • Cougar1978
    Cougar1978 Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 17, 2025 11:44AM
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    Nice CC coin. Lustrous and attractive.

    Investor
  • Coins3675
    Coins3675 Posts: 1,140 ✭✭✭✭
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    That is a nice CC Morgan

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  • ShaunBC5
    ShaunBC5 Posts: 1,974 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I’m guessing it has quite a bit of luster and looks like a little it of color. I’m good with a 63 on it. Not knocking of the door of 64, but I don’t mind it as graded.

  • LeeBone
    LeeBone Posts: 4,892 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Looks like a properly graded 63

  • RedStorm
    RedStorm Posts: 273 ✭✭✭
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    Sometimes I miss the original ANACS service that gave separate grades to the obverse and reverse! The reverse on this coin looks like it was spared the numerous and heavy bag marks of the obverse and the back seems to have just a hint of cameo frost to boot. Ah well, given current synthesized grading, 63 overall seems fair.

  • Walkerfan
    Walkerfan Posts: 10,392 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Correctly graded, but low to middle of the road as far as 63s go.

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

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  • skier07
    skier07 Posts: 4,836 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I’m guessing the coin probably looks better in hand and the hits on the cheek look worse in the picture because of the large picture size. Like others have said take your time before your next purchase. Morgan’s are readily available and there’s no reason not to be picky.

  • USMarine6
    USMarine6 Posts: 2,114 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Also remember not all date and mm Morgan's should be graded the same.

  • BryceM
    BryceM Posts: 11,940 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I wish the obverse was as nice as the reverse……. But then it would be an MS64 coin.

    It’s perfectly fine to buy “weak-for-grade” coins as long as you’re paying “weak-for-grade” prices. A properly graded weak MS63 is still a nicer coin than a strong MS62, right?

  • skier07
    skier07 Posts: 4,836 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @BryceM said:
    I wish the obverse was as nice as the reverse……. But then it would be an MS64 coin.

    It’s perfectly fine to buy “weak-for-grade” coins as long as you’re paying “weak-for-grade” prices. A properly graded weak MS63 is still a nicer coin than a strong MS62, right?

    CACG might disagree with you.

  • BryceM
    BryceM Posts: 11,940 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    CACG thinks a properly-graded, strong MS62 is a better coin than a properly-graded weak MS63? I doubt it.

  • Coinscratch
    Coinscratch Posts: 11,086 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Nice toning and a semi PL reverse not bad.

  • Heubschgold
    Heubschgold Posts: 368 ✭✭✭
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    Dragon, nice that you are collecting Carson Morgan's! I agree that your sample has a lot of bag marks on the cheek. These abrasions are very typical for this year. I also agree that each Carson ( and any coin) year has its particular grading thresholds and criteria based on the particulars of each year. The 1878 CC is not uncommon in semi PL.
    I recommend the book by Wayne Miller, " The Morgan and Peace dollar textbook" Lots of great info and pictures. Use your up to date Redbook on Morgans for a guide on values and additional year by year insights. Have fun!

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