Home› U.S. Coin Forum

1881 Morgan GTG -Revealed

maymay Posts: 1,637 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited January 4, 2026 4:39PM in U.S. Coin Forum

Here’s a recent purchase of mine for my Morgan set (almost done!). It’s maybe the most lustrous I’ve after seen in person, about 7-8 cartwheels at once. Really caught my eye and I just had to get it.

“Details” shot

“Luster” shot

Get to guessing!

Type collector, mainly into Seated. -formerly Ownerofawheatiehorde. Good BST transactions with: mirabela, OKCC, MICHAELDIXON, Gerard

Comments

  • Rc5280Rc5280 Posts: 942 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'll go 66

  • Mr_SpudMr_Spud Posts: 6,638 ✭✭✭✭✭

    64

    Mr_Spud

  • dipset512dipset512 Posts: 227 ✭✭✭

    I’m going MS65. Looking on my phone, I can’t tell if the reverse has a scratch or it’s the case.

  • AcarrollAcarroll Posts: 67 ✭✭✭

    65

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 30,198 ✭✭✭✭✭

    65

  • BarberianBarberian Posts: 4,428 ✭✭✭✭✭

    65

    3 rim nicks away from Good
  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 15,648 ✭✭✭✭✭

    To me, it looks more like an 1881-S than an 1881.

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

  • Morgan13Morgan13 Posts: 2,021 ✭✭✭✭✭

    65+

    Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
    Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
    Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7 JWP

  • blitzdudeblitzdude Posts: 7,189 ✭✭✭✭✭

    64 RGDS!

    The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
    BOOMIN!™
    Wooooha! Did someone just say it's officially "TACO™" Tuesday????

  • KliaoKliao Posts: 5,750 ✭✭✭✭✭

    65+

    Collector
    Over 100 Positive BST transactions buying and selling with 57 members and counting!
    instagram.com/klnumismatics

  • Morgan WhiteMorgan White Posts: 12,388 ✭✭✭✭✭

    65

  • PeasantryPeasantry Posts: 272 ✭✭✭

    64+

  • semikeycollectorsemikeycollector Posts: 1,340 ✭✭✭✭✭

    65 PL

  • coastaljerseyguycoastaljerseyguy Posts: 1,895 ✭✭✭✭✭

    MS64

  • ajaanajaan Posts: 17,759 ✭✭✭✭✭

    64


    DPOTD-3
    'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'

    CU #3245 B.N.A. #428


    Don
  • Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 9,240 ✭✭✭✭✭

    64

    Investor
  • TranquilityTranquility Posts: 606 ✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:
    To me, it looks more like an 1881-S than an 1881.

    Other than the mintmark, how can you tell?

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 15,648 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @sanddollar said:

    @MFeld said:
    To me, it looks more like an 1881-S than an 1881.

    Other than the mintmark, how can you tell?

    That and the date on the obverse convinced me.😉

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

  • coinbufcoinbuf Posts: 12,109 ✭✭✭✭✭

    64

    My Lincoln Registry
    My Collection of Old Holders

    Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
  • marcmoishmarcmoish Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭✭✭

    64 crowd, yup.

  • ProofCollectionProofCollection Posts: 7,457 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 4, 2026 10:23AM

    PCGS 65

  • maymay Posts: 1,637 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Ms-66

    Good job and thanks for the guesses everyone, I think I only saw one correct one. The coin has a unique semi-pl effect on in cheek. Which probably threw some people off.

    Type collector, mainly into Seated. -formerly Ownerofawheatiehorde. Good BST transactions with: mirabela, OKCC, MICHAELDIXON, Gerard

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 15,648 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @may said:
    Ms-66

    Good job and thanks for the guesses everyone, I think I only saw one correct one. The coin has a unique semi-pl effect on in cheek. Which probably threw some people off.

    Considering that the first reply - from @Rc5280 - was the only correct guess and there were 17 incorrect ones, what was the “good job”? 😉

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

  • maymay Posts: 1,637 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 4, 2026 5:25PM

    @MFeld said:

    @may said:
    Ms-66

    Good job and thanks for the guesses everyone, I think I only saw one correct one. The coin has a unique semi-pl effect on in cheek. Which probably threw some people off.

    Considering that the first reply - from @Rc5280 - was the only correct guess and there were 17 incorrect ones, what was the “good job”? 😉

    I didn’t think the ratio was that bad! :o
    Well good job for participating, not sure why I said that. :D

    Type collector, mainly into Seated. -formerly Ownerofawheatiehorde. Good BST transactions with: mirabela, OKCC, MICHAELDIXON, Gerard

  • Rc5280Rc5280 Posts: 942 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congrats on your purchase! Nice coin. The 1881-S is known for being lustrous and well struck from what I've read.

    Your presentation reminded me of one of my '81-S coins ⇊

    Believing the mark on the reverse center as being on the holder, and owning a comparable example had led me to my guess...
    .

  • maymay Posts: 1,637 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Rc5280 said:
    Congrats on your purchase! Nice coin. The 1881-S is known for being lustrous and well struck from what I've read.

    Your presentation reminded me of one of my '81-S coins ⇊

    Believing the mark on the reverse center as being on the holder, and owning a comparable example had led me to my guess...
    .

    Beautiful coin you got there, and congrats for the good guess!

    My jaw just about dropped when I first saw this coin, or just high grade 1881 S Morgan’s in general. Such a pretty strike, with incredible luster.

    Type collector, mainly into Seated. -formerly Ownerofawheatiehorde. Good BST transactions with: mirabela, OKCC, MICHAELDIXON, Gerard

  • ProofCollectionProofCollection Posts: 7,457 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @may said:
    Ms-66

    Good job and thanks for the guesses everyone, I think I only saw one correct one. The coin has a unique semi-pl effect on in cheek. Which probably threw some people off.

    Not an attack, but I would suggest that the photo quality threw people off. While it was better than we usually get on here, it was no Trueview or GreatPhoto.

  • maymay Posts: 1,637 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ProofCollection said:

    @may said:
    Ms-66

    Good job and thanks for the guesses everyone, I think I only saw one correct one. The coin has a unique semi-pl effect on in cheek. Which probably threw some people off.

    Not an attack, but I would suggest that the photo quality threw people off. While it was better than we usually get on here, it was no Trueview or GreatPhoto.

    Understandable, my phone is new and should take good photos but the dark color really messed up everything, making static and just a drop in quality. I do have a DSLR camera I could try.

    Type collector, mainly into Seated. -formerly Ownerofawheatiehorde. Good BST transactions with: mirabela, OKCC, MICHAELDIXON, Gerard

  • WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 9,983 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Based on your original photos, I would’ve said 64 and would never have dreamt of 66.

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

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

  • maymay Posts: 1,637 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 4, 2026 9:11PM

    @Walkerfan said:
    Based on your original photos, I would’ve said 64 and would never have dreamt of 66.

    I’ll try to include a video next time when I don’t have professional photos. The compression from uploading it to the forum makes it really hard to tell what’s a mark and not a mark.

    Type collector, mainly into Seated. -formerly Ownerofawheatiehorde. Good BST transactions with: mirabela, OKCC, MICHAELDIXON, Gerard

  • ProofCollectionProofCollection Posts: 7,457 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @may said:

    @Walkerfan said:
    Based on your original photos, I would’ve said 64 and would never have dreamt of 66.

    I’ll try to include a video next time when I don’t have professional photos. The compression from uploading it to the forum makes it really hard to tell what’s a mark and not a mark.

    I wouldn't blame "forum compression." People upload trueviews and they look fine.

  • maymay Posts: 1,637 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 5, 2026 11:54AM

    @ProofCollection said:

    @may said:

    @Walkerfan said:
    Based on your original photos, I would’ve said 64 and would never have dreamt of 66.

    I’ll try to include a video next time when I don’t have professional photos. The compression from uploading it to the forum makes it really hard to tell what’s a mark and not a mark.

    I wouldn't blame "forum compression." People upload trueviews and they look fine.

    I’m not sure it could be something with my phone as I put it into a program to crop it. On the original photos, I can zoom in and see good detail. Whatever it is, you’re right as it’s on my end.

    Type collector, mainly into Seated. -formerly Ownerofawheatiehorde. Good BST transactions with: mirabela, OKCC, MICHAELDIXON, Gerard

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Format
SpoilerCodeQuote
Heading 2Heading 1
Emoji
:):D:(;):/:o:s:p:'(:|B):#:*<3o:)>:)
Url
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file
Home • U.S. Coin ForumComment As ...