No matter where you go in coin collecting, Morgans always steal the show
gashmios
Posts: 504 ✭✭✭
No matter where you go in coin collecting, Morgans always steal the show. This was my last one


So many immigrant groups have swept through our town that Brooklyn, like Atlantis, reaches mythological proportions in the mind of the world - RI Safir 1998
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Not for me. I finished off a couple of collections for customers, but each time I started building a one per year collection, I lost interest. Aside from some very esoteric die varieties, no Morgan Dollars are truly “rare.”
While I don't agree that Morgans "always steal the show," they do hold a very great attraction for me.
The combination of (i) beauty; (ii) heft of a precious metal; (iii) accessibility (most are worth little more than melt value of the silver, even in fairly high grades), and only the 1893-S is hugely expensive (though even this one isn't difficult to find, only difficult to pay for; I don't consider the 1895 to be part of a full set, since it's a proof-only), and (iv) history, make it, to me, a very attractive set.
Morgans are nice but it got old by everyone telling me there popular all the time. Just an opinion. Thats a nice dollar to 🙂
Yawn
Not for me, I just have a few for my several Type Sets. It's the only coin I do not have an album for.
“No matter where you go in coin collecting, Morgans always steal the show”
To direct such a comment to a large group of collectors with varying collecting preferences, sounds silly to me.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I like Morgans well enough, but they never struck me as particularly monumental like some people view them.
The superlatives remind me of the hype over Maria Teresa Talers that I used to hear, that they were considered to be "the most beautiful coin in the world". I have a number of them, they're historical, but I always thought the design was sort of ugly.
Careful. He may not like your attitude and be "done with you".
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It's interesting to hear you say that. I've never been a huge fan of Morgans and I have always thought the Maria Theresa Talers were more attractive (though not "the most beautiful"). There are so many beautiful European coins from the 19th century. That's why I've never been "a U.S. guy", really.
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It can seem silly to you. Morgans are still the kings of any coin show, and the King of US numismatics. It has always been that way. It will not change in the foreseeable future. Morgans get more attention and will outsell any other coin type, and that there are so many of them just fuels the business even more.
Do they steal the show at an EAC show? What about the NY International?
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
In other words “No matter where” and “always” pretty much guaranteed that the statement was incorrect.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I don't disagree. But a little hyperbole never hurts. Lol.
They are popular and responsible for a lot of business at shows. But I'm pretty sure if I walk into a show with a circulated 1794 half, even the Morgan dollar aficionados will turn to look. And I can think of at least a dozen rarities that would "steal the show" even at a Morgan club meeting. Lol.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
I took my wife to a couple bigger shows over the past few years. While amazed at the overall setting of a show, along with the “millions of dollars”, she said is there; the one thing she pointed out was….. “it looks like everyone has Morgan Dollars”. I can relate to the OP of this thread. But like a diamond, there are many facets.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
No doubt that Morgan dollars are the staple of the hobby but for many collectors, they are plain vanilla fare.
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."
I rest my case.
Coin Photography
Maria is ugly
, but I think the reverse is beautiful.
I know. I've always taken the road less traveled.
I find these dollars to be far more interesting than any Morgan Dollar.
A blanket statement like “Morgans always steal the show” is bound to get pushback from a wide group of collectors with varying interests.
I think it still holds true that Morgans (& Lincolns) are the two types that lead general collector interest. But that’s hardly “stealing the show” - that’s coming from this collector who used to buy & sell Morgans (& Lincolns).
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
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I have one early MTL that was minted closer to the 1780 date on the coin, and she looks even worse on that one. 🫣
They obviously "prettied" her up at some point for the design we are all familiar with today.
When I go to coin shows I am always looking for a good deal on a Morgan.
I have actually been changing my thinking though.
I want to branch out.
If you put all your Morgans in a row they are all basically the same. The dates are different but not the design.
I am actually just as much a fan of WLH's and Barbers.
@mrbrklyn Kind of broad statement to make but provocative and I enjoy the conversation.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
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The designs do differ a little for Morgan Dollars. There is the type of 1878 and the later dates, and the 1921 is different. You also have the tail feathers. That's why I put this set together many years ago.
7 over 8 tailfeathers. There are many varieties of this.
And the political ... The Bland - Alison Act was the beginning of the silver wars.
I have many more, but this is enough for now.
For anyone who is interested, here's how Morgan dollar circulation strikes ranked using the Heritage archives as of mid-2022. The price brackets are admittedly arbitrary, but I had to use something.
$200-$500: 1
$500-$2500: 1
$2500-$10K: 1
$10K-$50K: 2
$50K-$100K: 8
$100K+: 11
I like the Morgan Dollar but only need one for my Type Collection.
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They all look the same to me.....boring!
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."
Looks solid for a 65 and a very good strike for an O mint.
Lot of jaded opinions in here, but making a definitive statement will bring that out of people.
Collector, occasional seller
I like Morgans a lot. I've always found the 1921 issues annoying though.
I hope I don't get banned for saying Maria was ugly.
Well, stating the world is round can also do that on certain forums. Nothing was said to make people go off kilter, but if they chose to, they have the freedom to do so. The sales numbers and sheer volume of Morgans that are traded every years speaks for itself. They have genuine sex appeal for the public and have been driving Numismatics as a business for generations now. If that offends someone, I could not help it, nor did I anticipate it. I was just showing off a nice example that I favor.
All my favorite Morgans where stolen.
http://www.mrbrklyn.com/morgan_coins.html
See if you can tell the difference. In addition to the tail feathers, there is a difference in the treatment of the eagle's breast feathers.
8 tail feathers.
7 tail feathers
Reverse of 1879
They are different and you don't need to 10X to see it.
I can't believe that I am defending Morgan Dollars. I must be getting sick!
Sorry, but kind of a silly statement. At the BHNC Corn Roast in Pittsburg (and last year in OKC, and the year before that in Chicago, and so on, and so on ...) I can tell you for sure, no Morgan Dollar EVER steals the show.
I like Big Busts, and I can not lie ...
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“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
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Yes they can. Like the CACG Witter Brick.
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All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Morgans aren’t rare at all when you look at the pop numbers of most issues, but their popularity keeps them valuable. Over 75% of the set can be put together in choice or better grade for not a whole lot of money. As for the remaining 10 to 15 Coins that are truly rare keys, very nice AU examples can be blended in for a reasonable amount. You can’t go wrong with the Morgan. It’s not my favorite series, but I always come back to it and buy nice ones, when they present themselves. I’ve never regretted it. They are just fun! And, who doesn’t like a big silver coin with so much history?
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
What are you basing this on?
Can we call her the Queen? King doesn’t sound right.
please, God, no.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Explain the 1887
.
It was a commissioned project. A good customer wanted them made. They wanted a normal-looking "1887-CC". But 1887 Morgan Dollars exist (just not with a "CC" mint mark). So to make it significantly different I suggested that the obverse be modeled after one of the 1878 Morgan Dime Patterns, and the reverse was also modeled after a different pattern.
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100% agree
Peace.
I have one in my collection just to have one in my collection.
And I was trying real hard not to sell it.
But now I'm convinced I must sell it.
Any takers
However the toning can be very unique. Some that I bought and sold while looking for a score.
The only Morgan dollar worth owning is a nice DMPL or a unimpaired proof. Just one will do.
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."
I've got one in my Box of 20 and maybe a half dozen in my bulk silver... one is a '91-CC... other than that... nada...
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I think ruling in volume a driving lots of business keeps it from being able to “steal” the show. They usually aren’t even the show stoppers. They’re everywhere, and I buy them regularly, but what steals the show is something out of the ordinary and/or unexpected. Vanilla is good, and it’s always available, and it usually hits the spot. It rarely steals the show, even if it’s the star.