1894P Morgan - will it bodybag?

BlindedByEgo · February 21, 2006 2:00PM

This is a tougher date coin, relatively expensive and from what I have seen on Heritage auctions, desireable in any grade, cleaned or not. Please give me your honest assesment of the coin along with a grade. Don't worry about my feelings - I paid appropriately for it IMO. Short of saying that it's counterfeit I'll come out OK

. It does still retain a little luster in the protected areas. As always, your comments are appreciated.

ER · February 21, 2006 2:04PM

BB, harshly cleaned.

claychaser · February 21, 2006 2:13PM

I have to agree. The surface has an unnatural sheen to it. I got dollars some like that that I put in an old whitman album with brown kraft paper. I figure not much to lose - and stick 'em in the safety deposit box for another 20 years and see what they look like when I'm an old man.

Coindexter · February 21, 2006 2:14PM

Make it your pocket peice for six months or so and I think it will get slabbed. As it is the cleaning is way too obvious for a legitimate TPG to holder it, IMO.

Bochiman · February 21, 2006 2:26PM

I'd agree with the cleaning comments Keith.
Jumped out at me above the date....along with what I think everyone else sees

BlindedByEgo · February 21, 2006 3:06PM

Gosh, doc - harshly? Isn't that a bit... Harsh?

In theory, keeping such a coin as a pocket piece to obliterate the evidence of cleaning is a good idea - but in practice it's not a great idea. Morgans wern't originally circulated with clad coinage; they can do an awful lot of unneccessary damage. Now, you could keep a pocketful of silver...

Nope, this coin was bought as an XF details cleaned coin - net low end VF. It's going to go into $12 worth of ANACS plasic after a few months in an envelope... It will be sold to the highest bidder.

Thanks again for the opinions; it's all fun and games

ER · February 21, 2006 3:11PM

Got to be harsh, err... blunt, to get the point across.

BlindedByEgo · February 21, 2006 3:55PM

<< <i>Got to be harsh, err... blunt, to get the point across.

>>

A trauma doc thing. That's why I like orthopaedic surgeons - they're so much gentler

7over8 · February 21, 2006 8:27PM

7over8 · February 21, 2006 8:35PM

I disagree with the harshly cleaned opinion.

Not being able to examine the coin and tilt in proper light, I can't be sure if the chatter on the coin is circulation wear or signs of cleaning. No doubt the coin was probably dipped, but the evidence of original luster and some toning leads me to believe it's been some time since the bath.

I've seen leading TPG's encapsulate worse. I would be more worried that the weakness in the left wing and heavy marks by the eye might bring a VF35 grade - especially with PCGS. To me, its a classic XF40.

But I firmly believe that it will get into plastic. That's my opinion backed by 30 years of knowledge in the field - i'm not a johnny come lately self proclaimed expert.

Cladiator · February 21, 2006 8:40PM

The marks and chatter on it look identical the the coin I use as a daily pocket piece. I don't believe that coin to be cleaned. I think it's a kneejerk reaction many have here when they see marks like this to quickly label it cleaned. This is the look that large silver coins get when they are in a pocket with other coins.

7over8 · February 21, 2006 9:22PM

Finally !! An "experience based" opinion from Cladiator.....I absolutely agree with you. Too many on this forum are quick to "bodybag" coins and label them cleaned.
I've walked around several raw coins at large shows that looked very similar to this coin, or even less abraded - and had dealers and even ex graders at major TPG's "shoot from the hip" and label them cleaned and proclaim that they will never get into a holder.
I've proven them wrong time and time again. I've returned to the next show to PROVE that the coin was holdered and that thier opinion was incorrect.
The best part about the situation is that the coin was offered at a "quick turn" price intially - after holdering it was offered at retail and were quickly sold.

Wolf359 · February 21, 2006 10:39PM

I thought it looked 45, and the reverse was a tad worrisome to me with the sheen. Could be the
photo/angle, but no clear and obvious bodybag.

It would be a crime to put it in a 35 holder, but PCGS has done worse.

messydesk · February 21, 2006 11:52PM

Looks like a borderline bodybag. Needs a little more sheen on the cheek and eagle's breast. Brasso should do it, then you'll get your bodybag for sure. If you prefer the hairlined look on your bodybagged coins, use Comet.

The obverse toning spot at 3:00 says that the Mylar on the 2x2 was breached. Normal circulation scunge that you'd have on a VF coin would protect the silver from toning like that, I would think, which leads me to believe it was cleaned before being 2x2ed.

BillJones · February 22, 2006 12:02AM

The coin looks like it was worked on with an abrasive, like baking soda, to clean it. It was probably done years ago.

You can put it in an envelope to darken it some, but the scratches on the surface are there forever. There is an outside chance that if this were a an early dollar (pre 1803) that it could get graded by NGC, but it would be dicey. Given that it's a Morgon dollar, this coin will never escape the dreaded body bag IMO.

ziggy29 · February 22, 2006 12:07AM

Cleaned, and rather harshly.

Old, light cleanings sometimes retone nicely and can still slab. Not this one.

7over8 · February 22, 2006 3:13AM

Dont agree with some later posts - harsh cleaning shows horrible hairlines in multiple directions and the overall look of the coin is tremendously impaired. If you actually saw a coin rubbed with baking soda, it would be VERY apparent.

This coin will holder. But I wouldnt guarantee a 40.

nankraut · February 22, 2006 3:42AM

My eyes are failing in my old age---but I see evidence of mint mark removal???

1894P Morgan - will it bodybag?

Comments

Leave a Comment