DMPL Morgan Collectors Please Help Me Out

Mickley · February 27, 2009 8:06AM

I bought my first DMPL, I have no idea, really, what to look for, what to avoid, in DMPL Morgans.
Can anyone help me out?
Criticism of the coin I have will not cause ill feelings, so please let me know what you think (objectively as well as subjectively)

Thanks

Mike

Also, any hints as to what to aim for with photography would also be appreciated.

silvergoldnut · February 27, 2009 8:10AM

<< <i>I bought my first DMPL, I have no idea, really, what to look for, what to avoid, in DMPL Morgans.
Can anyone help me out?
Criticism of the coin I have will not cause ill feelings, so please let me know what you think (objectively as well as subjectively)

Thanks

Mike

Also, any hints as to what to aim for with photography would also be appreciated. >>

i don't know what you mean when you say 'what to avoid'.
your buying the top of the top.
what are you goals?

oh and its a nice coin and always a plus when its a CC

SeattleSlammer · February 27, 2009 8:59AM

Your posted coin looks nice, although I'm wondering about what appears to be residue/milky spots through some of the stars on the obverse. This could just be a lighting thing, or perhaps it is left over from a past dip. The mirrors look decent.

Having collected PL and DMPL Morgans for a number of years, my advice is to be patient in your search. Look for coins with the best contrast between field and devices combined with a lack of distracting hits/marks.....this can be a challenge since mirrors emphasize hits/marks so sometimes even 64DMPL and 65DMPL coins will appear to have more hits than you'd expect on a non-PL coin. True black and white cameos are prized by most DMPL collectors....a true black and white coin will appear black and white from just about any viewing angle and in just about any lighting situation...that is, you won't need to twist and turn the coin in your hand in order to appreciate it's contrast. PCGS has tougher standards for depth of mirrors to qualify for DMPL status as compared to other services. You'll find that many NGC DPL coins would only cross as PL at PCGS. This isn't to say that there aren't monster deep mirror NGC DPL coins out there, you're just less likely to see them. ANACS also offers the UDM designation for exceedingly deep mirrored coins. Almost all ANACS UDM coins I've encountered would easily cross as DMPL at PCGS. But again, there are always exceptions, so buy the coin not the holder.

If you don't have a fortune to spend on DMPLs, you'll find ample opportunities to pick up really nice common date coins since they often come PL. Plus, often the common date coins offer the best eye appeal over tougher dates which is also a bonus for the collector on a budget. As an example, this 80-S coin has monster deep mirrors on the obverse (at least 10'') but only PL mirrors on the reverse. Consequently it was limited to PL instead of DMPL....even though the obverse offers a true cameo and far more pizzazz than most full DMPL examples. As a collector on a budget, I was thrilled to find this piece. Even by paying a premium for its terrific obverse, it was still relatively cheap. Therefore I also suggest that you search for PL designated coins with super eye appeal. NGC now often gives their star designation to these one-side-only DMPL examples. Good luck in your hunt!

clarkbar04 · February 27, 2009 9:01AM

They're tough to photograph! Avoid ones in the green PCGS or fattie NGC holders unless you see it in person, it seems to me like the standards were a lot looser back then.

Mesquite · February 27, 2009 9:09AM

Looks real good to me. I have one that's raw. This shot I like. Notice that I did not focus on the coin surface, but rather on the reflected words.

Delorean · February 27, 2009 9:11AM

Beautiful coin SeattleSlammer!!!

SeattleSlammer · February 27, 2009 10:35AM

Here's a cool DMPL pic (previously posted over a year ago) I took with one of my old favorite coins....I sold the coin a few shows ago.

....for the life of me, I can't remember what I bought to fill its place......

coinkat · February 27, 2009 10:43AM

Reflectivity

Contrast

Look for hairlines

As you see more coins, you will appreciate the difference between an 1880-s DMPL and some of the rare dates in DMPL that are basically do not exist... don't measure all DMPL Morgans the same way such as the 1893 and 1904 among a select group of about 15-18 other dates

barbershopper · February 27, 2009 12:29PM

Before I got my set of Morgans, I seem to recall seeing DMPLs shown as photographed
through a hole in a small US flag. The flag was facing the coin and appeared to cover
all the fields in the coin. I didn't understand then what I was seeing.
It was a really great picture. I haven't tried it myself.
JT

Mesquite · February 27, 2009 12:36PM

CoinAuctionsHelp · February 27, 2009 12:56PM

I use a black piece of cardboard, and cut a hole for the lens, then make sure the black reflection shows in the fields before I take the picture. This gives the coin a nice dark-white contrast.

GSAcollector · February 27, 2009 3:36PM

I think the DMPL coins look best when they have a nice cameo.

I like the look of the photos when they are taken in low light.

HighRelief · February 27, 2009 4:45PM

Searching for the nice B&W cameo contrasted DMPL can be far and few between. Look for depth of clarity in the fields, originality, and nice frosted devices (pre 1900). Try to avoid coins that look like like they have been dipped, it could show up with residue somewhere on the coin later on. This happened to a PCGS 1883-CC MS65 DMPL that I purchased about 5 years ago and it turned in the slab with strange colored milk spots.

SeattleSlammer · February 28, 2009 1:22PM

Brian, I recall drooling over that 79-S before. What a killer! If only all 65DMPLs had that look.

Steve27 · February 28, 2009 1:27PM

I agree with looking for the ones with nice cameo contrast.

dizzlecc · March 1, 2009 2:10AM

You picked a good date and mint mark for your first dmpl, it has a high percentage of dmpls.

You will have to do some homework to learn that some dates and mint marks (1884-CC, 1880-S, etc.) have nice deep mirrors and a fairly large population. Other dates (1900 plus) do not have deep mirrors and a scarce population.

Hang around the boards and ask questions and you will pick up on what to look for in dmpls.

ricko · March 1, 2009 3:57AM

Why are you asking these questions AFTER you bought the coin??? Cheers, RickO

DMPL Morgan Collectors Please Help Me Out

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