Circulated Morgan Dollar Collectors: Question for You
braddick
Posts: 24,809 ✭✭✭✭✭
How tough is it to locate a problem free, worn 1899 dollar? I remember a few years ago I was putting together a mid grade set of Morgans and the difficult one was the 1899. Sure, they were somewhat available in strong XF's and up but getting a problem free worn example was a stopper for me at the time.
I just came across THIS AUCTION and BIN'ed.
Now, I know the 1885-CC is hard to get in low circulated grades but in your experience, is the 1899? Perhaps when I was compiling my set (long since abandoned and sold off to Heritage) I had a string of poor luck.
Anyway, I was curious.
I just came across THIS AUCTION and BIN'ed.
Now, I know the 1885-CC is hard to get in low circulated grades but in your experience, is the 1899? Perhaps when I was compiling my set (long since abandoned and sold off to Heritage) I had a string of poor luck.
Anyway, I was curious.
peacockcoins
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But I could never find an example in this grade...all that I saw were AU/MS, or if I did come into a VF/EF example it was either
a problem coin or priced higher than I wanted to pay! That said, the price you paid I think was a bit strong, but this isn't a
commonly circulated Morgan Dollar and I've been out of the Morgan game for a while, so the price may actually be fair!
<< <i>How tough is it to locate a problem free, worn 1899 dollar? I remember a few years ago I was putting together a mid grade set of Morgans and the difficult one was the 1899. Sure, they were somewhat available in strong XF's and up but getting a problem free worn example was a stopper for me at the time.
I just came across THIS AUCTION and BIN'ed.
Now, I know the 1885-CC is hard to get in low circulated grades but in your experience, is the 1899? Perhaps when I was compiling my set (long since abandoned and sold off to Heritage) I had a string of poor luck.
Anyway, I was curious. >>
There are more circ listings for that coin on eBay right now, than you would ever expect to find for the 81-cc or 85-cc. Your buy is a pop 10 with a PCGS guide price of $205. They aren't real plentiful, but they aren't scarce either, and are priced a little more firmly than some well circ. commons. Pops from xf40 and lower seem to be under 100 of each. If you are looking for a nice example for the grade at a decent price, it's probly a good move to grab it.
<< <i>There's over a dozen VF's on ebay right now. >>
Nope. They're listed as such, but some are "O" mint coins. (I checked.)
peacockcoins
1885-CC
1903-O
1881-CC
1899-P
1884-CC
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
<< <i>The 5 toughest Morgans to find in VF in my opinion:
1885-CC
1903-O
1881-CC
1899-P
1884-CC >>
I would add the 1898-O to that list. I have as yet been unable to locate one and auction records indicate it will be tough. Very good list though, although they are out there. I've knocked off 4 out of 5, stilll searching for the right 84-CC.
1885-CC PCGS XF45 (also a VAM-2A if anyone cares, which is impossible to find). Obtained from a very generous forum member who didn't want to sell it but saw how badly I wanted it and was very kind. You know who you are.
While not actually VF, the original color skin gives it that well circulated feel.
1903-O PCGS PCGS VF30 - I looked for a long time for one of these, then found this excellent coin on HA last last year for a very reasonable price.
1881-CC PCGS F15 - I would argue that this one may in fact be the toughest of the group to find, but maybe it's because it's a sleeper. Everyone knows the 85-CC is tough in circulated, so that may explain why it comes up for auction/eBay more often. This one may have been lightly cleaned at some point, but still a nice example for this hard to find in circulated date. Also not quite VF, but still a great example for my circulated set.
1899 PCGS VF35 - I'm not in love with the skin on this one since it looks to have the crust removed, but still a nice circulated coin nonetheless. It actually looks better in hand and more original than the picture indicates. To reference the OP, I got this for $160 after BP at HA late last year. I'm patiently looking for a more crusty example, but this one certainly does the job for now.
And the 1884-CC, well I'm still looking for the right coin. I have one in 64DMPL, but it doesn't quite fit this set.
<< <i>1898-O also seems to be tough to find in circulated condition. >>
Whoops, Rich beat me to that one and I hadn't refreshed when I posted. Looks like we're in agreement on this one.
<< <i>
<< <i>1898-O also seems to be tough to find in circulated condition. >>
Whoops, Rich beat me to that one and I hadn't refreshed when I posted. Looks like we're in agreement on this one. >>
There are a couple from your post up on the BST right now. The 98-Os shud be easier to get if one wants to go the trouble of making them.
I'm curious what others have resorted to, but I've taken a stab at raw coins on eBay for the commons with mixed results. Sometimes I've had to buy a lot of 10 coins just to get the one I wanted, which sucks. I have a group saved up now that I'm about to submit so we'll see how it goes. Return policies have been key, as many of the raw coins I've picked up have had shaved rims, rim bumps, obvious cleaning, etc.
Another strategy would be to find the common dates slabbed as harder to find VAM's, since they are more likely to be slabbed as an attributed VAM than otherwise. However, this also can increase the cost of a common significantly in some cases.
Another funny thing to point out, I've had a really hard time finding the 1921 coins in attractive crusty condition. For as many millions of coins that are out there, there aren't many good looking ones for a circulated set! Many have an unattractive green slimy look to them...yuck.
<< <i>That '85-CC is flat-out stunning. >>
I can't take my eyes off of it.
Any Morgan with that original skin/fresh circulated look is highly attractive but couple that with the scarcity of the date?
Flat out cool.
peacockcoins
1884-CC PCGS F12 on eBay
That must have been a really cool looking coin before it was messed with.
<< <i>When I see this sort of coin pop up, I get sad....
1884-CC PCGS F12 on eBay
That must have been a really cool looking coin before it was messed with. >>
Looks like a nice original coin. What am I missing?
Circulated 1885-CC Dollar
peacockcoins
<< <i>
<< <i>When I see this sort of coin pop up, I get sad....
1884-CC PCGS F12 on eBay
That must have been a really cool looking coin before it was messed with. >>
Looks like a nice original coin. What am I missing? >>
This is my opinion, but a Carson City Morgan that circulated as much as that coin has should not look that clean. The main reason I collect circulated coins is the history behind them. To me, when a coin has obviously (my opinion) been cleaned or washed like that one, it's like the history is also being washed away. It just kind of looks flat, lifeless. I've certainly seen worse, like the 85-CC in the previous post.