trying to get some opinions on the grade and value of this 1893-S Morgan dollar. I know that it is a rare key date and am trying to get a feel of what to sell it for.
DON'T SELL IT! It's the rarest of all Morgan dollars and could be worth a lot more in the future. Morgan dollars are one of the most collected of all coin series. People will probably always collect them.
I'd call it a G06, and it looks original to me. CashDude, what do you see that suggests the coin has been cleaned??? and BUnc, what makes you think the mintmark's been altered??? -Brian
if it were mine i wouldnt sell it, im selling it for a friend.. hes expecting $1,200 - $1,500 and so far based on bids i dont think he will be disappointed. thanks for the replies.
I didn't say it was, nor that I suspected it was altered. Only if it hasn't been altered. This coin, because of it's rarety, is highly faked by adding an S to a P struck 1893.
I think you're right. It's good that you knew not to use a high starting bid -- I have a feeling that if you'd started it at $999, it would still be sitting there, and it might never have gotten a bid.
ya thats how i felt. i started it at $0.99 and no reserve and after 2 days it is now at $530 with 26 people watching. 8 days to go so we will see.
According to my Van Allen and Mallis encyclo., 1893-S, only had a single reverse and obverse, and the mint mark was a Type IV Medium rounded S with pointed serifs. The photo above looks like a smaller S, maybe a type 2, but hard to estimate it with out a photo that allows to compare the height. The "3" is raised as suppose to be, but the 93-O had similar, except the whole date was slightly slanted too. Needs authentication in hand by someone.IMO. Hard to go by photos. Jim
Well not being an expert , I`m not so sure the liberty on the obverse is original . The wear of the coin would also wear the Liberty too . I have several Morgans and some are better grade than the coin shown . Of course that is my opinion only, and you certainly should contact an expert .
The scratches across her face. Even if they were caused during circulation, I think it could come back with a details grade because of them. I'm still learning though. What do you think about the scratches?
To me the date and mint mark positioning looks right for VAM 1. But, I agree with Jim, an in hand authentication would probably be needed to be certain it's authentic. Are the die gouges and scratch visible like seen in pic # 2 here? http://www.vamworld.com/1893-S+VAMs The VAM 2 variety was discovered after the most recent edition of the encyclopedia was published, so it's not in the book. There's still only one known obverse, but there is a second reverse (very similar to the first reverse, just the mm is slightly tilted to the right).
it was found in a collection of over 60 Morgan dollars almost all of which were bought 50 or 60 years ago and have been sitting in a large trunk on the third story of a house ever since. the original price paid for it at the time was $135 most of the others were between $5 - $20 each this one had a tag of $135 which would of been really high for the time and thats how i knew to look this one up and see why it was so expensive and what it would be at todays price.
However, if you look at LIBERTY on the Morgan, it's not above the surface of the coin, but beneath the surface, as part of the design, so the wear on this area would not be as prominent as on the high points of each side, that and you can see the darkness in the letters of circulation debris or perhaps some toning.
