ah, screw it...

Paul is right on this. If your wanting boxes PCGS, NGC. There is a guy in Texas on eBay @Southpark Coins. I've done business with him a time or 3 or 4 hasn't let me down yet. Got some nice Morgan's from him last year.

 

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Your CC is nice I also agree I would love to have it. Been looking for a CC for myself.

 

You're still new to this hobby, and I'd suggest that you slow down a bit. You need to learn more about the coins that you're buying.

Chris

 

I would say $425.00 is a GREAT price! for this coin.

 

In the end there is only one person that you need to make happy, that person can be found in the mirror...

 

...looking over your shoulder, saying "what did you buy THIS time, dear?"...

 

I was tempted to mark that as best answer.

 

Did you even know how much 1881-CC Morgans in MS63 should cost before you bought one? I've already linked you to all the information you would have needed to know how much you should have paid.

If you'd bothered looking, you'd know that only one of the last 250 examples of this issue and grade to appear at auction went for less than you paid for it, and you'd be quite a bit happier than this. Which means that even with the resources at your fingertips you're still not looking before leaping, and there's no doubt in my mind now that some time in the future I'm gonna have to tell you just how badly you got screwed on a purchase.

That is really not fun for us, man.

 

I wish I had found this forum when I 1st started collecting. The advice and the hard ass care would've saved me some heartache. I still learn & don't think will really ever stop learning. My collection is large enough to leave to my grandson someday. Keeps on growing even as I sell some off, but don't think I'll ever sell my whole collection.

 

There's a lot of excellent observations and advice here. I've found that I ignore it at my own peril.

 

Nice pickup and nice price on the coin.

 

Yes, i took time to find out what it was worth. I get mixed answers from everyone when i buy something. Seems its all preference. Maybe i should stop telling hiw much i paid for items. One guy says great deal, yhe next, bad move.

 

I agree on principle, but @jpwestpoint doesn't seem like one of those new collectors who "just won't learn."

See, right here. I would hope "every site suggested" includes PCGS auction prices, because I've linked him to it a couple times. If he maintains the level of enthusiasm and enjoyment for coins he has now, I'm sure he'll end up with a nice collection in time. He's not running off to eBay looking for raw "bargains" without knowing how to grade; he's buying PCGS and NGC certified coins. These are all solid moves for a beginner.

 

Just a few

 

See, here's the deal. Pretty much all price guides are basically going to give you a single number for any given coin in a given grade. The problem is that not all (for example) MS63 1881-CC Morgan dollars are alike.

One quick example is that if that coin were in a GSA holder, you'd be paying significantly more for the pedigree. Some people are ok with that and seek those things out. Some people are like "bah, I just want the coin, I don't want to pay extra for more plastic!"

Another example is toning. A lot of people (not all) will pay large multiples of what the price guide says for coins with beautiful, natural toning. (BTW, learning how to tell questionable from acceptable toning is a thing you'll need to learn, too.)

And then there is variance within the grade. A low-end MS63 should go for less than the price guide amount, because the guide represents an average. Likewise, a high-end coin should go for more.

And then there's CAC stickers, and VAMs, and a whole host of other factors that conspire to make that price guide number not quite as useful as it could be. I'm sure you noticed searching auction prices that there were a number of coins that vastly exceeded what you paid. That's because at least 2 bidders at auction thought they were worth that much, due to factors I've mentioned or others.

This is a lot to learn. You will make mistakes. It's okay. It takes time to learn all this stuff. I've been collecting way longer than you and I'm still learning. Treat it as a hobby, keep learning, stay enthusiastic, and don't expect to see the money you put into it ever again, and you'll be successful in numismatics.

 

Now THIS is a great chance to learn about different strike types, errors & provenance!

The coins you posted, while they are all 1881-CC Morgans in the same grade are all VERY different from yours. I know that seems kind'a crazy, but it's true! Can you spot the differences that account for sometimes major price differences?

 

Good point! Two of them are right out in the open as plain as the nose on someone's face. The third one I can't make out on the coin from the posted picture, but I'm sure it's pretty obvious on the Heritage photo.