I have been looking to buy a 1904-S Morgan for almost a year, now. Since I have placed a maximum price of $225 for one, I accept that I will not be able to get a high quality specimen, but I have bid on hundreds of very nice ones using a sniping tool, but in every case I have been outbid. In many instances the snipe site sends a message that my bids were not placed at all since the amount I set was too low. At any rate, the photos of this auction's coin suggest that it may be worth buying it without going through a bid in an auction. I am not as well versed in determining whether the coin has been cleaned or polished as many here are. So, is it cleaned, whizzed or polished? Thanks for your advice. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1904-S-MORGAN-DOLLAR-AU-DETAILS-KEY-DATE-9547/153645641789
Never mind, I see that the seller is honest enough to mention that the coin has been cleaned, so off we go into the wild blue yonder.
A quick check of the Bay tells me you can get an ANACS or NGC XF-45 for about $322.00 to $350.00 BIN. A PCGS Gold Shield is selling for $399.00.
Thanks, Randy, but that's a bit more than I want to pay. I'll be hit with both home owner's and auto insurance in early November and property tax in December. Even so, those are a bit more than the $225 I set for myself. This one is about what I would pay, but I have doubts about the seller, even though he has more than 12K feedback. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1904-s-Morgan-Silver-Dollar-Natural-A-U-140713/372775058531
Ah, the consignment hub....I'm surprised this isn't more bad press about this seller... I tested the water a couple of years ago on a $10ish item and ended up receiving something different. I should have received an FS-901 '40-s Mercury. The seller failed my test quite miserably.
Perhaps make an offer to one of these dealers: http://www.collectorscorner.com/Products/Item.aspx?id=42830038 http://www.collectorscorner.com/Products/Item.aspx?id=44385755 or raw possibly with problems (obverse looks odd....) http://www.collectorscorner.com/Products/Item.aspx?id=44553154 p.s. The coin in your OP looks terrible, thank god you didnt buy that one!
There are some coming up on Heritage in VF and XF within the next couple weeks. The pictures aren't posted yet, but I recommend following those. XFs have been going for around $200.
It's always vital to remember about your budget. Coins come and go, but the property tax is Important as well as the ability to drive and go to work. I would stick to your budget and keep looking eventually you will snag one that you like within your budget. I have picked up some coins from Great Collections and flipped them on the bay. You might want to check other avenues and platforms besides bay. Some members above mentioned heritage which can also be a great source.
I've had essentially the same experience with this seller- bait and switched. Personally, I don't think it's accidental; I think this seller knows exactly what they are doing.
Same here, I've bought from them 3 times, and all three times they sent different coins than ordered. They refunded promptly upon return, though. I should've waited until the first one got to me before buying the other two, but hey, lesson learned. They're on my "do not buy from" list.
Good advice to anyone, @mullah but I've been retired for 15 years so I don't have to drive to work. You are correct also, but my alternative is to forget about the IHCs I've been looking at AND the several Peace Dollars, too, and do a budget up to $2K on a slabbed, certified copy of the '04-S that could get me a higher graded coin. That would be my single coin at that high a value. @geekpryde thank you for those links.
Ok, so I am lowering my standards a bit on this specimen of a 1904-S Morgan, but it has some appeal to me. This auction closes today, 10/6/19, at 6:57 PDT. I am the only bidder on it, and I chose not to put a higher snipe on it...yet. The opening bid is $80 and the seller wants $5 postage. I always add the postage into what I think the final bid might be, but I suspect this one will not get another bid. Was $80 too much to bid on this one?
A little hard to tell from the picture, looks to have had some degree of cleaning, but I think it's worth at least your bid.