Hi: I bought a Morgan cc Dollar a number of year ago for $45 dollars and have had it stored away. Recently I dug out my coin trunk and have began trying to evaluate the coins that I have been collecting. Anyway, on the card that the coin was in, it was graded VF+ but I'm not sure how to interpet that into a current value. If someone has the time to take a look at the image I've attached and give me an idea of what it's now worth I'd appreciate it. The image is a scan rather than a photo which makes it look a lot less brilliant than it does to the eye. Perhaps it's more honest as it doesn't allow for any light manage to hide the flaws but boy does it bring them out. Now that I'm finally getting into my collection I love this forum.
Very Fine (VF) ranges from 20-30 on the Sheldon Scale. VF+ would probably indicate that it is in a better condition for the grade but not quite good enough to make it Extra Fine (EF). Chris
That looks like a solid VF details coin. However it does appear to have been cleaned, so I'd guess... probably worth about $60-70 retail. Again, tough to tell from a scan, pictures work better with coins than a scan.
Don't think it's cleaned To my very amateur eye, I don't think that the coin has been cleaned, it appears bright and shinny and it is only the scan that gives it the dull gray spots. The scan took less work as it didn't require setting up a photo space, but I'll try the camera next time.
I think VF+ is pretty accurate, details wise I think it's right on the line between VF and XF. The only problem I see is the scratch on the eagle's breast, but I don't think it will hurt the value too much. I took a look at completed auctions on eBay, and I'd say it's worth in the $90 price range.
Sure, if it's a nice crusty original skin VF it's got a Greysheet VF bid of $85 and an ask of $90. Assuming it's bright and shiny like the OP says it's probably been harshly cleaned and thus has a retail value, and I mean full retail, of maybe $60-70. I have a nice Fine 78-CC in my Circ set that I paid $85 for, retail. It's got a great dirty original skin and it's problem free. Most Morgans can be bought for right around sheet. A circ 78-CC isn't a rare coin, reality is I doubt any dealer would pay more than $40-50 for it, if that. Lots won't pay more than melt for a problem coin like that. Here's my 78-CC in my Dansco Circ set...
Hi, Unfortunately, even if you didn't clean it, someone before you probably did. A Morgan Dollar in VF condition should not be bright and shiny at all, it should have a patina from circulation, silver shows a patina different than today's coins do, I'd want that coin to have some dirt and darker toning. Years back the trend was to take "those dirty old coins" and "shine them up to make them all pretty and nice". Unfortunately when you do that the original surfaces of the coin are irreversibly damaged Now, that doesn't make it a bad coin, but it greatly impairs the value and the collector interest in the coin. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it's important to know this as you buy more coins, a number of unscrupulous dealers buy what are known as "problem coins" for pennies on the dollar and sell them for full retail to people who are inexperienced. We've all bought coins and made mistakes before, this is how ya learn. I've screwed up on much more valuable coins myself. Again, the more you learn the better your collection will be. Of course, I could be wrong and the scan may be messing this up too and the coin could be fine.
Dang... I looked at the subject title and thought I was going to see a cool counterfeit from 100 years too late. As for the coin, it's tough to tell from that picture whether it's cleaned or not. Lots of coins have been, some of which I didn't even buy.
Wow, great info. Thanks everyone. Well, I got out my loupe, which is actually the eye piece form old binoculars but works very well, and had a close look at the Morgan. I think I would like to take back my suggestion that it wasn't cleaned. There are no pattern to the tiny marks/scratches on it, but they seem too long and consistent to be natural. Also, there is a bit of dirt left in the small parts of each letter "A" and there is a darker patina around other letters and small raised areas. As rld14 pointed out, and with better thinking, a 140 year old coin and "nice and shiny" don't go together very well unless it was sealed in a vacuum. I guess I just didn't want it "cleaned" and so was reluctant to investigate. Oh well... It looks like the coin is probably worth more that I paid for it regardless. If I sold it I will put it on eBay where they seem to be selling quite well. However, I'll keep it for now and consider it a collectible. I have other silver which is not worth any more than it's weight that I do plan on selling and replacing with collectible coins. Thanks to your help I'll know to avoid the old, shiny coins. This is why I'm pumped about these forums, they're helping me get some smarts. Sorry on the mistype on the thread title. It would have made the discussion more interesting if real.
Anyone out there who wants to buy coins at Coin world's trend prices you can call me as I will sell you most of my coins. Use the gray sheet.
