Branch Mint Proof Morgan Dollars

That was excellent research!

 

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Make the guy an offer such as I will buy an interest in this coin for $xxx, and I will have it graded by PCGS, and if it comes back a proof, we will send to auction and split everything over $xxxxx. If it comes back other than proof, I own the coin and expense, you keep the original interest money. Do legal agreement and record. Done right, it could be fair to all. Half of a big sum is better than none.

Jim

 

Thanks! Excellent idea.

 

Branch mint proofs

I saw the coin at a small coin shop. The fact that it took an authority on these coins to define the Morgans like Breen indicates to me that the coin shop owner who has it will require an expert numismatist to make the judgment. I doubt he would trust me with such a contract--he intends to walk it through a tpgs at a coin show.

 

It is not a branch mint proof I'm sorry, it's just not. There is no chance, less than no chance, it ain't gonna happen, it's not, it don't add up.
Tip-offs, coin shop rural area, "O" mint, fellow said,

If the man knows coins and thought he had one why is he not getting it certified or placed in an auction.
If it don't make sence it don't add up, and if it don't add up it don't make sence.

To your second question they are worth a lot but that won't matter regarding this coin.

 

True, but take the Breen authentication with a grain of salt. Breen authenticated many branch mint proofs etc which later lost their status as such. For awhile Breen kind of supported himself with authentications many of which are today considered questionable.

 

Branch Mint Proof Morgan

A senior numismatist with a major New Hampshire company, a PNG member, had a chance to look at the coin in question last Saturday--his assessment:

"His coin certainly does match up with that book’s diagnostics. Therefore, the coin has a legitimate and realistic shot at being certified as a branch mint proof. The man impressed me as being quite straightforward, honest and having true integrity."

 

Have you bought it yet?

 

Branch Mint Morgans

It's NFS. If he's right it could be worth several tens of thousands. If wrong, less than a thousand. He's waiting to get it authenticated. He had a bad experience with one of the major services where he said they switched some of his submissions. So he doesn't want to send it via mail to be authenticated.

 

You say It's not for sale & this dealer has had a TPG switch submissions on him. For giggles, I would like to see the gentleman & his coin. Can you post the coin shop name?

 

Branch Mint Morgan?

I'll let you know when I hear something definitive. The coin dealer also said he has prostate cancer, so he seems to be preoccupied at the moment.

 

I'll send the relevant info. from the PNG dealer who saw the coin on a confidential basis.

 

Bowers and Merena auctioned off an:
Lot #3104. 1879-O Morgan Silver Dollar. Proof-64 (PCGS). OGH--First Generation.

Original Near-Gem 1879-O Class I Branch Mint Proof Morgan Dollar
The Second Finest of Only Four Specimens Known to Exist

Description:Easily the rarest and also among the most popular Morgan Dollars with advanced collectors are the branch mint proofs--coins that are so rare, in fact, that many numismatists have never even seen one of these specimens, let alone been confronted with the opportunity to add one to their holdings. Writing in the 1982 book The Morgan and Peace Dollar Textbook, Wayne Miller enumerates five classes of branch Mint proof Morgan Dollars. The claim that an individual issue has to branch mint status decreases as the class # increases; the Class V pieces, in fact, being described by Miller as, "coins rumored to be branch mint proofs which the author has seen and which are definitely not proofs."
On the other end of the scale are the Class I branch mint proofs, which Wayne Miller describes as, "authorized, definite branch mint proofs. These are the...dates for which proofs were authorized and subsequently issued [emphasis author's]." Only four branch mint proof Morgan Dollars qualify as Class I: 1879-O; 1883-O; 1893-CC; and 1921-S.
The 1879-O is perhaps the best known Class I branch mint proof Morgan Dollar, and it is also among the most instantly recognizable of all branch mint proof coins regardless of type or issue. Considerable documentation exists for the creation of these coins, according to which a mere 12 specimens were struck on February 20, 1879 to commemorate the reopening of the New Orleans Mint (the facility had ceased production in 1861 at the onset of the Civil War). Of the original 12 coins struck, only four specimens are known to exist.
Pages 219-220 of the aforementioned book The Morgan and Peace Dollar Textbook contains author Wayne Miller's detailed analysis of the specific proof 1879-O Morgan Dollar that we are offering in this sale:

I first saw this piece while it was owned by Alan Brotman in early 1973. Previous provenance was McDermott, another collector (Bass perhaps?), and Brownlee. Brotman apparently consigned the coin to the Kagin Sale of the 70's held on November 2 and 3, 1973. The coin was bought by Robert W. Barker...Julian Leidman obtained the coin for the author in 1980.
This coin is much superior to the RARCOA coin, with light golden-brown toning and very few hairlines. There are two tiny rim nicks behind the mouth of Liberty. The strike is extremely bold; every feather on the eagle is fully articulated. The coin has a partial wire rim on the obverse, and a virtually full rim on the reverse. The proof surfaces are very evident under the toning and the coin is identifiable as a proof at first glance.

The coin remains in the completely original state of preservation as when it was examined by Wayne Miller, whose expert description includes not only the technical and aesthetic merits of the coin, but also a partial pedigree and a useful pedigree marker. To flesh out the coin's standing in the census, we note that it ranks as the second finest of the three specimens available for private ownership. The fourth specimen is impounded in the Smithsonian Institution, of which Miller states, "it is reported that the coin is attractive but not superb."
A stand-out rarity in this sale, and a coin that is sure to attract the interest of even the most advanced Morgan Dollar specialists. PCGS# 7345.


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March 2010 for $184,000

 

Possible Branch Mint Proof Morgan

The coin business is here: Colonial Coins & Sport Collectables (603) 876-4462 26 Canada St Marlborough, NH

 

Ah yes, the Zerbe and Chapman 1921 Morgans. Examples are known with and without an "S" mintmark. The story goes that Zerbe visited the Mint, (Philadelphia) and was there to see the striking of the first Peace dollars. However, they went to striking Morgans first, and the peace dies weren't even ready. To alleviate Farran Zerbe, they hastily prepared 50 Specimen strike coins to offer as a "peace offering". The coins are seldom seen in high grades, and the highest graded is a 66. The coins often display die polish lines resulting from hasty preparation.

 

The Chapmans are far superior to the Zerbes, and have more Proof characteristics. the Zerbes are not really proofs, but Specimen strikes, or so it is believed. this is because of their lack of detail and apparent low surviving grades.

 

Thanks for the follow-up. It is good to see astute coin aficianados adding to these threads. Actually I have bought some decent coins from this dealer, and a fair number of lemons too. I doubt the particular "branch mint Morgan" as he called it, an 84-O if I remember right, will ever be called by the pros anything but a PL at best.

 

Branch mint Morgan proofs are extremely rare. Here is an article from the Numismatist, back in 2007 on some of them. Ironically, despite the fact that very few exist, they tend to sell for less than more common rarities, such as the 93s and 89cc in MS condition.


http://www.neilsberman.com/pdf/news_MorganProofsandSpecimens_7_07.pdf