i was wondering if something that is worth purchasing on ebay, i've always wanted a morgan dollar but it is too pricey too buy anywhere else i'm new i hope this is the right place too ask
My advice would be to post a link to any ebay auctions that you're interested in here on cointalk before bidding/buying. We can help you determine if it's genuine and/or worth buying. Good luck!
EBAY is a decent place to buy coins if you do your homework. Carefully check out a sellers feedback. Anything even a few tics from a 100% rating could show up as a bunch of negative feedbacks. Also check how many neutral feedbacks a seller has. Oftenbuyers on eBay are afraid to post a negative against a seller because they will more than likely get one in return in a lot of cases. Also, if you find a coin on eBay you are interested in, post the auction as a thread in this forum. There are many veteran collectors on this site each day willing to help you out.:hail:
Good advice, I would also get a copy of the "Red Book" so that you have some idea about what you want to get. eBay is loaded with coins you should not buy so be careful to limit your exposure. A coin dealer will generally have some in good condition (common dates) that they will sell for less than $20. You may want to start there first as you will be able to examine what you get before you pay for it. Good Luck
how long have you been collecting coins? you state you are new, but that could mean a number of things. i have been around coins my whole life but only recently started to collect. i have picked up grading pretty quickly and feel confident given my background, but i can see where others might be reluctent to trust themselves. my suggestion would be to find a coin show or coin shop and look at lots of examples in various grades, from AG to MS, until you feel comfortable rough guessing a coins grade. it's extremely difficult to judge the quality of a coin by an on-line picture. my coins are awesome but look nasty on-line, no really - hahaha if you find an auction that interests you, post the link and let the group help you. -Steve
just cut and past the address in the message window like this: http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=23939 -Steve
http://cgi.ebay.com/Papa-Tonys-Gem-BU-1880-S-Morgan_W0QQitemZ120108509792QQihZ002QQcategoryZ39465QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem thanks ty
i'd ask him for photos of straight on shots of the obverse and reverse. that angled view tells me very little about the quality of the coin. -Steve
i'll email him and i've collected coins for a year but at one point i just left my coins in a room for many months so i've only looked for about 3 months
Hello, ty. The coin auction, that you referenced, will likely end at a higher price than I would recommend paying. Unfortunately, the real "bargains", on eBay, go to savy veterans and sharp-eyed coin dealers. In all honesty, I can't recommend eBay as a buying venue for beginning hobbiests. I can, however, recommend honest coin dealers, who will deliver exactly what they describe. You can expect to pay full retail price. Good luck!
Use of that type of photos is itself a big red flag! This feedback qualifies as at least two more red flags! Caveat emptor!!!!!!!!!!
eagle.eye.eddie (papa tony) is a decent seller. He doesn't have the greatest pics, but his coins are usually good. Personally, I wouldn't bid more than $30 on this coin, though.
What is this about sending him a check or money order if you do not hear from him becouse of e- mail filters.
Pratt, let me go back to your original statement "I've always wanted a Morgan Dollar." Have you thought about what date and what condition or are you looking for a "type coin" meaning (to some, not all) the best possible condition that one can afford without a lot of attention to the date. Looking at the May 2007 issue of "Coin Values" (just one source, not the best but it will do for this purpose) I see that a common date Morgan like the 1921 has a price of $17 in XF-40 (Extra Fine), $18 in AU-50 (about uncirculated) and $21 in MS-60 (your basic Uncirculated). They go up from there; but there are a few dates in the 1800's that aren't too much more expensive, for example an 1885 for $21, $23, and $36 in the same three grades. It is possible to buy "just a Morgan" at close to its silver value but it would be pretty worn out. When I bought Thalia Elizabeth a Morgan for her Twentieth Century Type Set, I think I paid something around $15 (plus tax, grrrr) for it from our local child-friendly coin shop. It is not anything to write home about, a 1921-P in "circulated condition" (probably VF / Very Fine) but it's OK for an almost seven year old. So it can be done on a budget. On the other hand, much advice given in coin collecting circles is "buy the best coin you can afford." If you are, say, halfway to something nicer (like that same 1921 in MS-64 which would be $44 according to the same list) you might do well to keep saving for it instead of going for the "Instant Gratification" item that won't be worth much more than the value of the silver that's in it. Good luck, and keep reading and learning!
I have always wanted a morgan dollar too but i am still saving up for it maybe ill have enough saved by 2008 to finaly afford it.
