1899-O Morgan

Hi guys,
I've got an 1899-O Morgan Silver Dollar that I didn't even know I had. I'm just getting into collecting coins. I bought the ANA grading guide, Red Book, Blue Book, Coin Collecting for dummies, etc. and I "think" I know what this coin SHOULD be worth, and I have it listed on eBay right now but it's not getten any bids after 6 days so I maye be asking too much for a starting bid. I believe it is an AU-58 after carefully examining the coin. There is almost no wear that I can see. Here's are some pics:
I use a software program call CoinManage that says at this grade it is worth $42. I started the eBay bidding at $19.99, maybe I should start it at 99 cents, but don't want to pay a reserve price fee. The auction ends in 24 hours so maybe I'll get some bids tomorrow night. What do you guys think?

https://flic.kr/p/TQeqef

https://flic.kr/p/TDYg6G

Once you follow the links, click the photo to see a really large detailed photo. What do you think of my photography skills?

 

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It still has 24 hours to go. You will get a bid. Expect it to sell for $20-$25 depending on how many people decide to compete.

 

Those are very good photos IMO. This coin should sell between $35-$45 A lot will depend on our Ebay Rating. If ppl have confidence in you.

 

I would call it AU53 at best.

 

Hi tpsadler, I hope you're right! My eBay feedback rating is 488, 100% positive!

 

The Reverse Photo in focus. Where as the Obverse needs a little work. Seems as though you have it in focus in the center but the areas close to the Rims appear out of focus. You may want to increase the fstop if your camera allows this.

 

I think this coin is typical of many New Orleans strikes and my thought would be AU53 to AU55.

 

Thanks tpsadler, yes my camera allows this, I'm not sure why the depth of field is so shallow. I have a Nikon D7100 with a Nikkor 105mm macro lens and an Nikon SB-600 speedlight and a nice ($200+) tripod. I keep fiddling with the settings, perhaps changing it to aperture priority to manually control my f-stop, but I've been also trying to get the lighting and focus just right. You should see some of my penny photos, really nice. I'm not allowed to post a link to my eBay auctions yet as I haven't been here long enough, but you can search on member d-ttrain and look at my auctions if you want to see some of my other photos. Thanks for your feedback and expertise!
Oh and even at AU50 it's supposedly worth $40.

 

D-Train this is beginning to sound like dayshavoo. I use a Nikon D7200 and a Nikkon 105 Macro Lense and had many the same issues when starting to use this camera. Be sure to use Aperture Priority mode. Many ppl on this site think this camera is overkill for coin photos Use a delayed trigger with mirror up. F11

 

As others have covered your AU-58 grade is ambitious. Soft strike aside, there's a bit of wear in the usual places: cap, hair over and underneath the ear, and the eagle's breast. Otherwise, looks good, and has decent luster, AU-55.

For someone who is just starting out, your reverse photos are outstanding, and are highly detailed. The obverse is a wee out of focus, and the positioning of the lighting isn't quite right--the cheek is overexposed.

You can even see a neat VAM with your reverse photos. You have doubling in the "God We trust", the wing tip, and also the "TES OF AMERIC". The O mintmark also looks interesting.

I looked through VAMworld's catalog but wasn't seeing your VAM anywhere. I might've missed it, but feel free to take a look for yourself: http://www.vamworld.com/1899-O+VAMs

Also, in regards to your auction, I think you should be fine, there's a lot of time left.

 

White Balance needs adjustment for Silver Coins. WB looks ok for your cooper coins.

 

Thanks tmoneyeagles for your expertise in grading my coin. I got a starting bid since starting this thread, so I know I'll get at least $20 for it. I may be a beginner at collecting coins, but I'm not a beginner at taking pictures and I have a pretty awesome camera that is much more capable than I am, but I'm learning! Umm, stupid question time: What the heck does VAM stand for? (never mind, I clicked your link and read the FAQ, pretty geeky stuff!)

tpsadler: thanks for the tips on using basically the same camera you have. This camera body/lens combination is definitely overkill for photographing coins but I didn't buy well over $2000 worth of photography equipment just to take pictures of some old coins. LOL!
But taking high contrast still photos is a little challenging. I'm getting better all the time. And my Morgan really is kinda brown like in the photos. Nice patina/toning.

 

SHHHHH! You may upset the VAM collectors and cherry pickers! There are some collectors that breathe that stuff--you bark out a VAM year/number and they can tell you what it looks like from memory. Crazy! Looked again and I still can't find yours. That's another thing with Morgans--I've seen VAM folks say that every Morgan is a VAM, regardless of whether or not it has been identified before. Some can end up being extremely valuable, others confer no additional value.

It's so rare a newer collector has a nice camera and takes good quality pictures. Photographers rarely are coin collectors, but coin collectors, after a while, turn into photographers. I remember taking photographs of silver dollars with the flash on a point-and-shoot camera about a decade ago. This place helped change that around though.

 

Don't dismiss VAM's D-Train. If I was in the business of selling Morgan or Peace Dollars I would certainly take the time to check to see if I had a significant VAM. Some carry a very large premium.

 

I guess I should have learned my lesson when I sold my 1909-S Indian Cent, not seeing the "S" on the back of the coin, it was hidden by corrosion, so I sold it as a 1909-P. The guy that bought it from me paid $26, then sold it on eBay before he even received it from me for $202.50. Lesson learned that it pays to look at your coins VERY closely and know what you're selling and don't get taken advantage of. I guess VAM's are just a more extreme example of this. I don't plan to collect Morgans at this time, that was the only one I had, so I'm selling it. I do also have a couple of nice Peace dollars that I'll probably hang on to. Don't know where I got them any more than I know where I got the Morgan.

 

The Morgan sold for $24.09
Not too bad, wish it fetched more!

 

Still think this should have made more. It may have helped if your color tones would have been more correct. Indicating camera is not adjusted properly to the temperature of the light. The Pinks are not natural and glaring over exposed silver tints.

 

D-Train, welcome to CT...and don't forget you can also "Take the A Train"

 

Yes sakata wins the kewpie doll for estimating what my coin would eventually sell for. Thanks sakata!