Hi Just found this coin at a local thrift shop.I thought it was quite unusual because it is incased in a sterling silver necklace with a ring medalion for protection.Any ideas as to why or how much it is worth or its grade? I thought close to mint edges are steal near perfect. thanks james The chain is marked ss AR 925
Greetings and Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately it's been converted into jewelry and worth only about the silver (Ag) content. The pictures make it impossible to accurately grade the coin, as to the value... maybe $25/$30 dollars. Take Care Ben
Yep, being jewelry destroys its collector value. It has probably been buffed or polished. And it probably has numerous dings from banging around as well as damage where it attaches to the ring. It is worth little more than melt value (depending the sophistication and knowledge of a buyer).
morgan The ring or necklace is not attached it is just holding it.The coin rests on the prongs on the ring of the medallion peice it is not physicly attached to it in any way.The coin was almost all black with tarnish when I got it today.I rubbed it with a soft cloth to remove the tarnish take a look at these pics of the coin thanks jamesHi
It looks beat to Hell to me. And it has been cleaned (you rubbed off the "tarnish"). A knowledgeable collector may pay $15 for it.
The coin has been cleaned and circulated, and as such, is worth its silver content - approximately $11.
Wow. You should never rub a coin with a cloth like that or attempt to clean a coin at all for that matter, I'm very much against it. Generally, cleaning a coin can decrease its value up to 50% and being that this dollar has been used as jewelery has already decreased its value. Do Not clean your coins is the #1 rule in coin collecting, as far as I'm concerned.
jc, Welcome to Coin Talk and I hope you will stay as it is a great place for information and help on coins! Please take the "Never clean a coin" comments in stride! You were not aware that cleaning coins is bad or considered a NO, NO in the Coin Collecting World and everyone is just trying to help. Although I am not condoning the practice but if you wanted to wear the necklace with the Morgan Dollar or give it as a gift, you could have dipped it in the liquid Silver Jewelry Cleaner sold at WalMart, rinsed it very well with Distilled Water and patted (not rub) dry with a soft towel. While not condoned in the Coin Collecting World, it would have removed the tarnish, not left any rub marks from the cloth and will not leave that polished look to the coin! Frank
thanks Thanks everyone.I do wish I had never cleaned it.I don't usuallyclean itemslikethis but I really wanted to see thedetail in the coin.I do understand to never clean with chemicals but that is why I cleaned with a cloth instead (oops) Just to make it clear again.The coin is removable without any difficulty from the ring(outside) It is not attached to the coin in anyway besides 4 little tits of silver(tabs) it just rest inside the ring. further research about the ring and necklace indicate it dates to about the same as the coin ,that leads me to beleive it was made for the purpose it serves around 1900. any other info appreciated thanks again james (sorry about the words running together my laptops space bar sometimes works)
James, don't sweat it. In this particular case, because the coin was already circulated and part of a jewelry piece before you cleaned it, the value wasn't affected much at all.
First glance thought it was the 1899 Plain, took the pictures and light them up. "O" appeared. Bullion Value on this one. Dont know the weight on the chain so cant really give a price on that. I wouldnt look twice at it if the price were over $20 bucks. ( and thats stretching it I think )
