I have been wanting to start this thread for a long time, but up until now, I didn't own a camera and I wanted to be able to post the pics to go along with it. Please forgive me if there is already a similar thread out there - I did a search and came up with nothing. I don't remember exactly how old I was, but I was probably around 10-12 years old when my dad gave me this coin and I was forever hooked. Other than knowing it was a Morgan dollar, I knew nothing about the history of this coin or that there was anything special about it. Fast forward 25 years and I am now jumping head first into collecting Morgans. Looking through the Red Book, I read about the 1888O Morgan and the "Hot Lips" variety. So, not thinking anything of it, I pulled it out and WOW - there is was sitting in front of me! My first VAM and I didn't even know that I had it. Long after my dad is gone, I will always cherish this coin. I don't care what grade it is in - it will always fill that hole in my book. I have always been interested to find out what was everyone's first coin that got you hooked into the hobby. Thanks for sharing. Joe
Nice lips! This is what started me collecting! Isn't much, but that coin is what started this whole coin collecting hobby. http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee59/ryanbrooks11/0893_1.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee59/ryanbrooks11/0907_1.jpg
Joe - all Morgans are VAMS. It's just that some of them are more popular and thus better known than others - like this one. Nice coin !
the coin that got me hooked was my first "old" coin, a 1864 Indian Head Cent... At the same time I had gotten a nice Steel Cent and a nice War Nickel, but this was OLD! lol I was around 10 at the time.
this is the coin that got me hooked, i found it in Mexico when i was 11, walking home from school, some guys say its fake, maybe but i still love it.
nice coins! that hot lips morgan makes for a nice first coin with a good story to go with it. this is my forst "coin" (really not a coin, but a silver round)
I started collecting about 1954 (cents from my paper route.) But then there was a long break where I didn't do much. Some silver dollars right out of circulation in Montana in 1960; more silver dollars right out of circulation in Alaska in 1963. But the coin that REALLY got me going was a gift from my wife. It was a 1971-S Brown Box Ike. Since then collecting has been pretty steady. There was a break in 1980 when the market went through the roof. That lasted for about 5 years or so. Since then, NO breaks.
There's a re-cut "D" on the obverse and I've never seen that on a counterfeit Mexican Reale before. It looks real to me but I'm not an expert on these so maybe an expert will let us know. :hail: As far as I'm concerned, great coin! :thumb: Ribbit Ps: Great coins to everyone! :thumb: Pps: I can remember my first Buffalo Nickel I got in change. I thought it was worth a fortune so I tried to sell it to someone for a dollar (sometime around 1968). However, it was my grandmother who got me hooked on collecting!
I'll trade you my Morgan for your Morgan Nice first coin. Great toning. Hey Leadfood, I like your 101 AD seated liberty! Did your grandfather ever tell you what year it was? It looks like an 1861? It has some nice detail!
Around 15 years ago, at age 9 or 10, my dad gave me 2 proof sets from my birth year, 1983. I started showing some interest, asking questions and whatnot, so then he gave me this Morgan. I was hooked. I kind of got out of it during my rebellious years which extended into my early 20's. Then about 2 and a half years ago I needed money really badly. I started going through my coins to figure out how much I could sell them for. Instead I fell in love with collecting all over again, and sold my car instead of my collection. Here's the Morgan that started it all. I'll never sell it. Hopefully I'll have someone to pass it on to some day. P.S. That discoloration on the reverse doesn't stand out so much in person.
