OK, so here is a raw 1879-S Morgan that I picked up several years ago. I love the toning on the coin. I think it's about perfect. One of my long term goals is to assemble a graded Morgan set...and this coin may end up in a slab just to be included in it. I have my own grade opinion on it...but I would love to hear what yours are. Also, I think the photo came out really nice but would love some opinions on it. @Morgandude11, what do you think?
Looks like it used to be in an old ANACS slab with that mottled blue and yellow toning. Very nice coins indeed, and I would say at least MS65+ because that cheek is hella clean!
When I bought it came in a generic white plastic insert holder...and that's how I've kept it. As far as I know, it's always been a raw coin and the insert it's currently in looks very similar to the material in the old "soap" ANACS holders. Of course, it could have been slabbed in the past too.
I think it is a gorgeous coin. I love the toning—the fade red to orange is attractive to me. The devices are moderately sharp, indicating a medium strike. It isn’t as sharply struck as most early s mint Morgans— I would call the strike medium. The luster comes nicely through the toning. As far as surfaces, the cheek has a few distracting marks. I would love to say 65, as I really like the coin. I will say 64+ to 65+.
I totally agree with you on the strike. It’s a medium strike coin. My thought was MS64...but I might be being really harsh in it. It’s beautiful in hand.
That is why I gave it a range. I think NGC would color bump it. Many a Morgan collector loves that kind of toning. I have many fade pastel coins like that, and love them.
One of my big goals is to put together a slabbed Morgan set. It’s intimidating so I haven’t started doing it yet. Even though I’ve wanted to for a decade. I love this coin. It might end up in a slab as the first coin for that set.
I think it is a great start. Definitely start with 79s, 80s, 81s, and 82s. Over the years, I have posted coins from my two complete Morgan sets. Both were MS, except for 4 key coins—93s, 89cc, 1895s, and 1884s, which were XF to AU. It was a distinct pleasure to do the set twice, although time consuming, and quite expensive.
I'm actually saving up for a 93-S in VF. I figure it's gonna be $4500 or so. I have $1000 already set aside. Hopefully will be able to buy one next year. I have a 1881-S that I love too...it's condition isn't the best but it was my first Morgan and it's at least PL. I need to get a couple airtities...one for the 81-S and get it out of the Dansco.
When I bought my second 1893s AU 50, my wife had a cow, as I spent $8500 on it, back 10 years ago (the going rate at the time). I had to appease her, by buying her a new Jaguar. It was exciting, and though I sold both complete sets (one for enormous profit), I rebought a lot of high grade and toned Morgans, which I have posted here many times. Morgans are very addictive and exciting coins. Mike Casper, who sold the highest rated Morgan registry set ( including many Jack Lee coins), thought my set was “nice.” That was high praise.
That's awesome. I think I can "get away" with $4500 as I am going to just put $100 here and there away for it. My wife will let me do it that way as long as I am patient. I figure...I can always upgrade it later but it seems the price curve goes way up after VF20 or so. One thing I have noticed is there are a lot of really ugly 93-S coins on the market. So, I will need to wait for one that looks nice to come along. I don't want to just fill holes anymore. The 1881-S I currently have will probable be a part of the set. It's probably a 63PL with a 7/10 strike...so a low grade coin but it was the first Morgan I ever bought (I was probably 12 or so) so it is special to me. For now, my Washington Quarter project will be my main focus but I want to slowly start picking up Morgans. I have decided to focus on 3 sets. Washington Quarters, slabbed Morgan Set, and a Prussian 20 Mark gold set.
It goes crazy. I have had to keep my purchases down a bit, as my wife needs an implant for tooth #18, and is waiting for the pandemic to subside, as she has had Afib treated.
Implant's ain't cheap. Personally, if it was me...I probably wouldn't replace #18 with an implant most of the time. You don't gain a lot of chewing back with a second molar...so I think the money you spend on it often doesn't have huge gains. PM me and we can discuss that in more detail if you'd like. I tell most of my patients its not worth the investment (however, I would be happy to do it for them if they still want one).
Great color. The notch on the neck and swipe on the cheek put it in the ms62+ to ms64 range for me. The reverse looks a little flat on the eagle's breast, but that could be from a worn die.
As a refresher course for some on grading Morgan Dollars: https://www.pcgs.com/photograde#/Morgan/Grades
