I found two Morgan silver dollars in a small coin collection that used to belong to my father. My dad passed away about 5 years ago, while cleaning up and cleaning out, I found a small collection of coins that belonged to him, mainly foreign coins obtained while he was in the Navy back in the 1950's. While reorganizing drawers and boxes around the house with the wife, I ran across the coins. I had put them in a drawer, and basically forgot about them. Anyway, I took them out to go through them (about 20 coins, not a whole lot) and found the above mentioned coins. I searched the internet to see what they might be worth, and came away confused, only because the values seemed to vary between $8.50 and $13,500.00. Thoroughly confused now, I looked at coin grading, and what not, and I honestly can't decide just what condition this coin is in. I cleaned it up a bit with a lemon acid bath (about 30 minutes) just to get some of the tarnish off so it would photograph better. The photo is the 1921 coin, it was more tarnished than the 1880 coin, and I don't know what to attribute that to. He may have gotten these coins after his mom died in 1993, but I am not sure, as I don't remember seeing them when I was a kid. When I researched the coins on the internet, I ran across several stories of counterfeit Morgans as well, and to be honest, I am not sure what I have. All I am looking for is an appraisal of the coin's condition. When I get take a better photo of the 1880 coin, I will post it, but here is the 1921 Morgan silver dollar. http://www.eyefetch.com/image.aspx?ID=1071352 http://www.eyefetch.com/image.aspx?ID=1071355
the only one that could be worth money is the 1880 but I would have to know the mint mark. is there a letter under the eagle ? for exemple cc also the mint mark on your 1921 is D Thanks raider
Cleaning coins is a No No. As for a grade for your coin I would give it low AU details but it has been cleaned. For a price it's only really worth its weight in silver, Which is around $10.
Here are a couple of detail shots from the 1880 Morgan. I have to correct my earlier post. This coin was not cleaned, as the 1921 coin was. Since there was less tarnish as compared to the 1921 dollar, I just left it. The mint mark is an "O" for New Orleans. http://www.eyefetch.com/image.aspx?ID=1071494 http://www.eyefetch.com/image.aspx?ID=1071496
Sorry Tim but the 1880 also has been cleaned at some point. You can tell from the lack of luster, and those fine scratches on the coin.
Wasn't cleaned by me, the condition that it's in in the photo, is the condition that it's been in since it has been in my possession, or rather, the condition it was in when I found them again a week or two ago. It's quite possible that it was cleaned in the past.... My dad may have done it years ago, I have no way of knowing. Both coins have been in protective plastic envelopes for years, I know, not the ideal protection, but it may have been better than nothing. All really want to know is what the condition of the coin is. To my untrained eye, they look great, but, then, what do I know?
Ok coins are graded on a scale of 1-70. Coins graded from 60-70 are called MS. (ex MS63) They are coins that are uncirculated, they show no wear. IMO I would say both your coins are low AU details (around AU53). That means the coins are About Uncirculated, and show some signs of wear. You can check this site for some pics of Morgans and their grades. US Coin Grading But as I said before both your coins appear to have been cleaned.
