This last week marked another milestone in my collecting journey that to the best of my recollection was begun more than 20 years ago with a blank Dansco album and an idea. So I started down the road to find one each of every year of the New Orleans mint Morgan Dollars. It has been fun, it has been a lesson in patience. I did not really set out with any particular minimum standard in mind as far as condition or individual qualities for examples to put in the book other than to say each one had to fit with what I have in my mind's eye for a keeper. It's hard to explain this, and you will hopefully see what I mean in the photos. It's entirely possible that the pictures will actually confuse you as to my method so lets just clear it right now: don't feel bad if you don't get it. I sometimes wondered if I was getting it myself. I have in mind what I call the look of "old money". Not sure if I can convey what I mean by that, other than to say I know it when I see it. Morgan dollars seem to me to be what I think of when trying to define "old money". Bust types and V nickles, Seateds and 1800s gold. Designs of times long ago and their inherent look from use and nature's effects. That kind of thing. I am by no means a Morgan guy. I'm a Winged Liberty dime guy who probably just needed a break with a different experience for a while. I don't intend to do any more of the Morgans after this with the exception of a few occasional singles that trip my alarm. Also, I have always maintained that this set is not done. Complete yes, but not locked down finished. I have already done some upgrading; replacing examples with better looking or higher grade replacements. That will continue as I intend for it to be fluid and changeable. There are mint states and there are working class examples in the book. You will have no trouble seeing which ones were the more difficult to attain. Most have a color that pleased my eye but none would be considered stunners. I wanted something other than glorious blast white. Nothing wrong with those. I just wanted to finish before I kick off. Also, I know I did a ham fisted job with the pics. I used a flatbead scanner instead of setting up each of 25 individual coins to shoot front and back. CoinView this is not. For this I was lazy. I Photoshoped the groups together, but did not mess with editing lighting or colors. They look better in person. Enjoy! Rick L. ignore the hair on the 96.
Congratulations on completing your numismatic journey. It's a nice looking suite and you should be proud of putting it together.
Very cool. What intrigues me is that you've been here for 18 years and only have 179 posts. Man of few words. I respect that.
I think this is in fact the first time I have posted a significant photo of anything I collect. Rick L.
Very nice job. All of those coins look carefully selected . . . likely bought more for appearance than for price.
The 97 needs a better example. It will be updated in the coming months or whenever. Not sure what I saw in this one initially. I want to fill some holes in a Bust dime book first. Rick L.
Too many coins to go thru 1 by 1 but did you take strike into consideration? I am not a Morgan guy but I understand that New Orleans coins often come with poor strikes. In particular the breast feathers of the Eagle. Anyway, New Orleans is my favorite mint. I built my date set with Seated Halves. Most fun I have had collecting coins up until now. Building a 19th century date set using all the non gold denominations has been a blast. Good luck with your future collecting. James
Always liked the Morgans but there are so many Chinese fakes out there you never know if your getting the real deal unfortunately ;(
Revised 1900-02 with correctly matched reverses. Thanks for looking and I enjoyed all the comments! Rick L.
Congratulations on completing your set, Rick! Decades ago, I had the ambition of completing the entire Morgan Dollar set by Date and MM. But, I more or less took a break from collecting for a couple decades, and now that I'm back I don't have that desire anymore, so my set will never be "complete" in that sense. I do love some of your Morgans (at least I think I do - I'm guessing they look much nicer in hand than the scans show!)! Especially seemingly attractive to me are: 81 (Rev), 84 (Rev), 85, 86, 92 and 95. I want them!!! LOL! Great job on a beautiful set!!!
