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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;foundinrolls, post: 104458, member: 4350&quot;]Hi and Welcome,</p><p><br /></p><p>This is always one of the most difficult questions to answer for someone just starting out.&nbsp; First let me say that I am sorry to hear of your father&#039;s passing. </p><p><br /></p><p>The next thing is always difficult to explain to someone who is new to coins.&nbsp; The condition of the coin means everything. It would be possible to put together a set of 10, lesser condition O mint, (New Orleans Mint) Morgan dollars for less than $150.00.&nbsp; Many times sets such as the ones you are talking about are coins that are polished or that are not in the highest of conditions. Certificates that come with these sets are without meaning as they only say that the coins are what they are, Morgan Dollars.</p><p><br /></p><p>That being said, it may be possible that if your father put the sets together himself, he may have selected higher grade coins for these sets. I suspect though that they may have been mass marketed sets that vary in worth.&nbsp; Dealers and experienced collectors don&#039;t pay more for pre-packaged sets that may have been put together for sale on Shopping Channels, for example. They will only pay what the coins are worth. </p><p><br /></p><p>As stated, condition is everything and grading a coin can be complicated for a new collector or someone trying to discover what coins are worth. Take for example an 1886-0 Morgan dollar that can be purchased for around $15.00 in Very Fine condition, which is a collectible grade.&nbsp; The same coin in a very high state of Uncirculated Preservation can be worth almost $200,000.00.&nbsp; The coin is common in circulated grades and very uncommon in Super High, uncirculated grades.</p><p><br /></p><p>I would go to a book store and get a book we call The Red Book,&nbsp; A GUIDE BOOK OF UNITED STATES COINS by R.S. Yeoman, edited by Kenneth Bresset. </p><p>They may even have these available at your public library.&nbsp; They are printed every year so you want to try to look at the newest edition, 2006.&nbsp; Older editions are OK,&nbsp; but you dont want to be using a 1980 edition, for example to price the coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway, the book has basic grading information on all series of U.S. coins as well as the prices.&nbsp; The prices are not always 100% accurate but they are a fairly good representation of what a coin is worth.</p><p><br /></p><p>It does take a fair amount of experience to grade coins accurately. Coins that have been cleaned , (many of the ones in sets like yours have been) are worth a little more than the melt value for the silver. </p><p><br /></p><p>If there is a way to post scans or pictures of the coins here, we can give you better ideas of worth. If you handle the coins, hold them by the edges and do not touch the faces or the backs of the coins with your fingers.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>I hope this helps!&nbsp; If you have any other questions or pictures, post them to this thread.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks,</p><p>Bill[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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