Hi this is my very first post, so I hope I do this right. When my great grandmother passed a away she gave me a large assortment of old coins, and I am trying to figure out if they are worth anything. I do not know anything about coins. She had them all seperated and had a price list of what they were worth back in 1976, so that is all I have to go on. I scanned in two morgan dollars from 1879, to see if anyone could help me figure out what they are worth.
Both are 1879 Morgans without a mint mark (made in Philadelphia). The first coin looks AU to me; the second XF (though I can't see the obverse scan on the second coin well enough because it's a smaller picture). As for value, for the pair a reputable dealer would probably sell the pair for about $35-40. Keep in mind that these are retail prices from a dealer, and you shouldn't expect to receive quite this much if you sold them.
Welcome mmfergt! It is difficult to tell the grade of the coins in your photos and small differences in grade can result in a decent difference in price. For instance, if your first coin is AU it would likely have a retail value of around $19. If on the other hand, it is a BU coin with a weak strike, it could be worth $30 or more. The second coin, although it has a smaller photo, is a little easier to grade and price - it appears to be XF and have a retail value of around $14. Keep in mind of course, that these are retail values. Most dealers would only pay $7 - $9 for the XF coin and probably around $10 for the AU coin, or $15 - $18 if it is BU. My advice, check out the American Numismatic Associations Web site at http://anamarket.money.org/ and find a reputable dealer in your area that can grade the coins for you and give you a reasonable idea of their value. If you are looking to sell, dealers should provide this for free. If you are looking for an appraisal, there will most likely be a charge for the service but it will be worth it. You are of course, welcome to post pictures and lists here and many of us will respond as best we can from the photos!
