Please help me with this Morgan. I picked up this recent GSA addition to my collection. I'm stuck between MS64 and MS65. All opinions are appreciated. Thanks
GDJMSP: That is a GSA holder, that usually hold CC dollars. This is a nice scarce coin in that holder.
I need some time to get a photo up, but in the meantime...the holder is the standard black hardpack. The tops reads "United States" and the bottom says " Uncirculated Silver Dollar". This is the appropriate holder for a non-CC GSA Dollar. I also have the MU card with it.
Jimmy I asked for the pic because I have never, ever, seen an S mint coin in a GSA holder. I also asked for another reason, this particular coin is either very weakly struck, which is extremely unusual for S mint Morgans, or it has wear. So I wonder if perhaps someone opened the GSA case and substituted the coin.
I have seen several S mint coins in GSA holders...mostly 1881-S and they command a hefty premium on ebay. hmmm. To me, this coin looks fairly well struck without any traces of rub or wear, but it would be nice to see the whole holder to make sure it isn't damaged.
It may be just the holder detracting from the details but the coin appears to an awfully weak strike for an 1882-S! As a result, I believe that it will go MS-63 or possibly MS-64 but is too weak for an MS-65. Not sure about any doubling of the Date and/or Mintmark and would need better close up pics. Frank
I'm having troubles getting the picture to fit the 100kb CT requirtement. Any suggestions? I don't see any evidence of crack-out. (But thanks for looking out for me. ) I understand your concern since the non-CC hardpacks are much more rare than the CCs. As far as the S mint GSAs, there are very few in hardpacks. The only years issued with approximate release totals were: 1878 (extremely rare), 1879 (3,600), 1880 (2,200), 1881 (900), 1882 (840), and 1890 (very rare). I'll keep trying to get a better photo, but assuming this is an original GSA coin, do you think my grading is appropriate...there is no wear?
It's the detail of the obverse mainly, especially the hair. It's no where near struck as well as an S mint coin should be. If it were an O mint I wouldn't think twice about it - but an S ? As for evidence of the case being opened, you probably wouldn't see any - they open right up if you know how. But let's assume it's original. Because of the weak strike the coin would grade no better than 63 IMO and might even be a 62.
Doug, You are right about the hair! However, the overall appearance looks weak. On the Obverse, besides the hair, the Stars and some of the Letters appear shallow and note how Miss Liberty's cap seems to fade into the fields. On the Reverse, much of the details and especially the Lettering and Wreath appear shallow and the Eagle's breast and the lower portion of it's right wing (on the left when viewing the coin) feathers are weak. Like I said, it might just be the holder degrading the appearance of the design elements but they are definitely much weaker than much of the 1882-S Morgans that I have ever seen. Frank
Wow! I've never seen an s-mint in anything except for one of the soft pack holders. Do you happen to have the paper insert and the original box?
