Hi everyone! I'll be the one to say I don't know ANYTHING about coins. But a few years ago I was working at a mini market and a younger guy handed me these coins for gas. Me, I wasn't thinking anything of it because I was always looking for silver 50 cent pieces because they're "pretty" and sound nice when you hit them off certrain surfaces. I noticed they were really shiny and said one dollar on them so I put the money for them in the drawer and kept the coins. Later when I was looking at them I seen the dates were 1878 and 1881. I figured the kid had to have taken them from grandparents or someone's collection so I looked out for any police reports of them missing but nothing. I still have them and did not know if they were worth any kind of money. From what I have been reading I just can't tell the difference. Some of them go for ridiculous prices on E-bay. I know they are both from San Francisco but that's it! And the bird has 7 feathers... I thought I read something about that too.
If you could scan the coins or take pictures of them, I'm sure some of the guys here could help you determine the value of them. Yes, they're worth more than their face value as long as they're not horribly disfigured just because of their Silver content. I'd check on E-Bay for current prices on the dates you have to start out with. http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=1878+morgan&_fromfsb=0&_trksid=m270 -DJ
I took some pictures so everyone could see. They are not the best because I can't really figure this camera out but I guess I can always scan them too... I don't know how that would work out for me! Anyway, they are still very shiny. Someone was taking good care of them. To think they are this old is almost unbelieveable.
First of all, don't clean them whatever you do. and don't touch the surfase with your fingers, hold them by the edges. The coins look prooflike and uncirculated or nearly so. Very nice finds.
Ok I will not touch them, anymore haha. Like I said these coins found me so of course I don't know anything about them. Should I take them somewhere to have them cleaned? How do you even go about getting them graded?
They have potential to be $50 plus coins. I'm sure people with better eyes than mine will let you know.
No cleaning, it will kill the value. They are more than fine the way they are. I will let others comment about grading or not.
No cleaning! The only time you would "clean" a coin is to reveal the mint-mark or date if not visible because of crud on it. (like an ancient coin).. and even then you would take it to a specialist to have that done.
yeaaah funny funny I know. That's the whole thing I plan to sell them because someone should have them that loves coins right? Trust me, I have two plane tickets to buy to go to Colorado in Nov. for a very special cause.
