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<p>[QUOTE="mitchell, post: 13449, member: 989"]I am a rank amateur, and am well aware of my very limited knowledge about coins. That is why I am here.</p><p><br /></p><p>BUT, I have bought nearly 60 Morgans on ebay in the last two months. I sold several of the lower quality (educational) ones. If I may share the lessons I have learned, perhaps it will help you avoid some of my learning experiences. </p><p><br /></p><p>1) do a search here on "ebay", and read every post about it. I started a couple of threads just so things will be "on the record", especially about emails from ebay. I forwarded one spoof email to ebay and they verified it did not come from them. It was one of those that tell you to click the link and log in; the great minds here called it "Phishing".</p><p><br /></p><p>2) there are always good Morgan dollars up for auction, so don't get into the last minute bid war. There will always be an even better deal in the future. Be patient. Decide what you will pay, bid accordingly, and don't go higher in the last minute. </p><p><br /></p><p>3) read the feedback</p><p><br /></p><p>4) search for "Morgan" and look at the coins 3 or 4 days out. This gives you time to look through the sellers feedback and check the red book, study the pictures, and ask questions.</p><p><br /></p><p>5) if it sounds too good to be true, it is</p><p><br /></p><p>6) only pay high dollar for PCGS or NGC certified coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>7) spend all the time you can looking at the posted pictures</p><p> - pay close attention to scratches, and bag marks</p><p> - pay close attention to the hairline and cheek on the obverse; and breast feathers on the reverse</p><p><br /></p><p>8) search through the "Whats it worth" forum here and read the discussions on grading Morgans. I started a thread in that forum ( <a href="http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=1680" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=1680" rel="nofollow">http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=1680</a> )where some of the great minds here were able to spot a whizzed coin I had bought. They provided a good description of how they determined it. Read every thread here about grading, and every linked article about it.</p><p><br /></p><p>9) only buy from people with return policies</p><p><br /></p><p>10) Look very closely at pictures of graded coins. Spotting what will and will not grade high. I save good, clear, large pictures to my hard drive so I can go back and look at them later. It is all about grading.</p><p><br /></p><p>11) Bookmark the auctions you win, then when you get the coin, you can compare the coin to the picture and description. This is a good learning tool. </p><p><br /></p><p>12) Beware of (heavy) "toning". People can artifically tone a coin several different ways. Toning can be used to cover up blemishes that hurt the coins value. I don't know if an expert can spot artificial toning from a picture, but beware.</p><p><br /></p><p>13) Don't hesistate to ask questions here. These folks here are great and are happy to help.</p><p><br /></p><p>14) Only buy from a good picture. Or only pay "high dollar" from a good picture. Some pictures pick up the "cartwheel" and luster, some don't.</p><p><br /></p><p>In these picture, you can see how the luster picks up the light. I have found such a picture to be a great indication of the quality of coin.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918950422&rd=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918950422&rd=1" rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918950422&rd=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3919619715&rd=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3919619715&rd=1" rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3919619715&rd=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3919625943&rd=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3919625943&rd=1" rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3919625943&rd=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918951042&rd=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918951042&rd=1" rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918951042&rd=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918646875&rd=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918646875&rd=1" rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918646875&rd=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3918580611&rd=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3918580611&rd=1" rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3918580611&rd=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p>These do not pick up any luster.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3919873646&rd=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3919873646&rd=1" rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3919873646&rd=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3919211570&rd=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3919211570&rd=1" rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3919211570&rd=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11979&item=3918995816&rd=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11979&item=3918995816&rd=1" rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11979&item=3918995816&rd=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918999092&rd=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918999092&rd=1" rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918999092&rd=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3919298017&rd=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3919298017&rd=1" rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3919298017&rd=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11979&item=3919876199&rd=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11979&item=3919876199&rd=1" rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11979&item=3919876199&rd=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p>A poor picture does not mean a bad coin. It can be a matter of the equipment used. These pictures are okay if you are talking about $15-$25. But when you get up in the hundreds, then they can make a difference.</p><p><br /></p><p>Again, I am a rank amateur, and maybe some of the great minds here will chime in and help you avoid pit-falls. These are things I did not know when I started buying on ebay, and wish I did.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ebay can be a lot of fun, if you don't loose your shirt.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="mitchell, post: 13449, member: 989"]I am a rank amateur, and am well aware of my very limited knowledge about coins. That is why I am here. BUT, I have bought nearly 60 Morgans on ebay in the last two months. I sold several of the lower quality (educational) ones. If I may share the lessons I have learned, perhaps it will help you avoid some of my learning experiences. 1) do a search here on "ebay", and read every post about it. I started a couple of threads just so things will be "on the record", especially about emails from ebay. I forwarded one spoof email to ebay and they verified it did not come from them. It was one of those that tell you to click the link and log in; the great minds here called it "Phishing". 2) there are always good Morgan dollars up for auction, so don't get into the last minute bid war. There will always be an even better deal in the future. Be patient. Decide what you will pay, bid accordingly, and don't go higher in the last minute. 3) read the feedback 4) search for "Morgan" and look at the coins 3 or 4 days out. This gives you time to look through the sellers feedback and check the red book, study the pictures, and ask questions. 5) if it sounds too good to be true, it is 6) only pay high dollar for PCGS or NGC certified coins. 7) spend all the time you can looking at the posted pictures - pay close attention to scratches, and bag marks - pay close attention to the hairline and cheek on the obverse; and breast feathers on the reverse 8) search through the "Whats it worth" forum here and read the discussions on grading Morgans. I started a thread in that forum ( [url]http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=1680[/url] )where some of the great minds here were able to spot a whizzed coin I had bought. They provided a good description of how they determined it. Read every thread here about grading, and every linked article about it. 9) only buy from people with return policies 10) Look very closely at pictures of graded coins. Spotting what will and will not grade high. I save good, clear, large pictures to my hard drive so I can go back and look at them later. It is all about grading. 11) Bookmark the auctions you win, then when you get the coin, you can compare the coin to the picture and description. This is a good learning tool. 12) Beware of (heavy) "toning". People can artifically tone a coin several different ways. Toning can be used to cover up blemishes that hurt the coins value. I don't know if an expert can spot artificial toning from a picture, but beware. 13) Don't hesistate to ask questions here. These folks here are great and are happy to help. 14) Only buy from a good picture. Or only pay "high dollar" from a good picture. Some pictures pick up the "cartwheel" and luster, some don't. In these picture, you can see how the luster picks up the light. I have found such a picture to be a great indication of the quality of coin. [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918950422&rd=1[/url] [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3919619715&rd=1[/url] [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3919625943&rd=1[/url] [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918951042&rd=1[/url] [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918646875&rd=1[/url] [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3918580611&rd=1[/url] These do not pick up any luster. [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3919873646&rd=1[/url] [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3919211570&rd=1[/url] [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11979&item=3918995816&rd=1[/url] [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39465&item=3918999092&rd=1[/url] [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39466&item=3919298017&rd=1[/url] [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11979&item=3919876199&rd=1[/url] A poor picture does not mean a bad coin. It can be a matter of the equipment used. These pictures are okay if you are talking about $15-$25. But when you get up in the hundreds, then they can make a difference. Again, I am a rank amateur, and maybe some of the great minds here will chime in and help you avoid pit-falls. These are things I did not know when I started buying on ebay, and wish I did. Ebay can be a lot of fun, if you don't loose your shirt.[/QUOTE]
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