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 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,495 |
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New Member
United States
15 Posts |
(You don't know me yet. I posted in the welcome forum after lurking here for a few weeks...) I picked up this 1902 O Morgan from a shop in a town I visited last week in a bin of loose uncirculated Morgans. It was the best one of the bunch, although since I have nearly zero experience grading coins I am going on pure cosmetic/asthetics here. Tell me what you think the grade is. I paid $40 for it. Did I get a fair deal? Also, anything else you can tell me about would be appreciated as I am completely new to coin collecting. Would it be worth the cost to have it professionally graded/slabbed and if so, should I use NGC or PCGS for this? Thanks for any info given. I love to learn all I can. Obverse:  Reverse:  Edited by jefframsey
04/12/2015 8:11 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
 to CCF as I missed your welcome post. I would say that was a fair deal for what appears to be an MS62ish Morgan. No need to send this off to a TPG as that cost would put you underwater including the purchase price. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
I agree with 62ish & Ok deal IF the surfaces aren't altered... and welcome!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
Welsome. Excellent photos. Fields are pretty much clear and umarred, so I could see it coming in at MS62+, maybe even MS63. But I concur the economics probably dictate that it's not worth submitting for certification.
Colligo ergo sum
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
18687 Posts |
Hopefully its the lighting but my first impression was that this coin was polished. I hope I'm wrong
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New Member
 United States
15 Posts |
Thanks for all of the info. Anything I can learn about it is all bonus for me.
How would I tell if it has been polished?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
Quote:
How would I tell if it has been polished? No offense meant, but if you're not yet at the point where you can immediately spot an improperly cleaned or polished Morgan, you probably ought to be avoiding buying raw examples until you've developed that "eye". I don't think yours is an impaired specimen, but in a bin of uncirculated Morgans, a polished one ought to stick out like a sore thumb (unless they all are). One way to check your coin is to compare it with other 1902-O's that have been certified. A polished Morgan will have an unnatural, uniform shininess to it, a distictive lack of any satiny texture, and this will be obvious when compared to one that's truly in mint state. Colligo ergo sum
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3210 Posts |
1. Looks like MS62 to me.
2. No point in having it graded....If it was a rare date or a good variety then the potential value would warrant sending it to NGC or PCGS
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36839 Posts |
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New Member
United States
15 Posts |
Can anyone tell me the VAM? And please be descriptive so I can learn about VAMs. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3234 Posts |
Looks polished; if so, worth melt.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
@Jefframsey... it appears to be a 2 berry reverse with profile doubling however I personally would need better pics without light bleaching to nail down
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Here's a good place to start learning about VAMs: http://www.coincommunity.com/us_mor...is-a-vam.aspI'm not going to worry about the coin's surfaces yet - there are plenty of ways for the imaging process to impart that look. I have the impression that it's being lit both artificially and by sunlight, and that will completely freak out most cameras. Best to light from one single type of light so the camera can correct for color more easily. 1902-O is a fun year to attribute. Like many VAMs, it will likely boil down to features not even visible in these images - minute doubling on date or letters, things of that sort. It's an exercise in frustration sometimes. |
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New Member
United States
15 Posts |
i spent some time working on my iPhone picture taking and I read a bunch of forum posts about photographing coins as well as reading about how to tell if coins have been cleaned or polished. I read that when a coin is polished it might lose it's matte finish in the fields. It also might show more wear than a coin of that condition should otherwise show. it also lose it's cartwheel luster under rays of light. It also may show toning outlines around the design features that the cleaning did not remove. Based on these clues, my 1902 O does not seem to be polished to me. (Although I am admittedly a newb) My only concern is that it is really bright. What do you think after looking at these more accurate pics?   Edited by jefframsey
04/26/2015 8:16 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18687 Posts |
Looks like it was lighting and/or angle that was leading to the polished comment. It actually has fairly good strike details in the talons and breasted. I think she could make MS63
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Replies: 17 / Views: 2,495 |
Posted 04/12/2015 8:23 pm
