| Author |
 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,720 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
557 Posts |
Hey gang , Im thinking about going for a challenge and just wondering what you guys think would be a good starting point - ( any certain series that are doable or hit lists that a novice could put together over time) Never had any rhyme or reason to what I've been buying and kinda have all kinda Morgans at random ..I really wana be able to get a set together and I dono where to start ...( from day one I seemed to grab clashed morgans and at the time I didnt know what it was but liked the look lol) Just curious if you guys recommend any certain Year/series Thats a "doable challenge" .. I'm in no rush .. but I dont wana get "stuck" at some point which I'm guessing may happen if something BIG comes up .. I do have a pretty good collection but nothing MAJOR yet .. * 2 from the HOT 50 Morgan List But not sure how doable that type of set would be to complete.. 4 from the Hit List 40 -- And 7 from the top 100 Vams ... And I've been reading up about the 78's so also thinking that route , but again just curious what you seasoned Morgan addicts think and where you may recommend would be a good "Starting Set" .. Thanks alot guys , I know its a LIL bit random but been thinking alot about this today and really looking for some insight from a few of you ... \m/ phil \m/ ( and heres one of my new pick ups since I'm here haha I'm thinking its a Vam23 But I didnt put much time into it just yet been doing alot of reading today ...) 1898-O Vam23 ? Unsure   Noticed some Bulging under the tailfeathers here  Also sum bulging above the MM right along the bottom of the ribbon  |
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
223 Posts |
The Morgan series is huge. You shouldn't have any problems picking out a year to collect. But you also have to think of what kind of collection you want. Do you want high grade common date, high grade scarce, low grade scarce or mid-grade scarce?
A high grade year set of common dates can be fun but still challenging. Try for MS67 if thats too expensive maybe MS65
A low grade scarce is certainly more affordable and also fun. It won't break the bank and might even be considered a good investment strategy. 1892, 1893, 1894 or 1895 if you don't consider the proof a regular release.
A high grade scarce date is truly a challenge. Winning the lottery will be certainly help but otherwise it may be near impossible.
Hope that helped.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
557 Posts |
 COMET .. And thanks brother , I appreciate your view and time you took to reply ..! I know my chances on winning that Lotto ( Tatt2ed13 due to I turned 13 on friday the 13th and pretty much have the luck that runs with the number haha ) But I'm thinking that ill have to stay alil low on the MS scale (seems I pick up alot of 62 to 64's so may go with one of them grades just gota go through all I have and get a count on whats what) Sorta liking the idea to start at the Earlier 1878 8 tf's .. and see where it goes from there ( I currently only have one 8tf and its only a low grade XF or so maybe so gona look for a better one of them soon) .. I did start reading a book by Bowers - Guide to morgan silve dollars I believe the name is *thank god for Kindle haha* ... And this has a section ill get to soon about ways to collect so I'm curious what they will break down for me in the book * It may give me some other ideas about collecting certain years / Overmints / Or Such ... Thanks again COMET , I appreciate it ... phil - |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
I started Vamming in '07 following some discussions on CCF. These discussions were on the 1878-P B-1 reverse. I happened to have one 1878-P at the time and it was a B-1. Guess where my focus went? Five years later and I have well over 200 1878-P's (8TF, 7/8TF, B-1, B-2, C-1/2/3 reverses) ... I just can't stop! I'm about at the 75% complete level. I've acquired a few of the rarities during this time. These include 10-8TF VAM 9 (the first Morgan), 2-14.5, 14.6, 2-14.13, 14.15, 15 in MS-62, 32, a 100-2 in MS64, 118, 2-123, 189, 2-203A, and 2-224. I've picked 99% of these from non-attributed coins on ebay, so I've been able to keep costs down.  Am I sorry for picking 1878 to focus on? Not in the slightest. It presents the greatest diversity among all the dates. It also challenges you to study the diagnostics. There was a point where I was looking at 150-200 ebay listings a day for the 78-P. Now, half the listings are attributed, so I just look at the title. Good luck on your journey regardless of the path. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
557 Posts |
Thanks SeatedNut - And WOW Man , very impressive collection of 78's some of them id like to check out haha .. really wana research more into the different reverses... so much todo wit these .. But Thats what had me thinking about getting a set starting with the beginning really interested in learning about the several different reverse styles and just to start at the beginning of the morgan series ..( seems the right thing todo).. Them 1878's really have some interesting stuff , and reading alittle about them I can say I'm pretty interested in starting with that . Really like the Studing part and getting to know the Little differences between the B1-B2 and so on reverses seems to be a good challenge ,and do able (from a short search on ebay I could spend a few hours going through possible coins I could buy) .. Thanks again brother , Really helped sway the direction I was already thinking about going .. Its official , Watch out for your 78's I'm coming for some ! haha .... Think ill go bust out my book and finish reading up a few more things , then start researching the 78's ... Looking forward to this one .! \m/ phil \m/ Edited by tatt2ed13
03/26/2012 3:36 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
phil, Here's something I put together a few years ago and posted on CCF to add a bit of order to the process. There some minor glitches that I intend to correct someday, but the big picture is accurate. https://goccf.com/t/48638 |
|
Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
78's are my favorite as well. So many types, I would feel overwhelmed trying to complete that task. Unfortunately that year variety, specially the 8TF, will run you higher on ebay, even raw. Let us know what you decide Phil (sounds like you've already settled on 78). -Dan |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
557 Posts |
Ahh SeatedNut I appreciate that link brother , Very cool !
And Dan- Yea I like the challenge it brings (and not to worried about the cost aslong as I can progress my collection figure the money would just get wasted on food , who needs that ? haha)
Just really wana focus on something that I can learn the most ? or atleast just get a good grasp on certain features .. I started by picken up clashers not even knowing , now that I "sorta" learned what a clash is about .. I need something else to focus on lol Blasted ADHD ...
But I appreciate your guys Opinions and insight , really like that link Seated well done the big picture is there for sure .! Keep me in mind once you do re work it id like to see what you do :) ..
Thanks again guys
\m/ phil \m/
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
, COMET! |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
when I first started collecting Morgans I really knew nothing about VAM's and really never heard of the term, all I knew was I liked Morgans and I thought MS-64 was going to be the grade that had the most potential for upswing in price since MS-65 seemed to be going for so much more than the 64 and the 64 wasn't all that much more than 63's. I started a complete set of each date and mint mark and was probably about 75-80% done with only the Big ones left along with a 1878-CC of the "affordable ones" being missing. While searching on ebay for a 1878-CC Morgan I did not put the CC in the search bar and was just looking at all 1878's to see if one was a CC and just not described as such. That is when it happened, I saw a 1878 B1 Reverse VAM-84 in a NGC slab and labeled as such. I had to find out what this term VAM meant and it pretty much consumed me from that time through the next 3 or 4 years. I have always been drawn to the first and last years of a certain design and when I looked at 1878 and 1921's the 1878 just looked more appealing to me so that is where I started. When I bought the VAM book I noticed over 200 1878-P VAM's alone so I decided on the one sub category that started it all, the B1 reverse Morgans and haven't been able to get enough of them since |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1339 Posts |
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I PICKED UP AN 1878 IN MS62-63...GOT A GREAT BUY ON IT...RAW...GOT IT HOME AND STARTED SOME RESEARCH ONLY TO FIND IT HAS THE REVERSE OF 1879 WITH SAF.......THAT LED TO THE VAM WEBSITE....I'm IN TROUBLE NOW...:) |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
557 Posts |
Haha Babysitr , Indeed you are .. I'm guessing your referring to " http://www.vamworld.com ? " .. I've been hooked the past month or so , but glad I did lol ... Best of luck to you Babysitr ..! Good luck on your hunts \m/ phil \m/ |
|
Valued Member
United States
223 Posts |
Just thought of another way to collect if you will. Birth year coins, choose a year like your parents or grandparents and collect the series for that year. Many collectors have done this to honor their family heritage.
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
, babysitr! |
|
Valued Member
United States
126 Posts |
cant go wrong with morgans
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
I've posted this in the book section but appplies here as well, a free great reference of Q. David Bowers encyclopedia of Silver Dollars, current retail price is more than $400+ so for free online is a great deal, thanks to PCGS! http://www.pcgs.com/books/silver-dollars/and a list of other great reads the Garret Collection is one of my favorite books of all time http://www.pcgs.com/books/"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2˘ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
| |
Replies: 15 / Views: 1,720 |
|
Posted 03/26/2012 12:09 pm
