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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,559 |
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Valued Member
United States
89 Posts |
Hi everyone. I have fallen in love with Morgan coins, and after purchasing quite a few over the past year, I have decided that I want to put a set together. I could not possibly afford to put a set together for every date and mint mark, but did have a thought of getting 1 slabbed Morgan for each year they were made. That way I can have every date but avoid the expensive mint marks. Does that seem like a dumb idea? In the serious collectors eyes, it would not be a complete set, but to me it would. I already have about 15 different slabbed common date Morgans in MS64. I would love to have higher grades, but for those tough years, I could get G or VG grades. I just want them all slabbed by NGC or PCGS. I appreciate your thoughts and input. Any certain years that I need to be made aware of that are expensive regardless of mint mark?
Thanks, Shawn
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
What you're looking at is a "Date Set" and it's a perfectly acceptable way to do it, even for "serious" collectors. You have 27 to get (assuming you're not bothering with 1895, something any sane collector would agree with), and 1892/93/94 are your only real problem years. Do eeet!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
I think it is very good idea. Most collectors like the big silver coins. Not to talk you out of the slabbed idea, here is my Dansco dollar date set. https://goccf.com/t/87150Giving you the link, to give you possible ideas. Like one for each year, then mint mark examples. I agree with Dave, that the 1895 (P) would be a crazy coin to get, but to get a 1895O or 1895S in lower grade is something that can be picked up. To me the 1893 and 1895 holes cost the most. Since I posted that thread (link above) I have upgraded many of the coins. Always seems to be a little better Morgan .. then the ones I have. Good luck on your adventure ... keep us posted on your progress. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1234 Posts |
Quote:
Giving you the link, to give you possible ideas chevelle's thread gave me the idea to post my Morgan's... https://goccf.com/t/168573get a bucket here comes the  not full by any means but I'm working on it  Edited by ASLAN TVorlon
01/28/2014 12:33 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
A Morgan date set is a great idea. I did mine in UNC* raw and put it in a Dansco album. Looks great and I had a lot of fun putting it together and mixing up the mint marks best that I could. I didn't get too many rare ones, but I do have a couple CC's.
*I did not buy UNC 1892/93/94/95 but I do have one of each. The 92 is XF, the 93-cc is VF, the 94-o is G and the 95-s is AG. I hope to upgrade the 92 to UNC and the 94-o and 95-s to VF some day, or at least to match the eye appeal of my 93-cc. Any way you do this short set of tough years is a fun challenge.
Edited by EFLargeCents
01/28/2014 10:19 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1511 Posts |
As everyone already mentioned a date set is absolutely ok... As long as that's what you want to do then nothing else really matters, lol. If you don't mind me asking why only NGC and PCGS? I mean to each his own, if that's what you want to do then by all means to ahead, theres alot of people who think as you do. But for me personally I don't understand the hype with those two? I primarily collect Morgan's, and I actually prefer to buy common date Morgan's raw, as long as you have a pretty good understanding about grading its really quite easy to cherrypick 64-65's raw for a lot less than the slabbed counterparts. And you don't really have to worry about counterfeits with the common dates (not to say they don't exist, it's just slim chance opposed to the keys). And actually, when it comes to slabbed Morgan's I'll pretty much only choose ANACS (I primarily collect toners, so if I see one in a PCGS/NGC slab I like I will buy it), for sending my own raw coins in I'll only choose ANACS (but I won't even send in most common dates unless they're unbelievably toned, 66 or up or a rarish/unusual VAM, I guess that might explain why I don't understand buying mid MS common dates slabbed  ). As far as I'm concerned they're the leading authority on Morgan's, VAM's and all other varieties (other series that is)... They attribute far more VAM's than the other two combined. And for some reason they sell at less of a premium because so many people are drinking the PCGS/NGC coolaid, lol. No to mention their fees are much more collector friendly opposed to dealers. Again, please don't take this the wrong way... I don't mean any offense and I'm not trying to sound like a arse. If you like those two and only those two then I'm not one to tell you otherwise... not at all. I'm just wondering why? Why are so many people are so quick to dismiss ANACS? Like they can't grade as well as the other two or something? Or is it because if you go to sell the other two will sell for more? Or is it that you like the actual slab better? I don't know, I guess I just don't get it when people say they'll only buy one of those two (or even just PCGS), I buy the coin, not what the slab says, I wont pay more for a coin in a PCGS slab than one in a ANACS slab.. And who knows what the future will bring, for all we know everyone could start choosing ANACS more and these will sell for the premium, Lol, I'm sorry for the rant I just don't get it.. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1582 Posts |
Shawn, as has been pointed out, a Morgan Date Set is an excellent idea, and will provide immense pleasure for you...the biggest thrill will be when you put that last Morgan in that last hole...a true high.
I can definitely relate to the "in love with Morgan coins". I started collecting them around ten years ago. Starting out, I acquired a lot of low grade coins (hey, they were Morgans) - not worth a whole lot, but I liked them. As the years progressed, I was able, through education - from books and guidance from members here at the Coin Community Forum - to upgrade those low ball coins, and wind up with some pretty nice Morgans in my collection.
Don't be put off by the idea of a complete set of date/mint mark Morgans - it is possible, even on a tight budget - takes time, a lot of patience, and persistence, but it is doable.
Over the past ten years, I've been able to complete three sets of date/mint mark Morgans - minus the 1895(P) - and I am not a wealthy man, but I am a determined man.
If you'd care to check my sets out, they're over in the members photo gallery (Ralph). The first set is my primary set, and the second and third sets consist of trickle down coins.
Good luck in your endeavors - you are, indeed, beginning a journey that you will come to truly love.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1234 Posts |
Most non-obsessive collectors (is that an oxymoron?)will just go for the date set on the State Quarters. This thread has changed my Morgan collection focus. I went to my LCS with a list of hole-fillers and started looking through their junk bin, now I've refined that list to mark out the years I'm missing. It's only FIVE! 1893 1894 1895 1902 1903 I'm not wealthy either so I'm just looking for cheap ones but now I have two goals those 5 to make a full date set (I know 1895  ) and then just any hole-fillers. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8137 Posts |
Be sure to post pics of it when it is done!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1234 Posts |
 the 'My Massive Morgan Menagerie' post will grow , I'm thinking of hitting the LCS today, if I can get the car working, 3 days of knuckle scrapes and I think the water pump is going to work better but the hood will not close... so now I'm down to sledge hammers and cursing  I'm not even sure if I should blame the deer I hit years back or the fact that I was leaning on the latch to work on the pump, both are to blame I'm sure. Plus the worst thing, that water pump cost me a WHOLE Morgan! maybe even two with all the anti-freeze and paying friends for trips to town  Edit: where are my manners  Edited by ASLAN TVorlon
01/28/2014 2:36 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
The date set is an excellent way to start a Morgan collection. I say start because that set is never really finished. You'll find yourself filling in holes beyond the date set and maybe even venture into VAMs. That quest is never completed. Good luck and keep us posted. Please excuse my manners, I never bid you a to CCF. Edited by dave700x
01/28/2014 1:11 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
As you have already noticed most suggest a date or otherwise called a year only set. Collecting Morgan dollar coins as a complete set is a bit late for the average individual. So many people have jumped on that coin as a collection making it really an expensive coin today. Most are just way overpriced due to the popularity of that coin. And as you must know by now, popularity rules in the Coin World. Hopefully you can find places that sell them for small amounts. One thing you may try is going to banks in your area and asking if they have any. Usually you will not have luck doing that but occationally some do appear at a bank. |
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Valued Member
 United States
89 Posts |
Well, I was thinking of going with just NGC and PCGS slabs, as that is what I have started with, and have always been told by people with more knowledge than me to stick with those. I also want to get them slabbed over raw, and to my eye, I am not a very good grader, mostly a novice, and don't want to get burned paying MS64 money for an MS61 coin, etc. I figured that is the safest bet for me.
On another note, I just really love the look of the Morgan coin, both front and back. I wish the US Mint would make some modern coins with the denticles, I think they give it such a great look. Perhaps the mint can come out with a 1/2 ounce bullion coin to complement the Silver Eagle, but with this one, use either the Morgan obverse or Seated Liberty. One can dream.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
ANACS is great with Morgans. I personally hate their ugly yellow holder and crack everything out of their slabs in favor of an album or 2x2 flip though.
I did my first set raw and really learned a great deal by only paying MS62 prices. You will learn once you get a few in your collection and look at some slabbed. Check the grading forum as well for great insight on grading Morgan's. Don't discount a good deal because a coin is raw, opportunities for excellent coins are out there raw.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1511 Posts |
Quote:
Well, I was thinking of going with just NGC and PCGS slabs, as that is what I have started with, and have always been told by people with more knowledge than me to stick with those. Lol, those people drank the cool aid. ANACS is amazing with Morgan's, top of the list in my opinion, if not the best. And arguably the best with VAM's and varieties. Though I agree with EFLargeCents in that their new slabs aren't my favorite, I much prefer the old, small white slabs, but these new ones are growing on me. And also that learning to grade for yourself is a huge help, you can save so much money buying raw, but more on that below. Quote:
I am not a very good grader, mostly a novice, and don't want to get burned paying MS64 money for an MS61 coin, etc. I figured that is the safest bet for me. You should definitely learn to grade by yourself, even a basic understanding to start, always remember to "buy the coin and not the slab" as MANY slabs are quite off on grades, it's not unheard of at all. If you go off of what the slab says alone you could still "get burned buying a 61 for 64 money". And that goes both ways, some are overgraded and some under, so just remember to buy the coin in the slab and not soley go off of what the slab says. As well as that not all MS-64's are equal, theres some 63's I'd choose (and pay more for) than some 64's, eye appeal is pretty large in coin collecting. By limiting yourself to one specific grade your making your search harder, like I said theirs 63's that blow some 64's out of the water, as well as 65's to be found for great prices. The more common dates (slabbed) in 65 can be found for right about the same price as a 64. But again, buying raw you'll often be able to cherrypick 65's and even 66's for the prIce of a slabbed 64, and then throw it in a " Coin World" slab (the same as PCGS's slabs) and add it to your set... or send it to ANACS for still much less than the price of that slabbed 64 during one of their free insider gifts or "dollars and cents" deals... which are both quite often. Also, just for an idea of what your paying, where do you get your paying prices from? A great site to check out (or an app for your phone) to help learn grading is photograde.com it will give you side by side examples of coins in each series in most grades... Quite helpful to compare to while buying. Usually I like to say to buy the book before the coin, as in learn how to grade for yourself as well as some other things before "jumping off the deep end" into coins as you can save yourself alot of hassle and heartache. Remember "knowledge is key to a collectors success" and always remember to have fun! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1234 Posts |
Great post there NathanASE, I'd add another source for becoming a better self-grader... a nice little web site called... http://www.coincommunity.com/ some of their members post pictures and ask what the very knowledgeable members think the coin got from a grading service or just ask what the members think the grade should be. If you look back through the archives you can find many different examples of this and get a 'real world' feel for grading that goes far further in depth then the general text descriptions of what a G4 or an EF40 is supposed to be from an industry standard view point. |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,559 |
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Posted 01/27/2014 11:53 pm
