Update On Toned Morgan

The 2nd to last pic came out pretty clear, if that resembles it's "real life" color then I think you should be happy. Toned coins can be especially hard to photograph without the proper setup. The seller's pics were definately pro images. Don't know a lot about VAMs myself but it does look like a die crack across the top. I'm sure someone else will be able to confirm it.

Allow me to be blunt.

#1. This coin isn't worth a 2x premium for that color.
#2. Let alone in an NGC slab.
#3. Looks like a high end 63 bumped a point for the "color" or because NGC just misses the boat from time to time. This coin is maxed out grade-wise, and won't bean.
#4. Your straight-on shots don't show much of the money color (blue-green spectrum). Images were probably shot under optimal conditions and juiced (saturation bumped) a bit to get it like it is in the ebay pics.
#5. That splotchiness is the result of oils being on the coin when it was toning, or mishandling after the toning was imparted.

In conclusion, I'd value this coin around $100 max. So I'd be sending it back. But I wouldn't have bought it in the first place...

A lot of people don't understand what a truly killer toned Morgan looks like. You don't need fancy lights or a great camera or an ideal setup to capture the color. I've got a few fantastic toners with ultra-vivid colors. Just walk outside with the coin, pull out your smartphone, and take a picture... the colors are that killer on coins that are truly worth great premiums. Coins like this one, which are mediocre toners masqueraded as higher-end ones by photographers using tricks that amount to sleight of hand, are the bane of the toning market.

Here's a more desirable toner (CC, GSA Holder, although not a 64) that I paid about 1 .3x premium for. The colors on this one just pop. As soon as you flip it over, you can see the light pastel blue, green, and pinks from 8 o'clock to 1 o'clock. The more intense purple-red and blue-green on the 2 o'clock to 6 o'clock region is the type of intense color you see all over the true monster coins, which trade for premiums like 10x, 20x.

Personally, I prefer the 1886 originally posted to the 1883, I myself am completely willing to pay above 'book value' for a coin I find particularly attractive...

Don't worry I was not offended and didn't find it rude. I was and am still looking for the most honest feedback I can get and appreciate Chasingtailbar's post, and your support too Hondo.

Still haven't made up my mind but will probably keep this one for now. I think the color is very accurate to the sellers photos, just not AS vibrant. I don't have trouble seeing them when I quickly look at the coin. Again though, I haven't seen many of these in person so I don't have much of a basis to compare it too. I agree the saturation could have been bumped a bit, but not too much.

Here is a straight up cellphone pic. The coin has to be held at an angle to get the color but I assume this is normal for toners. This photo shows more blue tone and is closer to the actual look of the coin. In the other shots the color was off.

It's not normal for toners that are worth premiums like double retail for the grade to have to be photographed at an angle to get the color, that was the point of my post.

Visit a coin show and you'll see coins like the OP's quite a bit. Coins that look fantastic when tilted so the light hits it just right, but otherwise, are average. They'll be cheaper, too, unless the dealer is delusional. I don't hate the coin, I hate the price paid for it. $150 is just... way too much, especially given the sellers misleading images.

Here's a coin in my collection that is very similar to yours, the TrueView photos are juiced to heck and back, as it seems to be their "thing", but the actual colors look pretty similar to your shots of your coin;



Common date, PCGS 64, I paid $100 for it, which I felt was about 20% below what it's true value should be. If I had a nice replacement in-hand, I'd sell it for $150 in a heartbeat.

Good discussion here. I really need to get to a show so hopefully one will come around. I think the next one is next winter at the Westchester County Center in NY. Been to a ton of custom knife shows across the country but not a coin show- yet. I am sure one visit will be very enlightening. So far, most of what I am finding has inflated prices. So I suppose a show is the better option, but for now all I have is the internet!

I still like the coin and think its nice, if price was not a major issue here. I can't blame the seller, as he has to cover the fees and I expect that when buying on ebay. Guess its the price I paid for "instant gratification".

I am still sticking to my quarter Eagle Indian quest, this Morgan was just for fun.

I'd be willing to pay a big premium for certain coins, but they better come pre-slabbed by PCGS and better be 65's with lots of blue-green spectrum colors.