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 Replies: 15 / Views: 3,788 |
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Valued Member
United States
187 Posts |
I have two dansco albums of Morgan dollars and I am two coins short of complete. I am wondering if this is the way a lot of Morgan collectors end their set. My set does not include the error of variety coins. 1893s and 1895 empty. |
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Valued Member
 United States
187 Posts |
I also wanted to add to the original post that this collection took a considerable number of years to complete. I think that it has been in the safety box for ten plus years. May be I should take a look at it.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
I'll bet a lot of collectors stop exactly where you have. Many do not consider the '95 part of the set for good reason.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
8938 Posts |
The 93-S is very tough, the 95 even more so. I remember seeing somewhere a very high quality reproduction stamped copy on edge that some people were using in its place.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1590 Posts |
I have two complete sets.
I think it important to note that my Grandfather owned a casino in Carson City NV back from the 60s to 82. As a kid I sat on bags of Silver dollars in the Counting/sorting room while doing my homework. One of my "kids jobs" was to sort through the loose coins and look for certain things. For instance any Barber was pulled out, as well as any series prior to that.
I digress. I personally found three 93-s'. I know that when I inventoried Gramps estate he had 17 of them. In the 17 years I pulled coins from the Casino I found one 1895; I assume it was a proof, but in VG it is just impossible to tell. Gramps had 3 in his estate. My cousin, a non-coin collector, has the estate. I was willed one of those specifically to fill my second set. My two 93-S' are a good and one that would probably grade 64+.
I understand though that my expericance is far from normal. Especially as I am no where near a wealthy man.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3468 Posts |
Wow, what a great story jmkendall. I can only imagine the things you must have seen and experienced spending time at your grandfather's casino.
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Valued Member
United States
271 Posts |
Great topic. I, too, wonder about completing any run, except to add to a personal registry or to sell for a premium as a complete set. I have purchased AG or G fillers, like an 1877 IHC and 1885 V nickel, but am not sure how long I will stay satisfied with having done that. To me, for the price of buying low grade rare coins I could have upgraded a number of other lower grade coins to AU or Unc/MS. Stay well, Diy89Nurm7 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1305 Posts |
Mine too is two shy of being complete. The last two are not dropping in price, but only going up. My father completed his set about 10 years ago.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
By my collecting rules I had a complete date/mm set.
I don't collect proofs so I never was interested in acquiring an 1895.
Therefore the 1893-S was my top coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
I worked with an avid lifetime collector, aged 69 at the time. When he was in college he was offered an 1895 but he didn't have the money. He was still kicking himself 50 years later. I am more satisfied with collecting rarer coins without regard to condition, rather than completing sets. I have 2 shabby 1859-S half eagles. If I found another one I would buy it if I could afford it. jmkendall, Carson City is one of my favorite places to go. Not just for the coin shops, but for walking around the old town (and even-older Genoa and Placerville CA), the steam train ride up to Virginia City, the Basque food down in Gardnerville, Reno Aces baseball games and Tahoe. If you ever get a chance, read Harold Smith's biography I Want to Quit Winners. It describes the area back in your grandpa's casino days. Here's my 1882 Yerington-signed freight bill, with a couple appropriately worn cc half eagles.  "Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
02/20/2021 5:06 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
561 Posts |
I don't collect Morgans but as a type collector, I have a full business-strike 7070. I would never put a proof coin in there. For that reason, I find it absurd that the 1895 even has an empty space in a Morgan set. I think I would follow with what Grape says and throw a reproduction in there, or maybe a 95-s GSA, a 95-s or 95-o error, a normal 95-s or 95-o, really just anything to fill the gap that shouldn't even be there.
For the 1893-s, if I were collecting mid-grade Morgans I would probably work my way up to it at some point. However, if you're only collecting high-grade, I'd go for a high quality reproduction or put in a second 1893 just to have the right date despite the wrong mint and fill the hole.
Albums have holes but those holes don't always have to be adhered to. I've taken to printing my own labels to relabel parts of my albums.
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Valued Member
United States
114 Posts |
I've thought about collecting Morgans (minus the 1895), with the understanding that the 1893-s is going to have to be low grade. Might go for that one first then worry about the rest.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
And this is why I don't even collect them.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
992 Posts |
I has an almost complete set at one time, But was missing the 95-P (of course..)
94-P, and 95-S.
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Valued Member
United States
281 Posts |
I have a complete set in Capital holders. There is no hole for the 95P since it was a proof only issue. I put the set together in the 60'S and 70's so I've had it a long time.
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Valued Member
United States
345 Posts |
I am interested in the "complete set number" ... how many different coins are considered a set? Would love to hear your opinions ...
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Replies: 15 / Views: 3,788 |
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Posted 02/20/2021 11:43 am
