What Is GSA Pedigree?

so is that good, bad or indifferent? I was looking at a Morgan dollar that was PCGS MS64 GSA pedigree. What exactly does that mean for value and quality?

Are they worth more? I would say, it depends. Some people believe that once it's taken out of it's GSA holder, it's just another CC dollar.

As far as I know, only NGC would certify GSA coins, and leave them intact in their original GSA holders, with a "Tamper Resistant" band wrapped around them.

I have also seen that NGC is certifying GSA coins (and others) in their original Gov't issue "Soft-Packs";

"NGC grades dollar coins in soft pack holders, as issued by the US General Services Administration (GSA), and Eisenhower dollars in soft pack US Mint holders, often called Blue Ikes. In order to preserve the integrity and pedigree of the original holders, NGC grades these coins while still in their original holders of issue. The entire soft pack holder is then sealed in a semi-rigid clear plastic case. A label across the top will include necessary attribution information, the coin's pedigree, and NGC-certified grade." http://www.ngccoin.com/services/gsa-soft-pack.asp

As far as PCGS goes;

"Q: Can I submit "GSA" Carson City Morgan dollars for grading and keep them in their holder?
A: No. GSA dollars submitted for grading will be removed from their holder and encapsulated in PCGS holders. GSA dollars can be submitted with raw coins under any service level and have to arrive in the GSA holder in order to receive the "GSA" designation on the PCGS label. Please send the coins in the acrylic holder only. External packaging or certificates of authenticity will not be returned." http://www.pcgs.com/faq.chtml#faqid219

With GSA coins, this may be the exception to "buy the coin, not the holder". Leave it in it's GSA holder for a premium. IMO.

interesting reply seatednut "the walls have eyes......."

FYI, the Carson City GSA dollar dates have very unequal populations. The 1882, 1883, and 1884 are the most common and carry little premium when in the original GSA case. Other dates like the 1878 and 1891 are much scarcer in GSA plastic and carry larger premiums. You would be leaving money on the table if you removed those dates from their cases.

I wonder if any forum member happens to have GSA population and/or value information for the various dates? I'd like to know!

All you had to do was ask ...

1878cc 60,993
1879cc 4,123
1880cc 131,529
1881cc 147,485
1882cc 605,029
1883cc 755,518
1884cc 962,638
1885cc 148,285
1889cc 1
1890cc 3,949
1891cc 5,687
1892cc 1
1893cc 1

Try this one for size;

Uncirculated Carson City GSA dollars make up the majority of the coins auctioned, but some circulated pieces or Morgan's from other mints were also disbursed and can still be found in their original GSA packaging. Commonly accepted numbers for Carson City GSA dollars are as follows:

1878-CC 61,000
1879-CC 4,100
1880-CC 131,500
1881-CC 147,500
1882-CC 605,000
1883-CC 755,500
1884-CC 962,600
1885-CC 148,300
1890-CC 3,950
1891-CC 5,700


However, it is widely known that at least 1-1889-CC dollar was released, and a circulated 1893-CC surfaced at the Silver Dollar show in St. Louis several years ago. Proving once again that Government inventory systems may not be 100% accurate.
http://www.brokencc.com/aboutgsa.php

SeatedNut Beat me to it, and appears to be more accurate, than the rounded figures aforementioned.

Jaobler, Coin World Coin Values online now has a separate line for values for the GSA dollars including a number of the non CC ones. Some of the GSA premiums are quite substantial, for example in MS63 1890CC listed at $900 and 1890 CC GSA listed at $4500. Higher grade scarce date CC dollars (79, 90 and 91) are actually very scarce because so many were cracked out of the GSA holders to be slabbed during the investment booms in the 80's and 90's when every investment pool wanted only certified coins. With release numbers like 3949 for a 90CC, you can see where even 2000 TPG submissions would severely cut back the existing pool of coins.