| Author |
 Replies: 24 / Views: 2,806 |
|
New Member
United States
8 Posts |
I have 20 Morgan dollars all in circulated condition. About 8-10 months ago I had gone to a local coin shop for a "free appraisal." The owner told me that in such circulated condition, each would only be worth their melt value. At the time, he said he'd give $20 for each. I'm not certain if he honestly thought none could fetch more than melt value, or if he figured he could make a slight profit by not mentioning a couple out of the bunch were more valuable than the rest. I'm aware from quickly browsing some forum topics that scans will go a long way in roughly determining their condition, but all I can do at the moment is list each coin's date and mint. I'd really appreciate it if anyone could give me any information based solely on this list. If not, forgive my ignorance. Thanks a lot, guys. 1878-CC 1878-S 1879 (count of 2) 1879-O 1880 (count of 2) 1881-S 1884 1885 (count of 2) 1887-O 1889-O (count of 2) 1890 1891-O 1901-O 1902-S 1921-D 1921-S Edited by dissenter
01/15/2011 10:17 pm
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
516 Posts |
The first coin I looked at was the 1878-CC, which in just good condition has a fair market value of $71. Here's a website that can quickly give you values for your Morgans. http://www.numismedia.com/fmv/price...icesgd.shtmlThe 1902s also appears to go for above melt.. But other than that, if they are all in just Good condition, there's not much of a numismatic premium to the coins. Edited by nwc coin
01/15/2011 10:24 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
516 Posts |
That being said -- there are a bunch of varieties (VAMs) that could make one of your coins more valuable. You would have to get one of the many books on this and do some research (or post pictures here) to determine if any of your coins were one of the more valuable VAM varieties. |
|
New Member
 United States
8 Posts |
Thanks for the input, maprince. Would it be considered forum spam if I were to post scans of the obverse and reverse of each coin? After all, it would be 40 images. If not, what size scan would one recommend? About 300% of the actual scale?
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Welcome to Coin Community, dissenter. No, it would not be considered spam for you to post scans of your coins. I have the impression that you're comfortable in a forum environment, and probably are aware of hosting images elsewhere. If so, we use [img] tags here to post images. I ask that you limit them to 800 pixels in diameter and ~250kb in size, and post them in this thread rather than starting another. If you need help with any of this, I will be more than happy to assist. Chances are most of them are worth only a small premium over melt. However, added-value varieties exist, and it's in your best interest to explore that possibility first. Coincidentally, that's what we wish to do here at CCF. We manufacture numismatists.  |
|
Valued Member
United States
183 Posts |
Generally any with a CC mint mark are worth more than melt if in decent shape. ebay is also a good place to get a sense for the latest pricing on coins (doesn't mean you have to or would want to sell there, but you can see what people have been paying) |
|
New Member
United States
8 Posts |
Sounds good, I'll try to get them all scanned sometime this week. I'm fairly young and although I collected coins when I was even younger, I think I was a bit too young to retain most of the coin knowledge I came across when I was 8. I have many Mercury dimes I'd love to get a rough idea bout as well, but for now the Morgans take precedence. By the way, that is one wicked Tesla coin you have, Dave. Edited by dissenter
01/15/2011 11:07 pm
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
By the way, that is one wicked Tesla coin you have, Dave. Ain't it cool? I am an unabashed Daniel Carr fan. |
|
New Member
United States
8 Posts |
I'll edit this same post as I scan more. 1878-CC   1902-S   |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3076 Posts |
If I had any money I would be more than happy to buy them at $20 bucks...
That is the problem when we take our wears to market...no knowledge trading for new lamps.....while some may be common coins, that's why they buy/offer the lowest prices...and reap the rewards....It's not that they are dishonest... rather than its about business to take all of it in, and if there are some trinkets along the way it helps to keep the expense of overhead (cost of operation and rent)...
Yet there are trinkets that fall into there hands due to the owners lack of knowledge.....That 1878-CC is worth far more than 20 bucks...
|
|
New Member
United States
8 Posts |
Quote:
It's not that they are dishonest... rather than its about business to take all of it in, and if there are some trinkets along the way it helps to keep the expense of overhead (cost of operation and rent)... Well I think the very fact that it was a free appraisal service gave him added reason to not want to bother with specific dates/mints of the coins. Of course it's not some massive feat of dishonesty, but it's still not completely honest, either. Before I go ahead and post the remaining 18, is the quality of the scans sufficient? |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3076 Posts |
While many years are subject to die varieites, I'm thinking, and not conclusively you may have VAM 7 or 13..Not the great bread winners but still cool by there own right,, all years have there varieites...Some sought after some very commonly found...It's the checking if you have something of value that's the important issue...such as $20 buck offer for an 1878-CC...  I'll give you $22.50......Just Kidding....  off the top of my head its probably a $100 coin..but don't quote me.. just trying to let you know some years and mints or mint marks are worth more..if you don't know what those are. then SCRAP value is what you will be offered......No offence intended... |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
Assuming they are well circulated, and not speaking of varieties, the $20 offer was fair on all but the 2 coins you posted pics on. If the common-date pieces (which includes all but the 2 in the pics) are in Very Fine or better condition without problems, the value can increase quite a bit.
The 1878-CC looks VF+ and is worth $100 easily. The 1902-S looks F+ and is also worth around $100. Best of Luck!
|
|
New Member
United States
8 Posts |
Here are 2 out of the more common dates. Any thoughts on their VAM or condition is definitely welcome and appreciated: 1878-S   1879   |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
that 1878-S looks pretty close to Uncirculated and I am inclined to call it at least AU (Almost Uncirculated) knowing that scans do not show luster well. But either way there is no way they could say this one was in highly circulated condition. The 1879 is not heavily circulated either
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1374 Posts |
Dis - I recommend learning about VAMs and researching your coins yourself. The amount of knowledge you gain will be HUGE. If you don't research them now, you will kick yourself in the future and always wonder what you may have really parted with. Realize that you have a great opportunity to learn here. You have 20 Morgans to teach you, they are just sitting there waiting to reveal their secrets. Just look for them.
Learn what varieties, doubling, die cracks, gouges and clashes are. Look at your coins with a 7x or 10x loupe. Learn how to grade your coins.
If you learn these things, then you can be confident that no one can take advantage of you. If you don't learn these things, then expect those who have dedicated their lives to numismatics, acquired this knowledge, and spent the time to grade, research and find a collector for the coin to profit.
And to be fair, a $20 offer per coin is standard and virtually any dealer would have made that offer. Now, if you are smart enough to point to a certain coin and explain why it is worth more, then the dealer will be willing to work with you. Also, don't assume the dealer knows everything... especially at a gold and silver buyer or exchange. Most of them would give you $20 whether it was a MS64 84-S or a cull just because they have no knowledge.
|
| |
Replies: 24 / Views: 2,806 |
Posted 01/15/2011 10:14 pm
