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 Replies: 17 / Views: 4,623 |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
I'm a half-hearted / very inexperienced coin collector, and I need your expert opinion on this coin. It is a 1895-O Morgan dollar that I unfortunately left behind during our Hurricane Katrina evacuation. The poor thing spent 4 weeks submerged under 8 feet of water, slug and crude oil, and is severely stained because of it. What kind of grade would you guys give to it? Is there any way to clean it? After the hurricane I took it to a coin dealer, but he said cleaning it would hurt it even more. The top two photos are without flash, the bottom with flash.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
 That is definitely a high dollar coin with some serious problems and it would probably greatly benefit from a submission to Numismatic Conservation Services, a division of NGC. The smallish pics combined with the "murkiness" of the coin make it difficult to grade but I would say it is at least AU potentially making it a $1000+ coin if it can be conserved. Edited by biokemist6
01/22/2011 12:33 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
4944 Posts |
Does anyone else think that the second 8 in 1885 looks different? Maybe its a VAM? Edited by Canadian-Banknotes
01/22/2011 1:12 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4989 Posts |
Is this an 1885-O or an 1895-O? If 95, that 9 looks a bit funny...
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New Member
 United States
5 Posts |
Here is a close up of the date. I think it is the stain that makes it look weird.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4989 Posts |
Thanks damage looks fairly modest NCS is a good suggestion
As for grade, I think AU-50?
Edited by fenton
01/22/2011 1:53 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
709 Posts |
Quote:
NCS is a good suggestion I agree. That is a good suggestion. You can go to Southern coins in Metairie and they can send it off for you. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Perhaps the coin may be degraded, thus lessening it's value; however it now has a history, or at least a story to tell. That could make it worth a little more.
Edited by sel_69l
01/23/2011 01:58 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
709 Posts |
Genuine 1895-O Morgan dollars are worth spending the money to conserve. I would definitely explore that option. |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Thanks, guys, for the input and for pointing me to NCS's website. I really want to get this thing looking like it did before.
Ozland, is there anything to look for that would flag the coin as a counterfeit? The coin wasn't purchased but found in circulation. My father owned a grocery story, and he would save any silver coin that he came across. He considered this coin his best find.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
709 Posts |
The 1895-O Morgan dollar is heavily counterfeited. A reputable dealer can tell if it is counterfeit or not. Southern coins there in Metairie can do both of this for you. NCS can conserve your coin. Then you can request it to be graded by NGC. I would recommend you explore that option. |
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Valued Member
United States
266 Posts |
Would he be better off sending it to a TPG to at least be authenticated, even if it gets a Genuine grade? At that point he can be sure of it's authenticity before he spends (what I would assume would be) a lot more on conservation. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
709 Posts |
My recommendation would be to take it to a reputable dealer. The dealer can weigh the coin. It should weigh 26.73 grams. The dealer should also have reference material there to ascertain authenticity. Most dealers will do this for free.
However, PCGS, NGC, ANACS and ICG could look at the coin. It will come back 'body bagged' likely as environmental damage. However, 1895-O is heavily counterfeited. It needs to be determined as genuine. If the coin is genuine, I would make every effort to have it conserved.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
Quote:Would he be better off sending it to a TPG to at least be authenticated, even if it gets a Genuine grade? NCS is a sub-company of NGC, they will conserve it then NGC will put it in a slab if you choose to have it graded by NGC. That is exactly what I would do, send it to NCS then have NGC grade and encapsulate it. I believe this would be a nice coin for NCS to conserve and well worth the money it would cost to get it done. 1895 is one date that is not represented in my collection but I hope one day it will be |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8904 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
817 Posts |
If you want to sell the coin the NCS and NCG may be the way to go. If you want to keep the coin for your family It might be better to keep it as it is. The coin has a great history and shows it.
Even after conservation the coin may not look the way it did before the flood.
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Replies: 17 / Views: 4,623 |
Posted 01/22/2011 1:11 pm
