1921 Morgan Silver Dollar

[WAB-migration]

Hi All - any ideas how to clean this up in a way as to not wreck it? Also - am I seeing things or is this date double struck?

Thanks

Jack

[comicdonna]

If it were mine, I wouldn't clean it. It appears to be fine the way it is.

[WAB-migration]

what is all that black stuff? I want it to be nice and shinny - etc. Maybe that is not needed. Also - did you look at the date? is that double struck? Forgive my ignorance as I am new to this. thanks.

[James_OldeTowne]

It definitely, positively should not be cleaned up or altered in any way. No such process would "improve" it. And I see no evidence from these images that the coin has been double-struck.

[johnny9434]

I dont see anything that says double struck or anything to that effect. All i see is a dirty coin ps dont clean it either

[WAB-migration]

thanks James! I had this coin since I was a kid (over 30 yrs) - got it from my dad. I have never really looked into its value but based on what I seen in the red book, it looks like it might be worth around $60 - Is this a somewhat close assessment based on the images? I am trying to learn how to value coins so that when I purchase one, I don't over pay (by too much).

[James Mayer-migration]

Closer to 20$ i am sure its worth much more to yourself then anyone else.

 

Cleaning coins is 99.9% a VERY bad thing to do if your ever looking to sell it for more then melt.

 

In the coin world you get “paid” to do nothing.

[WAB-migration]

hahahaha - thanks Mayer! Much appreciated. It has really been my favorite coin. Not sure why - just a nice coin - pretty good shape. Just love silver coins is all. Also looking to get some gold but with prices so high for gold, I will probably never be able to afford any.

[cpm9ball]

hahahaha - thanks Mayer! Much appreciated. It has really been my favorite coin. Not sure why - just a nice coin - pretty good shape. Just love silver coins is all. Also looking to get some gold but with prices so high for gold, I will probably never be able to afford any.

 

Actually, it's in very poor shape and would only receive a details grade from a grading service. The Mint struck almost 45 million of the 1921 and it is pretty easy to find them in MS64. If it's any consolation, the price of silver is rising.

 

Chris

[bsshog40]

Just a common Morgan by standards and basically market value of silver. With this being said you can just leave it as is. If it were mine I would probably dip the thing and throw it in an airtite and just forget about it. The pics make it look like it was dipped to death at one point already but they may be the scans.

[Walkerfan]

1921 P is not only common, it is THE MOST common Morgan that there is out there. It looks like is in about VF 20 condition---not that great. It is, no doubt, a purely sentimental piece for you.

[Coinsman63]

what is all that black stuff? I want it to be nice and shinny - etc. Maybe that is not needed. Also - did you look at the date? is that double struck? Forgive my ignorance as I am new to this. thanks.

That's actually an halo effect from the black crud around the date, which makes it appear as though it's double struck.

 

I agree with the others on leaving it as is.

[WAB-migration]

Thanks for all the help everyone. It looks like I have a long way to go when evaluating coins!!

[relicsncoins]

Thanks for all the help everyone. It looks like I have a long way to go when evaluating coins!!

 

At least you had the forsight to ask before doing anything. There are thousands if not 10's of thousands of coins ruined every year by people who think that a coin looks dirty and could use a little polishing up before selling.

 

When if comes to cleaning or otherwise altering a coin, it's best when in doubt to leave it alone, and even if not in doubt to get a second or third opinion.

[cpm9ball]

Jack,

 

According to Q. David Bowers in his Red Book of Morgan Silver Dollars the optimal collecting grade for the 1921 is MS65. The coin I've posted below isn't a 1921, but it is graded by PCGS MS65. In MS65, a 1921 Morgan would be worth about $150. In MS64, it would only be worth about $50. As you can see, there is a considerable difference between the condition of yours and that of the one I've posted.

 

Chris

[robec1347]

Here is an NGC MS61 to compare with as well.

 

[WAB-migration]

Thanks all. Some really nice coins you have there. And yes, in much better condition than mine.

[TomB]

Don't clean it; don't clean any coin.

[cpm9ball]

Don't clean it; don't clean any coin.

 

Does that include the ones we find in the sewer?

 

Chris

[Coindude]

Chris... leave it as is.... enjoy it's...... "patina"!

[mtnstyne]

Looks like maybe a pocket piece condidate, it has that sentimental value and carrying it in your pocket won't really hurt it any.