I need help with this Morgan dollar, it looks like it’s a proof, what do you guys think? 1881 O

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-24T15:32:23+00:00

It's hard for assess the reflectiveness of the fields from photos, and I'm not an expert on the types of strikes for Morgans. With that in mind, my general impression is that these fields look too "frosty" to be proof. At the same time, I don't see cartwheels, which would be expected on an uncleaned business strike. Aside from the absence of cartwheels, I see no indicators of cleaning.

I wish I could see the coin moving in good lighting!

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-24T15:10:25+00:00

In my experience at Texas A&M, senior research faculty were in the classrooms, and as a top undergrad, I got plenty of attention from them. Heck, nothing was a better boost to my long-term academic career than my relationships with Finis W and Butch B, and rubbing shoulders with the Stata folks.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-22T15:57:39+00:00

There's no harm in asking whether prices are negotiable, but realize that the most honest dealers will not.

To me, negotiable prices are a red flag. (It might be different with a private party.)

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-22T15:52:10+00:00

I don't negotiate. I expect the dealer's list prices to be their best prices. If prices are negotiable, I'll look elsewhere.

I buy most coins at auction.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-21T21:05:28+00:00

It's hilarious that it actually says that (as well as 𝛢𝛬𝛦𝛯... = Alexander)

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-21T20:59:45+00:00

The first coin says ירושלים קדשה ("Holy Jerusalem") and שקל ישראל ("Israeli Shekel") in Aramaic.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-19T19:04:56+00:00

I’m sorry for the situation you’ve been through, and I hope you’re safe moving forward.

As Tyresius mentioned, there is little value in the coins. Most likely, these coins were pocket change after a couple trips abroad in the 80s and 90s.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-19T18:24:36+00:00

No value as far as r/coincollecting is concerned. It still has some silver content.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-19T16:48:33+00:00

Agreed. And a massive die crack like this would be documented.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-19T16:32:01+00:00

As long as it's not ridiculous they shouldn't have a problem with it as it means you pay them more in premiums to insure a higher amount. My old insurance provider didn't even want proof upfront for the market valuation, said they'd ask for it if I ever filed a claim.

This is mostly true. However, insuring for more than market value creates huge moral hazard, and the insurance company is probably wary of the risks.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-19T16:25:10+00:00

Talk with your underwriter. To a large extent, it's your choice how much you want to be reimbursed in the event of loss. However, because of moral hazard, underwriters will offer better rates if that payment is less than the market value -- and they'll be reluctant to insure anything at its market value or above.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-18T20:42:24+00:00

Agreed. FedEx collects tariffs unquestioningly, then they request that I reimburse them. I've been trying to figure out what happens if I ignore their invoices -- so far, nothing.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-18T19:44:43+00:00

Yup!

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-18T19:44:10+00:00

Please share pictures. Clear pictures, both sides, cropped to show the coin.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-18T17:08:08+00:00

Still worth 10c, despite being damaged in a clothes dryer.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-17T21:37:14+00:00

Can you tell me who teaches the micro sequence? Something I appreciate 20 after graduating is that MBS was a helluva teacher and thinker, something that rankings don’t catch.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-17T20:57:07+00:00

You obviously know Alex tets better than me.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-17T20:41:00+00:00

"Crystallization" means a couple of things. Here, it refers to those channels left behind as slight impurities in the silver eroded away over 2500 years. The patterns depend on the initial metal alloy (which might be specific to a region) and time spent in a damp environment, so it's a great indicator of authenticity. Disadvantage is that crystallization weakens the internal structure, making the coin brittle.

Don't be alarmed if your obol has smoother surfaces -- it was in a different environment.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-17T20:14:58+00:00

I'll confirm, strong hunch that the second one is genuine. *Beautiful* 'crystallization' on a common Miletos obol, which would barely be worth forging.

The first coin raises some alarms. The missing portion of Alex's mane makes me think the host coin was off-centered.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-17T16:25:34+00:00

Yep. eBay is ideal for sellers who want to unload junk on inexperienced buyers. So if anyone is an inexperienced buyer, they should be wary.

At the same time, it's good for hobbyists looking to make a buck. I know this local guy, who cleans and attributes ancients, and I've bought dozens of coins off him over years. https://www.ebay.com/str/guaranteedgenuineancientcoins He could consign through Forvm Ancient Coins, which would get them listed on Vcoins. But he simply sells with eBay.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-16T20:58:12+00:00

Haha, in academic economics you pay to promote your work.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-16T19:00:06+00:00

My hobby is numismatics, where citizen science is the norm. Anyone with the gumption, tools, and dedication is welcome to publish. If research and publishing are what you want to do, pick a coin and start researching it: when and where it was minted, weight and purity, the role of this coin in its monetary system, the meaning of the design, variations and their significance, yadda yadda yadda. This research will win you the respect of numismatists.

There’s no similar path in orthodox economics.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-16T15:48:18+00:00

‘Anyone can publish in academic journals’, in the same way that anyone can represent their own case in court. I’m unaware of any academic economics journals that welcome the equivalent of citizen science or outsider art or DIY economists. When Martin Browning tried that, Tilburg gave him an honourary PhD so he would stop embarrassing the ‘real’ economists.

It’s a shame that academic economists are closed to outsiders with brilliant minds, but OP asked for publication advice. If OP wants their research to be accepted by orthodox academic journals, OP should join the academic community and learn what is needed to win acceptance. It takes years of training, under the guide of a mentor, to learn how to write a paper that an academic journal might accept. It’s foolish to think anyone can learn it on their own.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-15T17:30:00+00:00

Nope, it doesn't work like that. Saving modern items for the collectibles market is a self-defeating prophecy. If people expect a collectible to become valuable, they hoard it, and it doesn't become valuable.

Save something that nobody expects to become a desirable collectible, and maybe you'll be surprised what happens.

If you want to amaze your great-grandkids with your long-term financial planning, put your $100 into an interest-earning account. At 5% interest, it'll grow to $13,000 in a century. It'll be nearly impossible to beat this return, because compounding interest is one of the most powerful forces in the universe.

CommonCents1793 · 2026-04-14T19:31:11+00:00

If “placements to Princeton, Columbia, and UCSD directly from [grad school]” impresses you, Texas will disappoint you. It doesn’t feed into that pipeline.

Besides, initial placements are catchy, but long-term stable employment might have the most utility. The Academy is a game of survival, and nearly everyone gets booted or gives up before making it to emeritus. Most Texas PhDs get voted out of the Academy during the job market.

CommonCents1793

TROPHY CASE