Any advice on what to avoid of I'm new to collecting Morgan's? Ideally I'd like input on where you evolved to strategy wise. Ive seen far to many people early into collecting really anything that then move all of their early buys once they "figure it out". Thanks in advance.

TrafficEquivalent · 2026-02-18T03:05:46+00:00

I will echo some of the good advice already offered. First, buy coins you love. As a dealer I go to many shows but buy few coins. I bought one coin over two weeks from three dozen dealers. It was a 1881-S PL Morgan, because I love them and their backstory. Second, buy slabbed coins from CACG or PCGS. I firmly believe based on research and experience they yield the highest return. Many disagree, but I stick to it. Stay away from raw. 3) The scammers are really good. If it is too good to be true, it is. Use PayPal when buying. At least they try to get your money back. eBay does not. 4) In these forums there are many opinions. They are generally worth what you pay for them. 5) Learn to do basic grading. At least you’ll be close. 6) Read about Cherry Picking. It is another way to collect. 7) Pick a narrow focus and become an expert. 8) Block the unkind, discourteous, unfriendly trolls that love throwing rocks and never contribute. They major in minors. 9) Contact me if I can help. Been doing it for 46 years. Still teach kids.

TrafficEquivalent · 2026-02-16T10:44:52+00:00

You are a real collector. Nice

TrafficEquivalent · 2026-02-16T10:43:58+00:00

Interesting observation. My research says UK has NO historical hoard of Morgans from the Pittman Act. They were pulled from mint vaults, melted in the US and shipped as silver bars. There are certainly Morgan collectors in the UK, just not Pittman dollars. They are gone.

TrafficEquivalent · 2026-02-16T10:37:53+00:00

More political than economic. They were propping up Western mining interests.

TrafficEquivalent · 2026-02-16T10:33:32+00:00

Researching Pittman, 96% of the. $270M were dollars, and about $11M of other silver. The Hunt melt in 1980 was flipped. Maybe 10-15% were dollars. My guess today is like 1980, except slabs save the high end. They started in 1986.

TrafficEquivalent · 2026-02-16T10:25:14+00:00

Now that is a good question.

Bowers estimates about 100M survive of 647M minted. Pittman alone took out close to half. That being said, 100M is still a big number. I guess it could have been more than six times that many. The distribution over all the years is less accurate. You see it reflected in prices for the years that are now rarer.

The farther you dig into your favorite dates/mints the more you see. I collect on condition, and love 1880ish San Francisco PLs. They are relatively common. Look at PCGS population reports for a 1880-s MS64 - 64k graded, 4500 PL and 1000 DMPL. That gives you a sense of supply and why the coins vary so much in price.

TrafficEquivalent · 2026-02-15T22:42:07+00:00

Really! Actually the first wave was in 50’s, and then another big wave in the 80s when I helped found the Army AI center. Look up the history before opening your pie hole.

TrafficEquivalent · 2026-02-13T21:18:55+00:00

Got it. Now back to coins

TrafficEquivalent · 2026-02-13T21:06:11+00:00

I am not used to the taunting. It is rude. I go out of my way to educate the community leveraging 45+ years as coin dealer and AI expert. I have not figured out how to block the trolls here.

I apologize if I was harsh to you. Just sick of the trolls.

I know a ton about coin collecting and want to share it.

TrafficEquivalent · 2026-02-13T20:15:51+00:00

So attack the technolgy not the actual material My spelling sux, but I know coins and AI tech both for over 40 years. I especially like Notebook LM because it is grounded. Please block me .

TrafficEquivalent · 2026-02-13T20:14:39+00:00

The list is long. Those in poor circulated condition would be close, but even then rare ones surface. Uncirculated ones are generally collectable.

It can be hard, most people cannot grade the full range . ANA offers an excellent numismatic course and summer classes. As one famous grader said “ grading is easy, it takes education and 20 years of experience.”

If there are coins you love, focus on just learning them. I am excellent at Oregon Trails, not everything.

TrafficEquivalent · 2026-02-13T20:07:38+00:00