Found 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar

[litetalk]

I found this 1881 Morgan silver dollar. I'm new to treasure hunting & I need advise on how to clean it up without ruining it! Any suggestions Ty xxxLitetalk


1881 Morgan Silver dollar

 

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[ScubaDetector]

Don't clean it.

 

[Dust Eater]

Clean it.

Here's a helpful vid:

 

[DeepseekerADS]

Don't clean it. As is, it's a reasonable and average Morgan with market value.

If you clean it, it's only worth bullion value.

 

[tomhighland]

Congratulations on the find. It has a nice patina, I would keep it just as it is. If you check the auction sites any cleaning, no matter how good seems to lower the value in most cases.

 

[trapperart]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the big silver

 

[Doodle Bug]

Is there a method used to determine if a coin has been cleaned. Just looking at the results in the video, I would not be able to tell if it was cleaned. Thanks in advance? Not trying to hijack this thread, just trying to learn.

 

[Doodle Bug]

Great find!

 

[1942 merc]

I would send it in to be cleaned and graded . Maybe over kill but that is one sweet coin . The only other way I would go is


http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/cleaning-preservation/442189-how-clean-blackened-silver-coins.html

 

[DeepseekerADS]

Forty years ago I purchased a beautiful BU 1894 Indian Head cent from a collector for $75. Was at a coin show and had decided to check with the dealers there. Every single one of them said it had been cleaned, and they wanted nothing to do with the coin. So, I sent it off to ANACS to make myself feel better! After all, what did a yokel like me know about coins?

Boy did I get a lesson! It wasn't even worth 75 cents.....

 

[testing123]

don't clean it, don't send it in to be conserved, don't send it in to be graded. The only time you'd consider it, is if there's a little "CC" near the bottom of the reverse on the 1881 like that. Does it have that? It has nice coloring as-is. Just rinse it off with water to get the loose dirt off and DAB (do not rub). If it's a basic 1881 Morgan, it'll be worth a little more than silver value.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Welcome to T'net. Congratz on your first silver dollar !

I do not agree with those who say that "all attempts to clean will lower the value". There's multiple examples where the opposite was clearly in effect.

But in this particular case, I do not see how your coin here even needs cleaning. Looks good to me

What state did you find that in ? And what type site ? Eg.: turf, beach, relicky-ghost town, old-town demolition , etc...

 

[Terry Soloman]

Great find, super! Take it to at least TWO dealers and ask them to appraise it, and whether or not they believe it should be cleaned and graded.

 

[xr7ator]

Nice find and welcome to the silver dollar club!
Did you dig this outta the ground after finding it with a metal detector or?? I agree with not cleaning it. Give us a little more of the story!

 

[ScubaDetector]

If you read his other post he found it along with a confederate one thousand dollar bill. So I would venture to say not out of the ground. Although stranger things have been reported.

 

[david680]

As stated above, don't send it in for slabbing unless its a Carson City (and I wouldn't even do it then). The value and grade of this coin does not justify the money spent on grading at all. Patina looks to be fine, no real need to clean it, but its your coin do with it as you will. Value is unlikely to be increased with cleaning, and most likely to decrease. Well circulated Morgan dollars do not look better all bright and shiny, they look like crap.

 

[david680]

Is there a method used to determine if a coin has been cleaned. Just looking at the results in the video, I would not be able to tell if it was cleaned. Thanks in advance? Not trying to hijack this thread, just trying to learn.

A method? No. There are many ways to clean a coin, but they all leave their tell-tale signs. Some do not hurt the value, such as dipping uncirculated coins, as long as you don't over-do it leave it all washed out. Dipping circulated coins usually leaves the coin looking worse. Anything abrasive will lower the value. Original toning (even toning that to me is unattractive) is sought after by collectors, and thus dealers. The only method I know for determining if a coin has been cleaned, is inspection and experience. Many cleanings can be seen with the naked eye, but always have a 10x loupe handy.

 

[WildWildBill]

An American silver dollar is high one my bucket list, as I've only found a Canadian one. Great find! Looks good as is....don't clean it. What is the mint mark? You'll find it below the bottom of the wreath on the reverse. If no mint mark it is Philadelphia mint.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the large silver recovery!

I would not clean it!

 

[deershed]

Awesome find!! A bucket lister for many on here, Sweet!! Congrats!!
I'd leave it as is, it looks Great!!