1883 Morgan Silver Dollar?

[hoser]

Hello, newbie here and this is my first post.

I'm new to gold and silver but am picking up some pieces. In going through my old change jars, I found 2 silver dollars dated 1883 in pretty rough shape ( meaning not shiny and puuuurty!). Quick search tells me they're Morgan Silver Dollars. Can anyone tell me a bit more about the coin and it's value (as of today).

Am I better selling and buying, or trading these, and buying bullion like Canadian Maples or Silver American Eagles instead?

Thanks in advance.
:rolleyes:

[hoser]

:rolleyes:

[goldminer]

1883 Morgan silver dollars were struck at U.S. mints in Philadelphia ("Plain" - no mint mark), Carson City (mintmarked "CC"), New Orleans (mint marked "O"), and San Francisco (mint marked "S"). The mint marks are located on the reverse side in the center immediately below the wreath.

The value of the coins you have can determined by "grading" (the condition of the coin) and the mint at which they were struck. The fewer coins struck at a particular mint and the better the condition = higher value.

Records made available by the Treasury Department report that in 1883:
12,290,000 coins were struck at the Philadephia, PA mint for general circulation, and 1,039 coins were struck as "proofs" (highly polished and detailed struck for collectors only);
1,204,000 coins were struck at the mint in Carson City, NV;
8,725,000 coins were struck at the mint in New Orleans, LA
6,250,000 coins were struck at the mint in San Francisco.

With no major dents, scratches, or other maring or damage:

In "Very Fine" condition: two thirds of the hair lines from the top of the forehead to the ear are visible, the ear is well defined, and the feathers on the eagles breast is worn.
In "Extremely Fine" condition: All hair lines are strong and the ear is bold; eagles feathers are all plain but with slight wear on breast and wing tips.
IN "About Uncirculated" condition: Slight trace of wear on the bust shoulder and hair left of the forehead, and on the eagle's breast and top edges of the wings.

In "very Fine" condition:
A coin struck at the Philadelphia mint retails for about $16.00
A coin struck at the Carson City mint retails for about $110.00
A coin struck at the New Orleans mint retails for about $16.00
A coin struck at the San Francisco mint retails for about $18.00

If you're interested in numismatics of U.S. coins you need to invest $15.00 in a "Official Red Book" (retail values) U.S. Coins by R.S. Yeoman. 2008 editions are out. You can find this book at any good book store.

I hope this helps...and P.S.: Do you use "hoser" on the GPAA forum?

[hoser]

This a great. Thank you.

What is the GPAA forum?

[goldminer]

"GPAA" is the Gold Prospectors Assoc. of America. There is a very knowledgable sourdough (prospector) who uses "hoser" as his/her forum name.