Why Two Similar Coins Sell for Different Prices
You see two 1921 Morgans. One is $30. The other is $300. They look identical. What are you missing?
Price in numismatics is driven by three invisible variables.
1. The Mint Mark (Scarcity)
In 1893, the Philadelphia mint made 378,000 Morgan Dollars. In 1893, the San Francisco mint made only 100,000. The "S" mint mark is tiny. You need a magnifying glass to see it. But that tiny "S" makes the coin worth 10x more.
2. Eye Appeal (Beauty)
Two coins can have the same technical grade (MS-63), but one is ugly (brown tarnish) and one is stunning (rainbow toning). The beautiful one sells for a premium. This is called "Eye Appeal."
3. The CAC Sticker (Verification)
If a slabbed coin has a little green bean sticker (CAC) on it, it means a third party verified the grade. CAC coins trade for 20-30% more than non-CAC coins.
Mint Mark Maps
Where is the mint mark on a Morgan? On a Walking Liberty? Download our visual map to find the hidden value markers.