NGC Registry

ALPHA ONE


Category: Dollars
Set Type: Morgan Dollars, 1878-1921, GSA Soft Pack Holders Only
Owner: AlphaTrilogy
Last Modified: 8/13/2016
Views: 871

Award Time Rank: 3
Award Time Score: 135067

Set Description

I am a member of a small group of oddball collectors that love GSA Soft Packs. Less than 100,000 soft packs were released by the GSA back in 1973 and not many remain in their original packaging.

Imagine how many soft packs were initially opened! Personally, I’d be shocked if 10% of them survived in the packs. At $3 each, those original purchasers back in the 1970’s were taking a gamble on whether they’d receive a common date or something special. They’d either be elated or disappointed when they opened that envelope. Most would simply cut open the soft pack and stick the coins in their albums. Some of the “disappointing coins” at that time are probably the rarer and more valuable ones now. No one was doing a census by date and mint mark so no one knew at the time which ones were actually rare. My guess is that only a few thousand (most certainly less than 10,000) GSA Soft Packs remain. Most of those are 1878-CC, 1883-O, 1884-O, 1885-O, 1922 Peace, and 1923 Peace Dollars.

There is an adage in the collecting world to “Buy the coin, not the package”. However, I come from a diverse background of collecting and have collected many different items. I’ve always been willing to pay more for something in the original packaging. In most fields, other than coins, the packaging can be as important as the item itself. So, I’m OK paying a premium for the packaging. There won’t be any more of it made. It never fails to make me smile when I have a purist (and often time conceited) collector tell me I’m wasting my money on Soft Packs. I always respond that “I’ll probably never know”.

I bought the first coin of this set in February of 2014. Until February, I knew little of GSA Soft Packs and had never owned one. At the time I was putting together a nice set of GSA Hard Packs and avoided Soft Packs like a plague. My ignorance was bliss.

While trying to negotiate to purchase a fellow collector’s Hard Pack Carson City GSA Collection, he introduced me to Soft Packs. His passion was contagious. I started researching them, discovered how rare they are, and fell in love with the hardpack’s wayward little brother.

I refer to collecting GSA Soft Packs as the Wild West of Coin Collecting. I’ve grossly overpaid for some coins and I’ve underpaid for others. There are myriads of people in the hobby that don’t understand, appreciate, or respect Soft Packs – which is fine by me – as it presents an opportunity to purchase some rare coins with a rich history for a relatively low price (compared to obscurity). There are no price guides for Soft Packs! It’s a true Keynesian market – price is completely determined by supply and demand. And, even though supply is not at all high, neither is demand!

My initial goal for this set was simple. I planned to put together the nicest collection that I could afford (and find) over a period of years or decades. I didn’t dream that it was possible to take the number one spot, nor was it my initial goal. In fact, when I first started collecting I didn’t even know about the Registry.

Most of the Soft Pack collectors and dealers I’ve met have been awesome. They are great people and passionate collectors!

However, I met one that unintentionally inspired me to really get serious about my collection. He contacted me shortly after I initially listed my set on the NGC Registry. I only had a few coins, but I had one he wanted. I didn’t even realize that it was that rare or desirable. When I refused to sell or trade it to him he got a little hostile and told me I was a joke. He’d been collecting for years and I didn’t have a “snowball’s chance in hell” of ever having a contending set, etc, etc. The funny thing is that after years of collecting this guy also did not have a top set. However, his threats and blustering inspired me to get a little more serious about my collection. I now have 3 GSA Morgan Soft Pack sets ahead of his. He may be a clown, but I appreciate his inspiration!

Six months after my first Soft Pack purchase I claimed the #2 Registry spot. After nine months I had 114,000 points and still was sitting at the #2 spot. One year later I took the #1 spot. So, twenty one months after my first Soft Pack I had the #1 Registry Set for GSA Soft Pack Morgans and Peace Dolars. It wasn’t easy, but it was probably easier than it should have been!

I realize that I might lose money on this set if I ever decide to sell it. I also realize that at some point in time, other collectors may realize just how unique and rare these coins in these packages are and prices could go through the ceiling! It’s a gamble, but one I’m having fun making! Supply is always going to be low! What will demand be in the future? Who knows?

The thing is, though… I’m betting a lot more money that they will eventually go up than anyone is betting they will go down!


_______________________________________________________________________


If you have any rare, top population, unknown, low population, etc Soft Packs to sell, please contact me: AlphaTrilogy@gmail.com . I’m a nice guy and serious buyer/collector.

Happy Collecting!


Best Classic Set

Slot DescriptionFull GradeScore Updated
1878 8TF GSA SOFT PACK  
View Coin 1878 7/8TF GSA SOFT PACK MS 62 2585 7/4/2016
View Coin 1878 7TF REV OF 78 GSA SOFT PACK MS 60 2197 6/24/2016
View Coin 1878 7TF REV OF 79 GSA SOFT PACK XF 45 MS 1303 6/24/2016
View Coin 1878 CC GSA SOFT PACK MS 65 6581 6/24/2016
View Coin 1878 S GSA SOFT PACK MS 63 2614 6/24/2016
View Coin 1879 GSA SOFT PACK MS 63 1138 6/24/2016
View Coin 1879 CC GSA SOFT PACK F 12 3708 6/24/2016
View Coin 1879 O GSA SOFT PACK MS 62 597 6/24/2016
View Coin 1879 S GSA SOFT PACK MS 65 1505 6/24/2016
1879 S REV OF 78 GSA SOFT PACK  
View Coin 1880 GSA SOFT PACK XF 45 874 6/24/2016
View Coin 1880 CC GSA SOFT PACK MS 64 3238 6/24/2016
View Coin 1880 CC REV OF 78 GSA SOFT PACK MS 62 2807 6/24/2016
View Coin 1880 O GSA SOFT PACK MS 63 2124 6/24/2016
View Coin 1880 S GSA SOFT PACK MS 65 1505 6/24/2016
View Coin 1881 GSA SOFT PACK AU 55 688 6/24/2016
View Coin 1881 CC GSA SOFT PACK MS 65 2754 6/24/2016
View Coin 1881 O GSA SOFT PACK MS 64 1138 6/24/2016
View Coin 1881 S GSA SOFT PACK MS 64 990 6/24/2016
View Coin 1882 GSA SOFT PACK AU 58 779 6/24/2016
View Coin 1882 CC GSA SOFT PACK MS 61 1969 6/24/2016
View Coin 1882 O GSA SOFT PACK MS 62 1284 6/24/2016
View Coin 1882 O/S GSA SOFT PACK XF 45 908 6/24/2016
View Coin 1882 S GSA SOFT PACK MS 64 1039 6/24/2016
View Coin 1883 GSA SOFT PACK MS 64 908 6/24/2016
View Coin 1883 CC GSA SOFT PACK VG 8 1333 6/24/2016
View Coin 1883 O GSA SOFT PACK MS 64 820 6/24/2016
View Coin 1883 S GSA SOFT PACK VG 8 1505 6/24/2016
View Coin 1884 GSA SOFT PACK MS 63 2124 6/24/2016
1884 CC GSA SOFT PACK  
View Coin 1884 O GSA SOFT PACK MS 64 1018 6/24/2016
View Coin 1884 S GSA SOFT PACK AU 58 2960 6/24/2016
View Coin 1885 GSA SOFT PACK MS 64 1138 6/24/2016
View Coin 1885 O GSA SOFT PACK MS 65 1138 6/24/2016
View Coin 1885 S GSA SOFT PACK AU 50 2464 6/24/2016
View Coin 1886 GSA SOFT PACK MS 65 1271 6/24/2016
View Coin 1886 O GSA SOFT PACK VG 10 820 6/24/2016
View Coin 1887 GSA SOFT PACK MS 65 1138 6/24/2016
View Coin 1887 O GSA SOFT PACK AU 55 1609 6/24/2016
View Coin 1887 S GSA SOFT PACK MS 61 990 6/24/2016
View Coin 1888 GSA SOFT PACK MS 60 1138 6/24/2016
View Coin 1888 O GSA SOFT PACK AU 58 891 6/24/2016
View Coin 1889 GSA SOFT PACK MS 61 1066 6/24/2016
View Coin 1889 O GSA SOFT PACK XF 45 802 6/24/2016
View Coin 1890 GSA SOFT PACK MS 61 1051 6/24/2016
View Coin 1890 CC GSA SOFT PACK F 15 1886 8/13/2016
View Coin 1890 O GSA SOFT PACK VF 30 725 6/24/2016
View Coin 1890 S GSA SOFT PACK MS 62 1969 6/24/2016
View Coin 1891 GSA SOFT PACK AU 55 1375 6/24/2016
View Coin 1891 CC GSA SOFT PACK AG 3 1393 6/24/2016
View Coin 1891 O GSA SOFT PACK AU 53 1568 6/24/2016
View Coin 1891 S GSA SOFT PACK G 4 990 6/24/2016
View Coin 1892 GSA SOFT PACK XF 45 1583 6/24/2016
View Coin 1892 CC GSA SOFT PACK VG 10 2124 6/24/2016
View Coin 1892 O GSA SOFT PACK XF 40 1558 8/13/2016
View Coin 1892 S GSA SOFT PACK VF 30 1477 6/24/2016
1893 GSA SOFT PACK  
View Coin 1893 CC GSA SOFT PACK VG 10 2754 6/25/2016
1893 O GSA SOFT PACK  
1893 S GSA SOFT PACK  
1894 GSA SOFT PACK  
View Coin 1894 O GSA SOFT PACK XF 40 2439 6/24/2016
View Coin 1895 O GSA SOFT PACK VF 30 2124 6/24/2016
1895 S GSA SOFT PACK  
View Coin 1896 GSA SOFT PACK AU 58 1649 6/24/2016
View Coin 1896 O GSA SOFT PACK F 15 1036 6/24/2016
1896 S GSA SOFT PACK  
View Coin 1897 O GSA SOFT PACK VF 20 990 6/24/2016
1897 S GSA SOFT PACK  
View Coin 1898 GSA SOFT PACK AU 58 1649 6/24/2016
View Coin 1898 O GSA SOFT PACK MS 64 2124 6/24/2016
1898 S GSA SOFT PACK  
View Coin 1899 GSA SOFT PACK F 12 1138 6/24/2016
View Coin 1899 O GSA SOFT PACK MS 63 2124 6/24/2016
View Coin 1899-S GSA SOFT PACK F 12 2727 8/13/2016
View Coin 1900 GSA SOFT PACK F 12 990 6/24/2016
View Coin 1900 O GSA SOFT PACK MS 63 1886 6/24/2016
1900 O/CC TOP-100 GSA SOFT PACK  
View Coin 1900 S GSA SOFT PACK G 6 820 6/24/2016
View Coin 1901 GSA SOFT PACK VF 25 2302 6/24/2016
View Coin 1901 O GSA SOFT PACK MS 63 1753 6/24/2016
View Coin 1901 S GSA SOFT PACK AG 3 725 6/24/2016
View Coin 1902 GSA SOFT PACK MS 62 1886 6/24/2016
View Coin 1902 O GSA SOFT PACK MS 63 1886 6/24/2016
View Coin 1902 S GSA SOFT PACK AU 58 2464 6/24/2016
View Coin 1903 GSA SOFT PACK VF 25 820 6/24/2016
View Coin 1903 O GSA SOFT PACK MS 64 2597 6/24/2016
View Coin 1903 S GSA SOFT PACK XF 40 2197 6/24/2016
View Coin 1904 GSA SOFT PACK F 15 1051 6/24/2016
View Coin 1904 O GSA SOFT PACK MS 64 2124 6/24/2016
View Coin 1904 S GSA SOFT PACK VG 10 820 6/24/2016
View Coin 1921 MORGAN GSA SOFT PACK MS 61 1066 6/24/2016
View Coin 1921 D GSA SOFT PACK AU 55 851 6/24/2016
View Coin 1921 S GSA SOFT PACK AU 58 918 6/24/2016

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