Start a Morgan dollar examination with the whole coin
Capture uncropped views of Liberty and the eagle side before transcribing the visible date, denomination, rim wording and any mintmark. The working attribution must come from this coin rather than a nearby holder.
Information visible on the faces
Locate the date, legends, principal designs and mintmark position on the full views. Use close-ups only after their orientation is unambiguous.
Keep the visible date, legends, designs and mintmark area on the same full-face record, marking any hidden character as unresolved.
Trace the complete circumference
Document the complete circumference in overlapping sections, retaining every join, alteration, piercing or former mounting trace without disturbing the metal.
When several Morgan dollars are present, number them before photography so each visible date and mintmark stays with its own two faces.
Use measurements after the type is established
Do not infer a mintmark hidden by a holder or weak image. State that it is not visible and describe what direct examination would need to resolve.
Retain weight and diameter with tool, unit and reading position. A published specification may be a comparison point, but it is not a measurement of the coin in hand.
If a slab prevents coin-only weight or masks the edge, record the limitation. Never present the holder's gross weight as a Morgan dollar reading.
Assess the surface in more than one light
Neutral illumination shows overall colour, while low-angle light reveals contact marks, hairlines, strike texture and possible cleaning. Preserve both sets without colour-boosting filters.
Separate circulation rub, bag marks, weak strike, wiping lines and unusual brightness. Toning should be described by location and transition rather than judged from darkness alone.
Keep an unfiltered full-face image beside every adjusted detail. That reference guards against mistaking exposure changes for altered colour or missing texture.
Keep labels and provenance in their proper role
Transcribe grading labels, old envelopes and family notes with their dates. Check the visible date, denomination, mintmark and surface independently against the coin.
Any historical or production statement should identify the reference and when it was consulted. A sale image is useful only when its exact date, mint and condition are comparable.
Prepare a focused Morgan-dollar comparison
First match Liberty, the eagle, the date and denomination. Then locate the mintmark area and capture the full rim before moving to surface details.
Attach the original weight and diameter only to that identifier. If a figure conflicts, repeat it at the same position and preserve both readings with an explanation.
Map significant knocks, scratches or bright patches on an uncropped face. A dramatic enlargement without scale can distort how the condition is understood.
Keep the coin uncleaned and avoid opening a slab merely for a photograph. Name the hidden section and the decision can be made with its risk in view.
For specialist review, provide complete faces, mintmark close-up, raking-light surface views, dimensions and edge sequence. That evidence is more useful than a price claim unsupported by a precise date and mint.
