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California Proof Morgan?

The edges just seem so perfect.



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  • AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 24,803 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Lovely polishing job....sure is purdy!

    bob :)

    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
  • FloridafacelifterFloridafacelifter Posts: 1,295 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I agree- the best one I’ve ever seen!

  • JBKJBK Posts: 15,858 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Mirror polish for sure, just not the die or planchet. :/

  • Namvet69Namvet69 Posts: 9,100 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Do you care to tell us how you came to possess this in the raw? Peace Roy

    BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW

  • Sure. I was pretty sure it was a California proof. A dentist during the late 70’s was brandishing them as branch mint proofs. The odd thing is this one came from Germany.

  • Do you think they polished the edges to square them off like that?

  • That would take forever from the other side.

  • FlyingAlFlyingAl Posts: 3,502 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The edges don't look square at all to me.

    Coin Photographer.

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 13,984 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Seeing as how the coin is an S-mint, it’s not a Proof, California or otherwise. But it’s certainly been messed with.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • The_Dinosaur_ManThe_Dinosaur_Man Posts: 998 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's not even prooflike or DMPL. Whoever was polishing couldn't get inside the letters of UNITED STATES. A proof or prooflike surface will be reflective at virtually every point of the field.

    Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
    Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you.
    https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.

  • Hang on a tick… are those die polishing marks?





  • Especially between the eagle’s right facing wing and shoulder.

  • FlyingAlFlyingAl Posts: 3,502 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Melior_Invenidiste said:
    Especially between the eagle’s right facing wing and shoulder.

    That's the area where whoever polished the coin did not manage to polish away the original surface. This was after the coin left the mint, and it's damage.

    Coin Photographer.

  • Die polishing lines: the die, when polished, leaves incise ridges or small grooved lines. When the die strikes, the hot metal runs into the grooves,
    creating raised lines. These are called die polishing lines.

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,874 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It’s still a polished coin

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • More die polishing especially around the tough to “pop” areas, chin and pharyxian cap.


  • morgandollar1878morgandollar1878 Posts: 4,006 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It is an altered surfaces business strike, not a proof. Die polishing lines from polishing the dies go all the way to the edges of the design and hairline scratches stop before they reach the parts of the design. So, what you have is hairline scratches, not die polish lines.

    Instagram: nomad_numismatics
  • RelaxnRelaxn Posts: 1,016 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Those are hairline from polishing the coin in an attempt to make it look like DMPL.

    The lines you see are not die polish
    .. clear distinction

    One kills a coin... the other results of minting process.

    You have an altered surfaces Morgan. It will not straight grade and is not what you think it.

  • Is?

  • RelaxnRelaxn Posts: 1,016 ✭✭✭✭✭

    We have explained that your coin is not what you think it is.
    Why did you post? What did you want? Adoration?

    Send the coin if you don't believe us. Express service will have the coin back to you relatively quickly or go to the Long Beach show and do Walk through.

  • ChrisH821ChrisH821 Posts: 6,570 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Your coin is altered. Sorry.

    Collector, occasional seller

  • IkesTIkesT Posts: 3,376 ✭✭✭✭✭

  • ParadisefoundParadisefound Posts: 8,588 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Whether your coin is or not; try not to leave your fingerprint by utilizing cotton gloves.

  • Good advice. So I found an interesting article on modified hub doubling. When producing branch mint proofs it is thought that they transferred dies from proofs to the San Francisco mint. Here is incredible evidence of modified hub transfer on the u and on the b which would explain the unfinished areas around the lettering. Look at the bottom left of the U and top left of the U, the modified hub doubling is evident.

  • IkesTIkesT Posts: 3,376 ✭✭✭✭✭

  • RexfordRexford Posts: 1,229 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Melior_Invenidiste said:
    Good advice. So I found an interesting article on modified hub doubling. When producing branch mint proofs it is thought that they transferred dies from proofs to the San Francisco mint. Here is incredible evidence of modified hub transfer on the u and on the b which would explain the unfinished areas around the lettering. Look at the bottom left of the U and top left of the U, the modified hub doubling is evident.

    Seriously? Come on man

  • ifthevamzarockinifthevamzarockin Posts: 8,902 ✭✭✭✭✭

    "When producing branch mint proofs it is thought that they transferred dies from proofs to the San Francisco mint. Here is incredible evidence of modified hub transfer on the u and on the b which would explain the unfinished areas around the lettering."

    Not a branch mint proof..... just a damaged, polished coin. :s

  • Why recut the lettering if it’s not a proof coin? Can you explain that kind of doubling? Modified


  • IkesTIkesT Posts: 3,376 ✭✭✭✭✭

  • ifthevamzarockinifthevamzarockin Posts: 8,902 ✭✭✭✭✭

    "Why recut the lettering if it’s not a proof coin? Can you explain that kind of doubling?"

    Everything you are seeing is caused by damage to the coin.

  • That’s
    some double damage?

  • yosclimberyosclimber Posts: 4,854 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 18, 2022 10:01PM

    "California Proof" is indeed an old term for a special type of polished (altered) Morgan,
    and your coin appears to be an example of this.
    See this thread from 2016:
    https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/964226/anyone-have-pics-of-california-proof-morgan

  • SSSStrange

  • ifthevamzarockinifthevamzarockin Posts: 8,902 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Send it in to PCGS and prove us wrong. ;)

  • ifthevamzarockinifthevamzarockin Posts: 8,902 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The only holder that coin is fit for is a belt buckle. ;)

  • Are U sure?

  • ifthevamzarockinifthevamzarockin Posts: 8,902 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Melior_Invenidiste said:
    Are U sure?!

    Yes
    It's a damaged coin worth melt value.
    You could run over it with your car 30 times and it will still be worth the same amount. ;)

  • ifthevamzarockinifthevamzarockin Posts: 8,902 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The best thing you can do is trust and accept the fact that the coin has been altered/polished and hold on to it to help educate yourself and train your eye to see the problems. You will be on a very slow learning curve if you can't learn from others but in a few years when you have learned more you may pick the coin back up and get a good laugh.

  • SN spelled out for you.


  • ifthevamzarockinifthevamzarockin Posts: 8,902 ✭✭✭✭✭

  • gumby1234gumby1234 Posts: 5,591 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Super rare. Send in to get certified. LOL

    Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 13,984 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 19, 2022 4:28AM

    It’s clear that you’re either unwilling to accept the feedback that you sought or you weren’t serious in asking for it in the first place. Either way, I hope that no one else wastes their time and effort in trying to answer.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The experts in numismatics have given you their professional evaluation of your coin. This should be enough to convince you that your coin is polished and considered post mint damage. You will get the same information if you submit it to a TPG. Cheers, RickO

  • Eldorado9Eldorado9 Posts: 2,397 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think I like Philadelphia proofs better.

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,391 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Had not heard that term for decades but yeah, "California Proof" is what they used to call coins that had been buffed up like this outside the Mint.

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • ChrisH821ChrisH821 Posts: 6,570 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 19, 2022 7:03AM

    @Luxor said:
    For those not familiar with the term 'California proof'......it's a name given to altered silver dollars where the coin doc would polish / buff the fields to give the appearance of a deeply PL coin and then apply artificial frost to the devices to give the appearance of a cameo DMPL coin. Most attempts I've seen over the years are laughable and easily spotted at first glace.

    When the OP asked the question using that term I assumed they knew, but it seems they think that means an actual proof.
    Perhaps they bought it as a "California proof" thinking it is something that it is not.
    I've been trying to find a reference for it but it seems to be a surprisingly difficult term to search for.
    @Melior_Invenidiste take the coin to a local dealer for an opinion if you don't trust us internet people.

    Collector, occasional seller

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