Interesting 1893-O Morgan with Cross on Reverse

ProofCollection

This coin has been in my dad's collection for a long time. We've always been curious about this cross that someone appears to have added to the reverse. I'm guessing it probably ruins the coin's value, but thought I would post this here to see if anyone knows that this might be something different or interesting.
You can right-click, open image in new tab to see full size.
The cross is material added to the coin, not incuse, in case the details can't be seen.

may

Nice key, though I have no idea about that cross.

Maybe you should change that title though.

Tibor

Wrong date in title. Someone with some extra time on their hands.

ProofCollection

Title fixed.

dcarr

Quite a few coins have graffiti such as this. When a sharp knife is used at an angle, it can undercut and lift metal making the resulting mark appear raised above the surrounding surface.

ricko

That mark is well done... cannot determine the method from the picture. Needs in hand, microscope examination. That would determine whether tooled or added material. Cheers, RickO

rte592

@ricko said:
That mark is well done... cannot determine the method from the picture. Needs in hand, microscope examination. That would determine whether tooled or added material. Cheers, RickO

Looks like a solid Clue to the oak island 🪙 treasure or another good reminder to flatten those staples.

MFeld

@rte592 said:

@ricko said:
That mark is well done... cannot determine the method from the picture. Needs in hand, microscope examination. That would determine whether tooled or added material. Cheers, RickO

Looks like a solid Clue to the oak island 🪙 treasure or another good reminder to flatten those staples.

That mark has nothing to do with staples.

[Deleted User]

I have been taught by a very good mentor that 9 times out of 10 something like this would be PMD. I have several coins where I have spotted similar and it was PMD. I wasnt always happy to hear nonetheless it is what it is. That looks like PMD.

johnny9434

It's kinda cool looking, I like 👍

braddick

I see your cross.
Have two thoughts.
Will it cross?
Are you cross?

Happy Easter!

ProofCollection

@rte592 said:

@ricko said:
That mark is well done... cannot determine the method from the picture. Needs in hand, microscope examination. That would determine whether tooled or added material. Cheers, RickO

Looks like a solid Clue to the oak island 🪙 treasure or another good reminder to flatten those staples.

I'm sure it's a marking for Templar treasure.

@Watchtower said:
I have been taught by a very good mentor that 9 times out of 10 something like this would be PMD. I have several coins where I have spotted similar and it was PMD. I wasnt always happy to hear nonetheless it is what it is. That looks like PMD.

I agree, it pretty much has to be PMD.

[Deleted User]

I think you posted this tongue in cheek and I totally get it!

tommy44

A tough date in any condition. The could live with that coin in a album collection of Morgan Dollars, especially if I could buy it for the right price. I like it a lot and in celebration of Easter the cross is empty.

RobertScotLover

Maybe you should send it into PCGS for conservation, if it is added then it can be removed safely. Great date and good looking and if removed properly with little remand damage you might have a grazeable coin.

ProofCollection

@RobertScotLover said:
Maybe you should send it into PCGS for conservation, if it is added then it can be removed safely. Great date and good looking and if removed properly with little remand damage you might have a grazeable coin.

Does anyone know if that's something PCGS conservation can/will do? I thought they were limited to using chemicals, but that's just an assumption I've made.

MFeld

@ProofCollection said:

@RobertScotLover said:
Maybe you should send it into PCGS for conservation, if it is added then it can be removed safely. Great date and good looking and if removed properly with little remand damage you might have a grazeable coin.

Does anyone know if that's something PCGS conservation can/will do? I thought they were limited to using chemicals, but that's just an assumption I've made.

That doesn’t sound remotely like a conservation issue to me. It would be a repair.

Edited to add: I missed the reference to the cross being “material added to the coin”. I’d be quite surprised if that’s really the case, but if so, hopefully PCGS could do something.

RobertScotLover

@MFeld said:

@ProofCollection said:

@RobertScotLover said:
Maybe you should send it into PCGS for conservation, if it is added then it can be removed safely. Great date and good looking and if removed properly with little remand damage you might have a grazeable coin.

Does anyone know if that's something PCGS conservation can/will do? I thought they were limited to using chemicals, but that's just an assumption I've made.

That doesn’t sound remotely like a conservation issue to me. It would be a repair.

If it was glued on, it would not be considered conservation, then good to know. Thanks

DelawareDoons

ProofCollection

I don't know how it's attached. I'm afraid it would leave a scar but a scar would be better than the foreign material.

Project Numismatics

Appears to be graffiti. Highly skeptical this is material added to the coin based on the photo. Please post another photo, perhaps at an angle.

ProofCollection

@Project Numismatics said:
Appears to be graffiti. Highly skeptical this is material added to the coin based on the photo. Please post another photo, perhaps at an angle.

I won't be able to take additional pictures, it is sealed up and on it's way already. You'll just have to trust me that it is added material.

emeraldATV

I've seen worse. ?
Photos sometimes need to be spot on .

dcarr

@ProofCollection said:

@Project Numismatics said:
Appears to be graffiti. Highly skeptical this is material added to the coin based on the photo. Please post another photo, perhaps at an angle.

I won't be able to take additional pictures, it is sealed up and on it's way already. You'll just have to trust me that it is added material.

I do not believe it is added material. As I stated previously, a knife cut can cause a ridge of metal to be raised up above the surrounding surface. That is what I think happened here.

NumisOxide

@dcarr said:

@ProofCollection said:

@Project Numismatics said:
Appears to be graffiti. Highly skeptical this is material added to the coin based on the photo. Please post another photo, perhaps at an angle.

I won't be able to take additional pictures, it is sealed up and on it's way already. You'll just have to trust me that it is added material.

I do not believe it is added material. As I stated previously, a knife cut can cause a ridge of metal to be raised up above the surrounding surface. That is what I think happened here.

Looks that way to me too.