Two Privately-Made (vintage counterfeit) Morgan Dollars in "mint state"
dcarr
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Just acquired these two, purchased unattributed from sellers who were not aware of their origin. What is notable is that both are very high grade. I see no circulation wear at all on either. They are pretty rare as such, since most are significantly worn while circulating alongside genuine money.
The 1896-O VAM-21 always has a very granular obverse (as struck) with no cartwheel luster at all. The reverse also has some granularity as well.
If you ever see a mint-state Privately-Made VAM, it is most likely going to be a 1901-O VAM-60 like the second one below.
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Comments
Thanks for posting these great examples. I've just recently gotten interested in the vintage Morgan counterfeits.
I have read accounts that the dollars were artificially aged to give them the circulated look to add credence to their being authentic. Much like the Colombian cartels counterfeit Sacagawea dollar coins to be sold into Ecuador - beaten up a bit, spun awhile in a drum etc.
I have an 1896 (P) Morgan dollar I purchased for $10 in 1985.
So no numismatic woe here - it is not high grade and displays
no cartwheels but is likely genuine, and was advertised in the
local news paper as a "hoard" find. It does weigh 27 gm so
appears to be fine. I do like the coin since it is my very first
Morgan dollar, genuine or not.
I’ve never seen one that I thought was artificially circulated, but anything’s possible. They were good enough they didn’t need to be.
I don’t like the “Privately Made” euphemism. They are counterfeits, plain and simple.
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That one appears to be genuine.
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DC - Thanks much for the certification. I'll enjoy it more now!
How does the moonlight mint legally make them without replica or copy counterstamped into it
Dan makes fantasy coins where there are no legitimate mint copies in existence. Hence, they are not counterfeits.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Oh I see so the mint never released the it version of these coins?
What does "the it version" even mean?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Very interesting. I've never really looked into vams and never knew there are vam numbers for these 'privately made' contemporary counterfeit morgans. Looks like there are 34 of them listed. Will have to look into this more when I got the time.
http://www.vamworld.com/wiki/Listed_Privately_Made_Varieties
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