"Morgan" on PCGS Label - I thought that was a tell that it's counterfeit (guess I was wrong)
NeophyteNumismatist
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Disclaimer - I do not collect Morgan Dollars. However, as I follow the threads on counterfeits, I was under the impression that if the label says, "Morgan"... it's a dead giveaway that it's fake.
Then I run into this listing from a pretty large dealer: https://www.ebay.com/itm/256286806299?hash=item3babe2511b:g:P4gAAOSwnXhlTAsr
Everything looks right with this one... but that "Morgan" on the label has me scarred. I am not asking if it's legit (it is), and I am not asking if I should buy it (I'm not). I am just wondering if anyone else was under the same impression that "Morgan" on the label equals fake? Because, in this case... I was wrong with that assumption.
I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.
Comments
It’s put on the label to differentiate it from the 1921 peace dollar
for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
If a morgan has that “Morgan” on it, and it’s not a 1921 it’s probably fake.
Type collector, mainly into Seated. -formerly Ownerofawheatiehorde. Good BST transactions with: mirabela, OKCC, MICHAELDIXON, Gerard
@FredWeinberg so... is 1921 the only case where this is legitimate?
I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.
Well, they also put ‘Barber’ on I916 quarters for instance, when they first started decades ago
for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
1921 Morgans will say "Morgan" under the grade. 100% legitimate.
Collector, occasional seller
Same thing happened with 1873...T$ had Trade to differentiate from SLD.
It IS a fake.
PCGS only placed "Morgan" on the 1921.
peacockcoins
Thanks friends... I learned something new today (and the day isn't over). Appreciated!
I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.
And only on Philadelphia issues, not on 21-D or 21-S since there are no such Peace dollars.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
@messydesk is right on, just the 1921-P. Any "PCGS" with "Morgan" on the label other than 1921-P is a current Chinese counterfeit.
Also any 1922 "Peace" Peace dollar...
In this example, both are bad
.
Lesson learned:
ALL "Morgan" dollars dated 1904 and earlier with 'Morgan' on the PCGS insert are fake.
SOME "Morgan" dollars dated 1921 with 'Morgan' on the PCGS insert are either fake or real.
peacockcoins
The other major "tell" is there is no PCGS logo in the lower right front corner...
Why wouldn’t the Morgan on the left be OK? It isn’t a D or S, in fact it just like the OP’s 1921, which is genuine.
- Bob -
MPL's - Lincolns of Color
Central Valley Roosevelts
Well, the OP's 1921 is an MS64, this one not so much.
There is no PCGS logo in the front lower right corner of the fake, no chip in the slab and the barcode won't scan.
And the genuine for the cert # one looks like this:
The presence of "Morgan" is, itself, not proof of authenticity. A good fake will look like the genuine article. [The slab not the coin. ]