Is my 1880-S Morgan counterfeit?

David1940

I bought this at an antique store in Madison, WI for $46. I like how it looks even though it has a scratch on the rim. The more I look at it, though, the more I think it must be counterfeit because it's just in too good of a condition. Hoping I'm wrong of course.

1. It rings when it dings. (I used a phone app that listened to the ring and says it's real)
2. It weighs 26 grams.
3. It is not magnetic.

But It also has hardly any wear... and plenty of luster; it looks like it may have been cleaned. I've compared it to a slabbed MS70 2024 Morgan that I have and I can't find any differences. Aside from sending it off to be graded, is there anything else to check?

jacrispies

Good news, it is certainly genuine. It has the sharpness of original coins with natural luster. Strangely enough, 1880-S morgans are more commonly found in uncirculated condition than circulated condition.

It would grade Unc details Cleaned. Not bad though!

PROMETHIUS88

Genuine but nowhere close to MS70 even without being cleaned. Not to mention the damage to the right rim on the reverse.

PapiNE

Looks genuine. The damage on the reverse rim will get you a details rating.

lermish

@David1940 said:

I've compared it to a slabbed MS70 2024 Morgan that I have and I can't find any differences.

MFeld

Edited:
Your coin looks uncirculated but with rim damage and cleaning. As such, it isn’t worth the cost of grading. Something is wrong if you can’t find any differences from an MS70 1924 dollar.
Based on all of your comments it doesn’t seem like a good idea for you to be spending money on coins.

Rc5280

@PapiNE said:
Looks genuine. The damage on the reverse rim with get you a details rating.

Same thing with the hairlines noticed by the others mentioning a cleaning (including OP guessing cleaned & scratched rim).

pcgsregistrycollector

Not fake. Lower MS grade though if it doesn't unc deetails which I think it will.

coinbuf

@David1940 said:
I bought this at an antique store in Madison, WI for $46.
Aside from sending it off to be graded, is there anything else to check?

So you bought a coin worth only its bullion value (currently $32 as I type this) and want to spend another $60 to receive it back in a details holder. WHY!!

MFeld

Duplicate post deleted.

john_nyc1

The obverse is very harshly cleaned, almost as if someone used stainless steel. Too bad - it is a very sharp strike.

CaptHenway

Just from looking at your pictures, I would call it genuine, uncirculated, cleaned.

jmlanzaf

@coinbuf said:

@David1940 said:
I bought this at an antique store in Madison, WI for $46.
Aside from sending it off to be graded, is there anything else to check?

So you bought a coin worth only its bullion value (currently $32 as I type this) and want to spend another $60 to receive it back in a details holder. WHY!!

Cuz then it will be in a holder...

Woman came into the local B&M with 2 Morgan dollars on Saturday. One was a slightly better date (AU details cleaned) and the other was a common date VF. The owner said he would offer $28 for the VF and $125 for the better date ($200 greysheet). Her response: I want to send them in so I get more money for them.

We could not convince her that she would not get any more money and would spend $80 to get them slabbed.

dcarr

I disagree that the coin has been "cleaned",

But the pictures are inconclusive as to authenticity. Something looks "off" about it it, so I would assume counterfeit until proven otherwise, or inspected in-hand.

That is the large "S" mint mark type (that punch was only used on 1880 San Francisco coins). But I can not find any 1880-S Large S VAM where the mint mark tilts to the right.

airplanenut

@john_nyc1 said:
The obverse is very harshly cleaned, almost as if someone used stainless steel. Too bad - it is a very sharp strike.

The good news is sharply struck is the normal way they come. It's one of the easiest coins to find nice in every respect.

ChrisH821

I agree with the others. Genuine coin and not worth grading. A generic "Unc.", you can find better ones very easily.
It would be a details grade, either by the obverse hairlines or the reverse rim damage, pick your poison, it doesn't matter which.

Coins3675

It is real, but I wouldn't get it sent off for grading.