Got a question for Silver Eagle collectors... (pic added)

Smitty79

I just got my first Eagle today, an uncirculated 2003, and I was looking at the reverse and noticed a sort of outline of the W that would be on the proof Eagles. Is this normal or do I have something special? I don't have a camera good enough to take clear pics. BTW, I'm new to collecting anything other than State Quarters so you'll have to pardon my ignorance if this is a dumb question.

ConstellatioCollector

No such thing as a dumb question (unless I ask it!). Do you have a Pic?

Smitty79

No, I've tried to take pics with my web cam but not enough resolution to show the W. It looks like an outline and not a sharp strike. Holding at different angles it kind of looks embossed a little.

Smitty79

The best I can do for now is a scan.

Smitty79

LanLord

That's kinda cool, I can't tell ya much about it, but it looks pretty clear. I'd say keeper.

Betta285

From the pictures your eagle looks normal. The frosty appearence will differ in "depth" and shades throughout the coin but this is all normal

razorface1027

WOW, I see what yer talkin' about. It's right above the 'E' at 7:00. Strange! Keep it! When they stop making SAEs, someone will come out with a errors catalogue, who knows, it might be worth a hefty buck.

Steve27

Wow is right! Does anyone have a proof SAE for comparison? My GUESS is that the die used for striking this coin was originally used for making proofs. After it started to wear they removed the "W" and used it for creating circulation strikes. But in this case the "W" wasn't completely removed. I think comparison with a proof would provide a lot more insight.

Neptune

man - you all have good eyes - I see notta. Smitty - try enlarging the photo on your scanner - at least the part where the 'w' is.

ibzman350

Yep I can see it plain as day, that is neat. Don't know much about how it got there but I collect eagles and have a bunch ofem, I'll have to take a closer lookat mine.


Herb

Steve27

For those who can't see it, look at the center of this image:

meos1

Wowser, thats a real find. Can you determine if there is a build up of metal in that area? I suspect that we will be seeing many more SAE varieties as the days go by. In the meantime, Is it for sale? If not where did you get it? Are there more? Let me know. I think that this should be called the "Ghost W" variety.

Dan Watson - Serious SAE Collector

Proof69Eagles

You can clearly see there is a "W" at the 7 o'clock position. That could be a real find!!! Only time will tell how rare it would be since they are newly struck. I need to check the ones I have now!!

edsondl

That is awesome!! Great find!!

I would send it to ANACS to see what they think, but I think that is definately a W from a retired reverse proof die, or incomplete reverse proof die that was not deemed worthy to be finished for proof strikes.

Below are your coin and a scan of my 2003 Proof SAE showing the same region. I say it is an awesome match.

meos1

Looks like growing steam for the "Ghost W" variety. Anyone else seen one of these? Let me know I feel very certain this will be a must have.

Dan

edsondl

I checked all of my unc's and none have any hint of a letter in that region.

Does anyone know if there are any differences in the dies for the unc and proof varieties of the SAE? I know that the cent reverse is slightly different for MS and PR (see the type I and type II coins), so are there similar identifiers for the SAE? It would be great to use those to further identify the reverse as being struck by a proof die.

meos1

Edsondl,

As the SAE is a new series there is little data regarding the varieties and or die pairs. PR dies are prepared with a higher degree of attention but thats as much as I know currently. I have posted to see what others have experienced regarding SAE varieties. So for the "Ghost W" is the only variety I have seen. Its usually a very clean coin.

Br,

Dan

solid

That's pretty cool - good eye!

Ken

Conder101

It's not from a retired proof die. The mintmark is incuse on the die. If they had tried to use a retired proof die they would have had to grind the entire field of the die down considerably to remove the mintmark. Grinding that extensive would have weakened details, increased seperations between letters and other design features, and most importantly, removed or severely weakened the designers initials.

The silver eagle dies would have been made at the Philadelphia mint. I wonder if they are still trying to conserve on master hubs by starting with the hub that has the mintmark (which would be raised on the hub) and then after the mintmarked master dies are made they grind off the mintmark and proceed to use the altered master hub to create no mintmark master dies? That was how the "phantom D" and "phantom S" cents were produced.

Smitty79

Many thanks to everyone for thier replys. Like I said earlier I'm new to Eagles and this is my first of what I hope to be a on going collection. First off, it's not for sale. At least not yet. There doesnt seem to be a build up of metal around the W. The W looks slightly embossed. Thats not to say that it is, but the W's depth gives it that appearance. BTW, this coin was bought for $8. Not a bad way to start a collection, huh.

Edit: I forgot to add I got a BU 2004 Eagle today but no "ghost W".

smprfi

It's weird. I have one also.You can see it with the naked eye but when I use a x10 loupe it is not visible.

Smitty79

TTT for gregthegreat.