Morgan Dollar missing ribbon detail - Any Idea -Wing photo attached

ehhblack

This is the reverse of an 1878 P rev of 78, in an NGC holder - MS63, that I bought on-line. What caused the ribbon detail to be missing? Did it happen during the minting process or is it damage? Does this affect the coins value? I've been collecting a couple of years and this is the fist time I've seen this. Thanks in advance for any information.

Note: While waiting on my "security clearance" I posted this at another sight. One answer was over-basining the die. After looking up what basining was, I would think only the highest relief would be seen on the coin. This does not look to be the case on this coin.

K6AZ

Looks like a die fill to me. And welcome aboard.

Wolf359

Welcome aboard. Could be common vam 195 with broken D in DOLLAR, combined with a very weak strike or partial grease die fill as Eric pointed out.

BAJJERFAN

Welcome aboard and Happy New Year to you.

morgannut2

I'd vote for struck thru grease, unless some other identical ones have shown up suggesting something other than

die fill with goop. Interesting example anyway---they don't ALL have to be worth extra $ to be neat coins!!

DorkGirl

fountainheadgold

Stuck thru grease most likely

nwcs

Welcome! I think the others have nailed it.

LanLord

Cool, missing part of the D too.

FatMan

Here's a Big Fat Welcome to ya!

Coppernicus

I'd say Wolf359 nailed it! A broken "D" VAM and either a weak strike, but more likely struck through grease.

Welcome to the most informative and entertaining coin forum on the planet! Enjoy!!

Mike

K6AZ

Just a question, since when did die fills acquire the PC term "struck through grease"? In the old days, we referred to strike throughs of cloth, wood, and metal filings but not grease.

morgannut2

I got the term at the 2002 ANA from some high end error expert dealer , Fred somebody, and the NGC guy at the table used the same term independently on similar Morgan as this. But what do I know.

DMWJR

A strike through machine grease is possible. The reverse die could be overpolished, but I'm not aware of any other examples. Do you have a pic of the wings near the chest?

RVDavis

Neat coin. Welcome aboard I have been here for a month and just enjoy this forum tremendously.

Rick

anablep

I had a 78 with a broken D also. The ribbon detail was very weak, though not as much as yours. Perhaps it was and your picture is just really good and I don't remember the extent of the die fill on my coin.