85-O Morgan, What in the heck is it?

MrKelso

Can anyone tell me what caused the round belly button on the bird?

Sorry about the crummy scan



Is it a known Vam of some kind?

MrKelso

Stunner

I'm more interested in the X on the eagle's breast. I've seen dozens of Morgans, Peace and Peso's over the years with an X on them. What is that all about?

eyoung429

Looks like a lot of post-mint errors..... looks like someone may have taken a red-rider bbgun to it.

Gator5220

Actually, I have one with a belly-button also, and I was wondering the same thing.

Gator5220

ttt out of curiosity

MrKelso

Tuff to photograph with out my tripod and lights

rhedden

I have seen several of these, all 1885-O. I assumed it was damage the first time, but started to get suspicious after seeing the 2nd.

ziggy29

Looks a lot like the "dimple" on the cheek on my 1871 IHC, actually. Not quite sure what caused that one either, but it looks like it came out of the Mint that way.

Drizzt

Looks dead center to me. Something from lining up the lettering maybe?

kryptonitecomics

Don't see anything in my Vam book...is it a clash of some sort???

sweetwilliet

Take a look at ebay auction #8383300445, it's a variety from grease in the die.

Gator5220

If it's a "belly button" variety, anybody have an idea how common it is?

Coxe

It is due to a weak strike, with that part of the reverse design being highest and most susceptible to poor metal flow into the die. This is quite common on New Orleans dollars as well as a few others like the '90 and '91 Philadelphia business strikes. New Orleans is absolutely notorious for poor striking. The first 6 years they struck Morgans weren't so bad. Starting in 1885, they began being inconsistent down to reliably poor. Centers are commonly flat. Sometimes the edges are weak as well. Generally you see the stars to the right of the date as very weak, especially from 1890 to 1892. I am not sure why AMACS qualifies "belly button" Morgans as a variety on their labels as they aren't premium warranting coins, but deficient strikes that should be grade limited.