1888-O VAM 1A question, big pics

options26

I recently purchased this coin from EBAY based on the obverse crack as a possible 1A. It arrives today and it's missing something, the reverse clashed E? Additionally whats going with the rim on the left obverse. The coin appears to have a hammered strike based on the fields being so deep but in the same breath the devices are weakly struck. Could that have been caused by the clashing? Based on the crack I wouldn't assume that this is an EDS coin. The boards wisdom would be appreciated.







Edited to add a pic of the Crack

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this is weird, ive always pondered if there was an 1888 O with just the break and no clash, and here it is! My best guess would either be that the E was polished away or the reverse die was changed. It is also possible that it is an incredibly late die state coin, so the E could just be incredibly weak. This added to the fact that this is a cleaned coin, makes me think that the E was polished away when the coin was cleaned??? I would send it to Leroy regardless of what I or any other member says about it.

options26

Top50 bring up some great points. Anyone on the night crew have an opinion? Thanks in advance.

erroid

I do see what I think is the upright of the clashed E, in you very nice close-up, and is in the right place. If you can't confirm this, I'd send it to LVA.

direwolf1972

The die break is certainly more pronounced than on a lot of the 1A's I've seen.

I cant really tell on the clashed E from the photos.

options26

Got me, the more I stare at it, I guess I can talk myself into seeing something. But it apepars also to have die file lines in the area so I wonder if it was an attempt to get rid of it? I will let it sit until I can get one of those microscope cameras and take better closeups. Thanks for the input. Jim

bigmansam88

Try tilting it under a direct light source and see if it is there.

Sometimes it is all about getting a good angle in order to reveal the weak clashed "E"

options26

Directly under a a light source, still can't see much. I see a small bump where the middle serif should be and a bunch of raised die file lines.