1898 Morgan type question

bronze6827

I'd like some opinions on an 1898 Morgan I've had for some time. It was bought above melt a while back at a local show. It has extremely mirrored fields, and the devices appear to originally have minimal to moderate frosting. When I say mirrored, I don't mean clean full-lluster, cart-wheel fields, I mean finely pollished to a flat mirror finish that I've never witnessed on a Morgan before.

Beyond that, the coin looks like any other Morgan that spent time rubbing around in a mint bag with others for 60 years, maybe a 62 or so grade. Plenty of small dings and minor rub on the high points and small coin scrapes in the fields. No hairlines what so ever. I can EASILY get 4" or more of sharp mirror reflection out of the fields.

I've heard 1898's can have some fairly refelctive fields at times. Unfortunately, I can't capture the mirror factor and reflectivity in a good picture. Here's some pictures of the date, with what appears to be a doubled second 8. There are zero die abrasion lines on the fields, however, I can find them on various locations of the devices.

Is this a regular run of the mill 1898? I can get other close up images if need be. I have a hard time believing it would be some rogue proof, but I've never seen anything like it.

MadMax67

Hi, that does look like a double second 8 ,this should be a VAM coin ,i would sure investigate it more-

coinguy1

Even if you can't capture the reflectivity in images, a full shot of each side might be helpful.

AUandAG

I only see the date, where is the rest of the coin? Can't answer your question
without being able to see the dollar.

bob

bronze6827

Here's the overall. Like I statetd earlier, I can not remotely capture the mirror fields in any picture I attempt to take with what I have available. I initially presumed it to just be a beat-up deep-mirror coin. I had checked out all the VAM stuff, but I couldn't find one with doubling that matched this 8, and I have no idea on diagnostics for a proof of this year besides the die scratch through the eye, which this one does not have.

I don't think these pictures will be of any help, I'm afraid. The coin does have a layer of haze over the whole thing.

AMRC

The haze is not doing the coin any justice. Overall the 98's come nice. This looks like no exception. Well struck.

coinguy1

The coin looks like a business strike and not a Proof, to me.

bronze6827

Any opinions on the doubled 8? I see there are a few different versions, but I haven't seen this one anywhere.

AUandAG

Looks like the typical 1898 dollar. Not a proof dollar.

Nice coin

bob

Windycity

Likely a VAM4... common variety. Check VAMWorld.com for more information.

golfer72

<< <i>The coin looks like a business strike and not a Proof, to me. >>

Mark, I dont think he meant the coin might be a proof rather it may be PL or even DMPL. Having said that it does not look even PL though its hard to tell from the pics.

DorkGirl

The 8 looks like mechanical doubling to me, which is cool, cause you hardly ever see that on a Morgan.

bronze6827

I was sort of thinking it might be mechanical doubling as well initially, but wasn't sure as none of the surrounding devices had any signs. It is somewhat shelf-like in nature. It doens't really matter to much to me, it was just a brief curiosity and change of pace from my normal.

I'm simply going to leave it as a deep-mirror coin; the pictures I provided basically make it look like a plain-jane coin. I just can't get a good shot to reveal the reflectivity. It's really just a low-grade uncirculated coin and will probably stay in a 2x2 and turn into a hand-me-down in 30 years. I tried photographing it again to capture the mirror fields, but to no avail.

Thanks for all comments.