New privately-made VAM 1894-O Morgan Dollar discovery
dcarr
Posts: 9,068 ✭✭✭✭✭
I recently discovered this privately-made 1894-O. It is not currently designated as a VAM, but it will probably be given a VAM number as one of the privately-made "family" of vintage counterfeits. It shares the same characteristics as other coins in the family. However, this one has the correct C3 reverse type, unlike the specimen discovered last year by NGC which has a C4 reverse. This one also has a different obverse die (date placement) than that VAM-13.
Date placement:
Mint mark placement:
Lumps near rim between second and third stars to left of date:
Deformed obverse denticles near third star to left of date:
Deformed obverse denticles near "E":
Doubled reverse rim near "AR" of DOLLAR:
Raised dot near lower right corner of "E" of STATES:
Raised dot "W.E":
Die scratches between "F" and wing tip:
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I also recently picked up this privately-made 1893-O VAM-6. I believe this is currently the highest grade of any known privately-made 1893-O. This one is easy to spot since it has the incorrect C4 reverse hub type of 1900 (wide gap between back of Eagle's neck and wing):
Comments
You continue to amaze me with these CC finds Dan. Another new one, and another freakin' 94-o at that. Are you kidding me!? Very nice. Pack her up and make the big guys day, err, probably month!
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very good.
i really enjoy seeing these. your images have came a long way.
The Lord has endowed you with some tremendous talents.
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He shoots, He scores!"
Nice find.
Very cool stuff!
My YouTube Channel
Congrats Dan !
Your vast knowledge in the numismatic field continues to amaze me .
I also had read the original thread about a recent find of a large reverse casting and then last night I began reading through all of your site pages and see that you are the one that acquired the piece .
Absolutely amazing piece of historical significance is now in your possession. Congratulations again and hope all is well with you and the family
These, and their cousins, might have been part of a surge in counterfeit dollars that appeared in the mid-late 1890s. They are discussed in multiple mint documents and described as "very deceptive."
What's the metal content of these?
The close up photos of these are excellent. Are these primarily tracked by VAM?
The weight is generally correct.
The ones that I have XRF test results for indicate that they are slightly higher silver purity than the standard .900 fine.
Yes. VAM listings are limited to genuine Morgan and Peace Dollars, and vintage counterfeits that were: made for circulation and circulated among genuine coins; contained the proper amount of silver (or a little more); and were die-struck.
I did not realize counterfeits were tracked by VAM... I must look at the one I have and see if it fits any of these...Is there a site listing such coins with their distinctive markings?? Cheers, RickO
If the chinese or others are counterfeiting morgans and rare dates constantly, why are vams that are being created or the actual counterfeits sought after? Just go to ebay/craigslist and I would guess one can find them- no?
I believe the common practice was to melt sterling flatware and such for the plachets
there are great explanations for this if you are up for searching/reading. some real good debates.
the archives are a treasure trove.
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Very cool find!
Persistence usually = good things.
This section of VAMworld lists all the VAM-recognized privately made coins:
vamworld.com/+Listed+Privately+Made+Varieties
Again, to be eligible for VAM listing, the coin: must have circulated among genuine coins; be made of silver; and be die struck.
Interesting I would of thought a counterfeiter would have have gone the cheaper route and made it out of pot metal?
They were still making money. And on a mass scale, the profits were well worth the effort. If they used a cheaper metal the coins would have been lighter or larger and way more easy to spot which could bring the entire operation down. Remember, these were circulating coins at the time so any difference in weight or size would easily be noticed. @messydesk has a theory that they were laundered through underground casinos in turn of the century New Orleans. If true, the operation had even more of a vested interest in making them blend in with the authentic ones as well as possible.