I'm not sure how your '96-O could have slipped under the radar at ANACS, but it sure looks like one of the privately made micro o examples. Can you PM or post a close-up image of the reverse ? There are to date 7 different 1896-O die pairs with micro o that are confirmed as not genuine Mint issues. The same may be true of your 1902-o's, for which there are 5 known privately made die pairs with the micro o mintmark.
Actually, Smitty, on second review I'm certain the 1896-o and both 1902-o's are the privately made (counterfeit) micro o mintmark issues. Those are in fairly strong demand among VAM collectors - I'm still baffled as to how they could have slipped under the radar at ANACS. John Roberts is very thorough in his observation of Morgans when he gets to see them. Perhaps these were submitted on a bulk grading order ?
I hate to make the point to CommemKing and USMarine6, but hey guys, these coins are hot commodities to VAM collectors. If they were un-recognized and in PCGS holders, they would bring several thousand in an auction right now.
Those weren't sent in for attribution, so they didn't get seen by JohnR, who definitely would have flagged them. The first two are definitely micro O counterfeits. I can't tell on the third, but I suspect it is at least related to the micro O counterfeits. Why else send in a cleaned, XF 02-O? While the contemporary counterfeits with micro O are usually caught by the TPGs, the related ones usually are not, for which VAM collectors are grateful.
Originally posted by: Rampage Yep, all three coins are micro-O.
I sent them in a while back, seeing if they would catch them or not. Guess Not. Didn't send in for Vam, but any good Morgan person shoulda saw these, IMHO.
Originally posted by: Rampage Yep, all three coins are micro-O.
I sent them in a while back, seeing if they would catch them or not. Guess Not. Didn't send in for Vam, but any good Morgan person shoulda saw these, IMHO.
Anyway I figure it's a win since the graded them.
John Roberts at ANACS is a well-known VAM expert. But I'm guessing he only views such coins if they are sent in for VAM attribution. One of the reasons people collect these vintage "privately-made" Morgans is that they easily passed for genuine coins and circulated alongside genuine coins. I've seen such coins in all the major grading service holders - some being encapsulated after the 2005 announcement. Like this one:
PS:
ANACS seems to be very tough on "cleaning". Those two coins look like they could grade as problem-free most of the time (if they were genuine).
The pictures aren't very clear. Is that last one a micro-o ? It looks almost like it has the C4 reverse of 1900 (wide gap between neck and wing).
For more information on the "Privately Made" Morgan dollars, spend some time on the VAM World web site. Just the 1896-O has about a dozen listings now. The Micro O pieces are easier to spot, of course, but don't be too hard on ANACS (or NGC, or PCGS) for missing one of these occasionally. Try going through 500 to 1000 circulated dollars sometime, and see how long it takes for your eyes to glaze over.
The family tree of these counterfeits has 27, count 'em, 27 different die pairs. Two die pairs are "monogamous," not appearing with any other dies, but are currently presumed to be part of The Family. The other 25 die pairs exhibit varying amounts of promiscuity, as it were. There is one additional counterfeit die pair listed in VAM (96-O VAM 22) that does not seem to be part of The Family.
Originally posted by: messydesk The family tree of these counterfeits has 27, count 'em, 27 different die pairs. Two die pairs are "monogamous," not appearing with any other dies, but are currently presumed to be part of The Family. The other 25 die pairs exhibit varying amounts of promiscuity, as it were. There is one additional counterfeit die pair listed in VAM (96-O VAM 22) that does not seem to be part of The Family.
Soon to be 28, once Leroy Van Allen assigns a VAM number (presumably VAM-8) to an 1893-O with a C3 reverse that I recently discovered. That discovery coin has the same obverse die as 1893-O VAMs 6 & 7, but the reverse die was previously unreported.
I saw your privately-made die pair chart at VAMworld (now gone ?). Last time I saw it, I think it was missing 1902-O VAM-92. I'd like to see it again. I think there is a group of 1893-O and 1896-O coins which are not connected to the main group.
Comments
Are you concerned about authenticity, appropriate grades, or something else?
With silver so cheap nice circ dollars may be a good buy.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
I hate to make the point to CommemKing and USMarine6, but hey guys, these coins are hot commodities to VAM collectors. If they were un-recognized and in PCGS holders, they would bring several thousand in an auction right now.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Yep, all three coins are micro-O.
I sent them in a while back, seeing if they would catch them or not. Guess Not. Didn't send in for Vam, but any good Morgan person shoulda saw these, IMHO.
Anyway I figure it's a win since the graded them.
Yep, all three coins are micro-O.
I sent them in a while back, seeing if they would catch them or not. Guess Not. Didn't send in for Vam, but any good Morgan person shoulda saw these, IMHO.
Anyway I figure it's a win since the graded them.
John Roberts at ANACS is a well-known VAM expert. But I'm guessing he only views such coins if they are sent in for VAM attribution. One of the reasons people collect these vintage "privately-made" Morgans is that they easily passed for genuine coins and circulated alongside genuine coins. I've seen such coins in all the major grading service holders - some being encapsulated after the 2005 announcement. Like this one:
PS:
ANACS seems to be very tough on "cleaning". Those two coins look like they could grade as problem-free most of the time (if they were genuine).
The pictures aren't very clear. Is that last one a micro-o ? It looks almost like it has the C4 reverse of 1900 (wide gap between neck and wing).
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
The family tree of these counterfeits has 27, count 'em, 27 different die pairs. Two die pairs are "monogamous," not appearing with any other dies, but are currently presumed to be part of The Family. The other 25 die pairs exhibit varying amounts of promiscuity, as it were. There is one additional counterfeit die pair listed in VAM (96-O VAM 22) that does not seem to be part of The Family.
Soon to be 28, once Leroy Van Allen assigns a VAM number (presumably VAM-8) to an 1893-O with a C3 reverse that I recently discovered. That discovery coin has the same obverse die as 1893-O VAMs 6 & 7, but the reverse die was previously unreported.
New discovery privately-made 1893-O
I saw your privately-made die pair chart at VAMworld (now gone ?). Last time I saw it, I think it was missing 1902-O VAM-92. I'd like to see it again. I think there is a group of 1893-O and 1896-O coins which are not connected to the main group.