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Strange spot on a Morgan Dollar. Explanation?

BustyPotatoBustyPotato Posts: 81 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

Hello,
I have a question about a Morgan Dollar with a strange spot. It is slabbed by PCGS but this spot annoys me. What exactly is the cause of it? I haven't seen anything like it on other Morgans. It sort of looks like a milk spot that you would see on a Silver Eagle. Sorry if the photo quality isn't the best I took these real quick!




A government accident left me a former man, a potato. That photo on my profile is a low resolution selfie. I like coins.

Comments

  • RexfordRexford Posts: 1,316 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Liquid contamination left a discolored spot

    Gobrecht's Engraved Mature Head Large Cent Model
    https://www.instagram.com/rexrarities/?hl=en

  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 17, 2018 4:32PM

    The Dawn spacecraft found one on dwarf planet Ceres, too. This one is named Cerealia Facula and is mostly sodium carbonate. Yours might be named Ludi Morganii and made of silver chloride.

    ;)

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Looks like a lonely tear drop.... :D Seriously, a drop of some liquid contamination prior to slabbing probably. Cheers, RickO

  • Namvet69Namvet69 Posts: 9,271 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The splatter pattern indicates a drop of liquid struck the flat surface of the coin. Maybe sweat or spittle. At least it didn't turn black or green. Peace Roy

    BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW

  • BustyPotatoBustyPotato Posts: 81 ✭✭✭

    Appreciate all the answers, thanks again!

    A government accident left me a former man, a potato. That photo on my profile is a low resolution selfie. I like coins.

  • AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 24,942 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah choooo

    bob :)

    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,843 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Silver is not an inert metal. It can spot and tone, despite your best efforts to preserve it.

    Was this spot on the coin when you bought it? If so, perhaps you might adapt my approach. If a coin has a spot, mark or scratch on it that I know is going to bug me whenever I look at it, I don’t buy the piece. The only possible exception that I MIGHT have to that would be if it is an item that I have searched forever and know that the chances are not good that I will see another.

    A coin should be a source of pleasure, not an item that says, “Oh crap” to you every time you see it.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • BustyPotatoBustyPotato Posts: 81 ✭✭✭

    @BillJones said:
    Silver is not an inert metal. It can spot and tone, despite your best efforts to preserve it.

    Was this spot on the coin when you bought it? If so, perhaps you might adapt my approach. If a coin has a spot, mark or scratch on it that I know is going to bug me whenever I look at it, I don’t buy the piece. The only possible exception that I MIGHT have to that would be if it is an item that I have searched forever and know that the chances are not good that I will see another.

    A coin should be a source of pleasure, not an item that says, “Oh crap” to you every time you see it.

    Yes it was! I knew the spot was going to bug me but it is a 1881-S in MS66 and I got it for 135 so I figured even with the spot it was a good deal. I think i was just to excited because I am new to coins and I liked it alot at the time!

    A government accident left me a former man, a potato. That photo on my profile is a low resolution selfie. I like coins.

  • JBKJBK Posts: 16,468 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Agree. Water/liquid, dropped and dried many years ago.

    On the one hand, it is good to refrain from buying a coin that has a door that will bother you. On the other hand, if you already own it and got a good deal and are unlikely to replace it, one option is to hold onto it to see if your tastes change. Maybe you will develop more of a tolerance for "character" on a coin. Of course, you might go the other way and want blast white coins.

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,843 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BustyPotato said:

    @BillJones said:
    Silver is not an inert metal. It can spot and tone, despite your best efforts to preserve it.

    Was this spot on the coin when you bought it? If so, perhaps you might adapt my approach. If a coin has a spot, mark or scratch on it that I know is going to bug me whenever I look at it, I don’t buy the piece. The only possible exception that I MIGHT have to that would be if it is an item that I have searched forever and know that the chances are not good that I will see another.

    A coin should be a source of pleasure, not an item that says, “Oh crap” to you every time you see it.

    Yes it was! I knew the spot was going to bug me but it is a 1881-S in MS66 and I got it for 135 so I figured even with the spot it was a good deal. I think i was just to excited because I am new to coins and I liked it alot at the time!

    Please take this as some friendly advice.

    The 1881-S Morgan Dollar is probably the most common Morgan Dollar in high grade that was very well made at the mint. Finding this coin really nice is not hard. There are pieces in MS-65 holders for less money that would probably please you more.

    All of us get hung up on trying to fill a hole when the piece you would like comes along. Sometimes you have to say, "No," because experience will tell you that another piece that is nicer is bound to become available.

    I would suggest that you check out "Coin Facts" which is run by our hosts. It has an amazing amount of information. You can access it "on the fly" with your smart phone or iPad. And the wonderful thing is, It's Free!!!

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • thefinnthefinn Posts: 2,657 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Someone sweating over how to spend a dollar. A lot of money in 1881 - about a day's wages for most.

    thefinn
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 29,294 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @CCDollar said:
    A hundred year old sneeze...

    CC

    pick a winner lol

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