Morgan Dollar question
BDubz
Posts: 64 ✭✭
Happy New Year all. I picked up this very nice 1889o recently, and its a bit baffling for my novice eye. Everything about the coin appears uncirculated, with luster even on the high points and pretty good detail. I think the 80s and 90s New Orleans are known to be a bit rough at the center, right?
The oddity im struggling with are the lines across the lower hair and ear shown in the closer view pics. Is this a high AU coin that has damage from sliding across something? Or is this an uncirculated coin with an odd mint error?
As always....thanks for all feedback!
1
Comments
Not damage, it's caused by a weak strike. Kind of common on O mint Morgan dollars.
To this eye those would be roller marks (or adjustment marks) from the planchet, and that coin did not strike up fully. So, that is not PMD, but an "as struck" condition.
If the reverse is not exhibiting wear that's an Unc
Nice pictures by the way!
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Yes, as struck. It does show the strike weakness as mentioned. I bet the reverse breast feathers are weak as well.
bob
I agree with pursuit of Liberty - the coin looks uncirculated with obverse roller marks.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
The reverse is also very interesting. Im having fits getting decent pics of it, but I think it may be a Weak E reverse. Its got a full bust clash, including the forehead and mouth to the left, and neck from wing to G in God.
Funny too....was a total flyer. I bought it off the pics below, and for a very fair price we will just say. Just had a feeling the seller had terrible pics.....
It's a little hard to tell from your photos but I don't think you have a weak E.
Try Vam 9A and see if it is a match to your coin.
http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/1889-O_VAM-9A
Thanks! I did hang on that one a bit while I was going through them but the date on mine appears more slanted and slightly turned in the 9. I'll definitely take a 2nd harder look though! Definitely has the break coming off the underside of the chin.
Either way it seems like its worth slabbing up. These can be tough to find in decent shape. Any thoughts on what it might fetch?
"Definitely has the break coming off the underside of the chin."
That is a clash mark, double check the position of it and the clash mark on the reverse wreath.
NO Morgans are rarely fully struck. The hair above the ear is usually where you find this. You may find some weak breast feathers on the reverse, as well. Many Unc. Capped Bust Half varieties likewise, aren't fully struck, but for different reasons. The take away is that if a coin isn't fully struck, but you do not see any luster breaks, the coin is Unc.
Looks like the OP coin has already been correctly identified as a VAM 9A. I'm not aware of a premium for this variety.
The lines are referred to as roller marks, but are probably more accurately referred to as "draw bench" marks. There are no adjustment marks on Morgan dollars. The 89-O in 66+ on the CoinFacts page also has these marks (and is also VAM 9A).
The strike is lousy, as is usually the case for 89-O, and did not strike out the roller marks. It is not correct to say that New Orleans Morgans are rarely fully struck. 1879-O, 80-O, and 86-O typically come with good strikes. 81-O through 85-O can vary a lot and are available with full strikes. Starting in 1887, they're more often pancakes than not, with dates like 90-O, 91-O, 92-O, 94-O, and 96-O being among the hardest to find with good strikes.
This coin would seem to grade MS62. The hack on the jaw is a bit unsightly, and the 63s you'll see on CoinFacts are a little cleaner, as well as some being better struck.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Just the striations that were on the strip of silver that didn't strike out.
Weak strike and possibly remnants from the die clash.... Cheers, RickO