Whats up with this 1886 O Morgan? Cleaned dipped?

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Spartcom5
Spartcom5 Posts: 399 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

Found this morgan for $50 I liked the holder but the coin has a grainy texture looking surface and the feathers are worn. What's up with this? Is this a dipped coin or harshly cleaned?


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  • MarkInDavis
    MarkInDavis Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 7, 2025 6:32PM
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    Polished - so harshly cleaned

    image Respectfully, Mark
  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,154 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Perhaps cleaned with baking soda?

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • TomB
    TomB Posts: 23,192 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It almost looks like it has been acid-pickled.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,088 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    i'm completely guessing acid because of the ragged surfaces

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • dcarr
    dcarr Posts: 10,266 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 7, 2025 7:32PM
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    None of the above.
    The coin was very heavily wire-brushed (using a power tool of some sort).

    The heavy brushing causes ripples and waves on the coin's surface. When the bristles pass over a letter (for example), they cause a trailing wave to form on the back side of the letter (in the direction the bristles were moving after passing over the letter).

    You can see this in several places such as above the letters in STATES.

    It looks like a lot of the lettering has the trailing wave in a radial direction (away from the center of the coin), which means that the wire brushing was basically a crude (and very harsh) form of "whizzing".

    .

    Moonlight Mint
  • FredWeinberg
    FredWeinberg Posts: 6,040 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 7, 2025 8:29PM
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    ‘Whizzed’

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • Cougar1978
    Cougar1978 Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Looks like a circ that was dipped

    Investor
  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Looks like it was heavily brushed/whizzed, then polished shortly after.

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    You can tell by the pitting on the coin's surfaces.

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • PickinndGrinnin
    PickinndGrinnin Posts: 236 ✭✭✭
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    What's that depression between the wing and 3. I call fake.

  • TomB
    TomB Posts: 23,192 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I don't think the coin was whizzed because of the uniform dimpling on the surfaces instead of a trailing wave pattern. I realize it isn't being submitted, but if it were sent to PCGS it would definitely at least receive an "Altered Surfaces" designation.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • dcarr
    dcarr Posts: 10,266 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 7, 2025 10:06PM
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    @dcarr said:
    None of the above.
    The coin was very heavily wire-brushed (using a power tool of some sort).

    The heavy brushing causes ripples and waves on the coin's surface. When the bristles pass over a letter (for example), they cause a trailing wave to form on the back side of the letter (in the direction the bristles were moving after passing over the letter).

    You can see this in several places such as above the letters in STATES.

    It looks like a lot of the lettering has the trailing wave in a radial direction (away from the center of the coin), which means that the wire brushing was basically a crude (and very harsh) form of "whizzing".

    .

    @pcgsregistrycollector said:
    Looks like it was heavily brushed/whizzed, then polished shortly after.

    .

    Yes, it was likely tumble-burnished after the harsh wire treatment.
    This type of tumble-burnishing is often done in bulk quantities for commercially-packaged retail sales.

    .

    Moonlight Mint
  • coinkat
    coinkat Posts: 24,543 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Seems we can all agree it was destroyed…

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • gumby1234
    gumby1234 Posts: 5,901 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Sandblasted? Whatever was done to it it has been ruined.

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