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Hello! Still here in Iraq!

Hello,

This is the first time I been able to write here since I was deploted to Iraq in March. All is well and have been moving about the country.

What triggered me to write here again is that I came across a 1799 US Silver Dollar. The coin was at a haji stand (little shop selling everything and anything). The coin was in really good condition from seeing it here. I am no expert on this dollar but comparing it with the 'GOOD' Morgan Dollar I have in my pocket, it would apear to be in VF + but not XF. I saw hair lines but they were faded but not smooth. The rim was full and so were the letters. There were no dings but normal wear. I wasn't aware of the different varieties on this coin, so I did not get those details. The lady who was selling it had other coins but this one caught my eye but she said $500.

Now, if this is a counterfeit, how can I tell? Also, the weight of the coin seemed normal.

PS> My 1897 - O Morgan has taken on a nice fabric print on the obverse from toning and lately a golden hue all over with hints of blue and purple. This coin is really worn but makes a good carrying piece.

Comments

  • RGLRGL Posts: 3,784
    My son got home with MAG 29 about July 1 ... God bless you and Semper Fi!
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    Can't help you on the coin, but glad you're well and thank you for serving!

    Russ, NCNE
  • krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
    Good to hear from you, SemperFi. You have my thanks also!

    I don't know how to determine absolutely if the coin is genuine, but my gut tells me there's almost no chance of it being real. If it's a bad fake, a picture would probably be enough.

    New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

  • goose3goose3 Posts: 11,471 ✭✭✭
    from some of the threads/posts I've seen here in the past the eagle is one thing that is sometimes a giveaway. If it looks more like a turkey then it is bogus.

    glad you are well!
  • Many counterfeit $'s explained here - the easy online source

    Check under "coyote." That was the kind the gulf war soliders most often brought home.

    Cameron Kiefer
  • XpipedreamRXpipedreamR Posts: 8,059 ✭✭
    Good luck and best wishes!
  • SethChandlerSethChandler Posts: 1,720 ✭✭✭✭
    Keep up the great work.

    Seth
    Collecting since 1976.
  • LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Stay safe man, stay safe.
  • Great post - keep the morale up and come home safe!
    SNIKT!
    You are doing well, subject 15837. You are a good person.
  • Hope you have a quick and safe return home. CHRIS
  • What with serving your country over there the very LEAST you deserve is an authentic 1799 dollar!
  • Most important: Thank you and all the other troops for doing a fine job.
    image

    I can think of a dozen reasons not to have high capacity magazines, but it's the reasons I haven't thought about that I need them.
  • BubbleheadBubblehead Posts: 1,621 ✭✭✭
    Matt,
    My blessings to you and your shipmates. (Can't help that, I was Navy!) Come home safe. With or without the dollar!
  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,405 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Stay safe... and thanks image
    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • God Bless safe return
  • Godspeed, and thank you and all the soldiers for your service...

    Steveimage
  • God bless and Semper Fi!
  • LAWMANLAWMAN Posts: 1,274 ✭✭
    Thank you and stay safe over there!
    DSW
  • coinguy1coinguy1 Posts: 13,484 ✭✭✭
    Matt, be safe and I hope you get to come home, before too long.
  • relayerrelayer Posts: 10,570

    Thank You for your service to our Country image
    image
    My posts viewed image times
    since 8/1/6
  • Stay safe Soldier!! We are all behind you!! image
    God Bless All Our Troops!!!
  • dpooledpoole Posts: 5,940 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Be safe! Thanks for your sacrifice in our behalf!
  • Godspeed, thanks, and return safely!
  • 09sVDB09sVDB Posts: 2,420 ✭✭✭
    Matt: Thanks for serving and come home safely.
  • coinlieutenantcoinlieutenant Posts: 9,320 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Matt,

    From one of the troops that is still at home, I say thank you. YOU ARE the pointy end of the spear and are doing a tremendous job over there. Keep safe!
    If there is anything you guys need, let me know. I am only a weather guesser but have connections with anything you guys need in that specialty area as I know most of everyone at the weather center in Bahrain. Keep them in mind, as we always feel that we are underutilized by the warfighter. We can help you all out alot!!

    As far as the coin, can you get us a picture?

    V.r.,
    Lieutenant John Marburger, USN
  • Its a fake 1799 - "More recently, the same type was produced in the Persian Gulf and brought back by service personnel returning from the Gulf War." from this page
    Coyote fake
  • From a former "Tread Head" keep safe and God bless you and keep you in his care!
  • barberloverbarberlover Posts: 2,228 ✭✭
    Sempr Fi,

    I don't have anything new tp say to you havn't already heard, except to say men like you is what keeps my family safe. God bless you & yours.

    Les
    The President claims he didn't lie about taxes for those earning less then $250,000 a year with public mandated health insurance yet his own justice department has said they will use the right of the government to tax when the states appeals go to court.
  • Happy to hear from you DEVILDOG.Take care of your brothers.

    In boot camp at Parris Island or San Diego, and in the Basic School at Quantico, no one escapes from the Rifleman's Creed. Every Marine is trained, first and foremost, as a rifleman, for it is the rifleman who must close with and destroy the enemy. The rifleman remains the most basic tenet of Marine Corps doctrine. All else revolves around him. Marine Aviation, Marine Armor, Marine Artillery, and all supporting arms and warfighting assets exit to support the rifleman. It is believed that MGen. William H. Rupertus, USMC, authored the creed shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. It is commonly known as the Rifleman's Creed, but it has also been called "My Rifle: The Creed of a United States Marine." Every Marine must memorize this creed. And, every Marine must live by the creed.




    This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me my rifle is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than the enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will. My rifle and I know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, or the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit.


    My rifle is human, even as I am human, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other.


    Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and I are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.


    So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy.
  • TassaTassa Posts: 2,373 ✭✭
    Stay safe and God bless!

    image
  • islemanguislemangu Posts: 1,465 ✭✭✭✭
    From the links already posted you probably have your coin question answered.
    Thanks for your service over there and be careful. I hope OK here to also slip in a thanks to the citizens of NYC and DC for their hardships and sacrifice. image
  • GeminiGemini Posts: 3,085
    Travel that camel route to Iraq then hurry back...
    A thing of beauty is a joy for ever
  • Hey SF - hope all is well with you! Take care and hurry back! image


    Frank
  • wingedlibertywingedliberty Posts: 4,805 ✭✭✭
    Thank you for your service. God bless!
  • Bring back Saddam's big fat head!
  • SemperFISemperFI Posts: 802 ✭✭✭
    Hey, I am just now getting back to the computer to reply.

    Thank you everyone for all the support. That means alot.

    The coin, well from going by memory, it looks like the coyote fake. But, I may be mistaken. I am not sure when I will be in that part of Baghdad again. I tend to travel around alot, but when I do I will take a digital pic of it. I have a sweet military issue digital camera - it takes some serious detail. I will try to get a pic of it if it is real or not but, I do not think I will buy it. Though I was able to find and buy myself a proof set from 1982 in new unopened condition. They are Commemorative Coins for the Restoration of the City of Babylon. It comes with a bronze tablet with praise for saddam for renovating the site. Coins are all nickel but nice.

    Thanks, I hope to chat with everyone again soon.

    matt

    semper fi !
  • PlacidPlacid Posts: 11,299 ✭✭✭
    Confiscate it if its fake image
  • I bet it would make a good pocket piece ... see if they'll trade even up for your REAL Morgan Dollar!
  • pmh1nicpmh1nic Posts: 3,364 ✭✭✭✭✭
    SemperFI

    No advice on the coin but a big THANK YOU. Let your buddies know that the silent majority (those that don't get reported on in the media) are 110% behind them. We're not ignorant of the fact that the sacrifices you're making over there translate into a preservation of freedom and security over here.

    pmh1nic
    SP4 U.S. Army
    1972 - 1974
    The longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice is it possible for an empire to rise without His aid? Benjamin Franklin
  • SemperFI.
    I remember very well when you last posted that you were on your way to iraq. I am very glad to learn you are well. I cannot help with coin question, i think the experts have, Stay safe and my family and I thank you very much for your service for all of us. God bless
    Michael
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,895 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Pay close attention to the link Cameron gave. Most counterfeits are crap, and easy to spot (some have reeded edges, for instance). But one of the more dangerous counterfeits that has fooled even knowledgeable numismatists is dated 1799- see the one called "Die Hard" on that list of counterfeits. The giveaway on that one is the broken "R" in LIBERTY.

    Here's hopin' you stay out of danger... at that includes shopping for Bust dollars in the Middle East. Danger, Will Robinson!

    I'll bet a silver dollar it's phoney. If it's the deceptive "Die Hard" type, I am in the market for one, but only up to about forty bucks.

    PS- I see by reading that page that a "Die Hard" counterfeit brought $400 at auction, when listed as a replica ! image Obviously, somebody thought they were getting a "rip"...

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.

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