Worlds ugliest Morgan

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by NorCal, Feb 4, 2023.

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  1. Mountain Man

    Mountain Man Well-Known Member

    5 for a $1. There's your clue on its value right there.
     
    Mountain Man, Feb 4, 2023
    #21 + Quote Reply
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  3. NorCal

    NorCal Well-Known Member

    Oh I know most likely fake but my son did score a couple goodies from the bin.
     
    NorCal, Feb 4, 2023
    #22 + Quote Reply
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  4. Kentucky

    Kentucky Supporter! Supporter

    Magnetic?
     
    Kentucky, Feb 4, 2023
    #23 + Quote Reply
  5. NorCal

    NorCal Well-Known Member

    No, not magnetic
     
    NorCal, Feb 4, 2023
    #24 + Quote Reply
  6. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    -jeffB, Feb 4, 2023
    #25 + Quote Reply
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  7. NorCal

    NorCal Well-Known Member

    I have the results. Weighed 20.6 grams. After a acid test the best guess is stainless steel.
     
    NorCal, Feb 14, 2023
    #26 + Quote Reply
    Clawcoins, -jeffB, Pickin and Grinin and 1 other person like this.
  8. cwtokenman

    cwtokenman Coin Hoarder

    I would be surprised if stainless steel would corrode like that, not to mention the scratches give me the impression that the metal is relatively soft. If the coin had the same volume as a new Morgan dollar, then yes, the weight you measured would put the density very near the upper limit of the density range for stainless steels. I am going to make an assumption that with the "wear" and chipped rim, that the volume of your coin would be measurably less than that of a new Morgan dollar. This would bump the density value up a bit, probably going outside the normal range for stainless steels. Since I don't think you would hurt the value any, can you take a sharp knife and make a test cut to see how soft the metal is? Try to also make a cut in a piece of steel for comparison.
     
    cwtokenman, Feb 15, 2023
    #27 + Quote Reply
  9. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    I haven't heard much about fakes being struck from stainless steel, just softer iron. Have you checked whether it's magnetic?
     
    -jeffB, Feb 15, 2023
    #28 + Quote Reply
  10. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Ditto. It almost looks like lead. Or some kind of pewter-like pot metal.
    There is that. I agree. While it looks like a counterfeit, it would be an old counterfeit, which was made to pass in commerce at the time. And if that's the case, then it doesn't matter how ugly it is. As a contemporary counterfeit Morgan dollar, it's probably worth just as much as an undamaged real one, to the right collector.

    This is one of those rare situations where you could actually be better off if it's fake, because a real coin in that condition would be barely worth the silver value, and a contemporary counterfeit might fetch a bit more than that.
     
    lordmarcovan, Feb 15, 2023
    #29 + Quote Reply
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  11. NorCal

    NorCal Well-Known Member

    Well, lead would be heavier. It’s non-magnetic, and according to my coin guy the only metal that’s reacts like it did to the acid is 14k gold or stainless steel. My bet would be pewter if it’s an old fake
     
    NorCal, Feb 15, 2023
    #30 + Quote Reply
  12. KBBPLL

    KBBPLL Well-Known Member

    I don't know what this acid test is but it seems like your coin guy would do an XRF on it instead.
     
    KBBPLL, Feb 15, 2023
    #31 + Quote Reply
  13. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    Th
    The way that your Morgan scratched the way it did would mean that it may have a nickel or white metal alloy to it. I still lean to a lead base. Stainless is too hard of a material to wear the way this has.
     
    Pickin and Grinin, Feb 15, 2023
    #32 + Quote Reply
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  14. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Agreed. Can’t be Stainless steel. I do think there’s a lead base to whatever alloy that is.
     
    lordmarcovan, Feb 16, 2023
    #33 + Quote Reply
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  15. NorCal

    NorCal Well-Known Member

    No matter what it’s made out of, it looks like it circulated for some time. It fooled a lot of people.
     
    NorCal, Feb 16, 2023
    #34 + Quote Reply
  16. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    I'm guessing the coin guy in question can justify spending $30 for an acid test kit but not $20K for an XRF. :)
     
    -jeffB, Feb 16, 2023
    #35 + Quote Reply
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