Hello folks, this coin has kept me up at night. I just cant understand how this could of happened or what caused it.... This morgan has 6 or 7 recessed lines on the reverse. They appear to have luster so i wouldnt call them scratches or pmd.. The obverse is very heavily pitted. Also, this isnt scuff marks on the holder!!! Does anyone know how this could have happened at the mint????
For what it's worth, I'd guess common everyday scratches on reverse. Scratches can be quite lustrous!
This is just a guess, but I think they could be roller marks from when the silver strip is rolled to the correct thickness. Since you say they are recessed, they are what was left from a weak strike. Chris
Chris, you may very well be right BUT if it were roller marks wouldnt they run the same direction?? These do run east/west for the most part but the one on the bottom runs through the bow and heads all the way to the A in dollar... I keep thinking grease strike through but that cant be right. And just so everyone knows, the coin is graded ms63 so i dont think these are scratches hence, to me, it should have recieved a details grade if so
I know you guys are just guessing and i appreciate you putting your thinking caps on. Lets examine the clues: the scratches on the obverse are dark but if you look at these mystery lines on the reverse they are "white" Its like a numismatic mystery and we are the sleuths!
i would guess at a strike thru of some sorts. Possibly they were sweeping the floors when this was punched, and some hairs and crud got on the die.
Just because it wasn't detailed doesn't mean those aren't scratches . Maybe the graders felt they just weren't that bad for such a large coin .