Are you assuming it is a weak strike because it is from New Orleans? Written correspondence from the period has proven that a lot of the Morgans were produced from improperly annealed planchets. Chris
Why do you want to get into this argument Chris? Whatever the true cause, weak strike is the current poular nomenclature
Because an improperly annealed planchet has absolutely nothing to do with a weak strike. Documentation has also revealed that the New Orleans Mint was using about the same striking pressure, 130+ tons, as Philly, Carson City and San Francisco. So, if a herd of cattle is stampeding for the rim of the Grand Canyon, do you find it easier to go with the flow? Chris
I'm at a 64 with a shot at 65. I would also agree with @Cascade on the "Weak Strike" nomenclature. It is the common reference to the strike quality regardless of how it came to be. Whether the weakness of the details is due to insufficient pressure by the press or the annealing process left the planchet's too hard to strike up to full detail, the result is the same, weak details.
...interesting info about the annealed planchet stuff. I kept looking at this listing and kept seeing a new coin with a weak & mushy strike that resembles wear on the obverse. Then the reverse has what looks like a dark/terminal toning area, which could also resemble wear on the high point. I had to see it in hand for $65 shipped. However, PCGS and CAC disagree with my theory out of the gate...so I basically just blew $65 on an fugly azz widget, but either way I will post an update when she gets here ...and yes I think these are all scans
