I see enough pickup points to confirm the correct hub types. On the obverse, the ribbon touches the N, the inner ear is weak, the leaf is distant from S, and the hair almost touches the O. These conform to the 1892-1901 obverse type. The date has to be 189 (can't be 188), the tops of 2 and 3 dates are both rounded on these, so that leaves 5 or 7. The top of 7 is "fancy" on them and the upper left of the OP digit seems intact enough, square corner and flat top. The reverse also has enough to confirm the 1892-1899 hub type. The strong left-most leaf vein curves into a lobe on the overlapping leaf, and not straight into the notch between lobes like the 1900-1916 reverse types. There's also enough corn kernel detail to ID the type. There seems to be enough left to sort of pick out the designer initial and where the 1 lines up with it, and the tip of the 5 in relation to the bust. That plus the position and obvious rotation of the mint mark indicates a good match with this die pair: Of course, this could be a sandwiched fake, and all the damage is from them pounding the two coin halves together. I can't believe how much I get paid for this.
Actually, I think it is an 1895-O. It has the correct obverse and reverse hub types (most of the fakes don't) and the date and mm positions appear to match a die pair in the PCGS gallery. But holy crap.
If you had it certified somebody might want the absolute worst 1895-O dime ever slabbed just as a gag. But that's a financial gamble. I can say that I think it's legit but would a TPG put their guarantee behind it? If you bought it at auction then you know how much it's worth. $8.
As I hit "post" on my first message, I was thinking to myself "...unless someone like @KBBPLL or @justafarmer can see enough pickup points left to confirm it..."
I see enough pickup points to confirm the correct hub types. On the obverse, the ribbon touches the N, the inner ear is weak, the leaf is distant from S, and the hair almost touches the O. These conform to the 1892-1901 obverse type. The date has to be 189 (can't be 188), the tops of 2 and 3 dates are both rounded on these, so that leaves 5 or 7. The top of 7 is "fancy" on them and the upper left of the OP digit seems intact enough, square corner and flat top. The reverse also has enough to confirm the 1892-1899 hub type. The strong left-most leaf vein curves into a lobe on the overlapping leaf, and not straight into the notch between lobes like the 1900-1916 reverse types. There's also enough corn kernel detail to ID the type. There seems to be enough left to sort of pick out the designer initial and where the 1 lines up with it, and the tip of the 5 in relation to the bust. That plus the position and obvious rotation of the mint mark indicates a good match with this die pair: Of course, this could be a sandwiched fake, and all the damage is from them pounding the two coin halves together. I can't believe how much I get paid for this.
That's what I'm talkin' about! I regret that I have but one like to give for this post. Oh, wait, and also a Best Answer...
The 1895-O is a key date and worth over $500 in G-04. Of course this coin is severely damaged but it is still worth a lot more than melt, someone may need it as a hole filler, and for $8 it is well worth the gamble.
