Philly Morgan Proof defaced? 1880 Cameo PR with X marks?

There's X marks placed in each of the field areas and a couple slashes in other areas such as the date? The systematic placement of them seems strange? Would this have been done to a coin at the mint that wasn't up to par or something during a trial run of proofs, or just simple defacement outside of the mint? The coin is still a sight to behold in-hand and the mint frost is unreal, like microscopic dots.
Anyone know if I were to slab and auction it, what the value might be for a proof in this state?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

@Jupiter88

In my opinion, this is nothing more than post-mint damage. If the Mint was not satisfied with any coin produced as a test strike, they would probably throw the coin into the "melt pile" for destruction.

Chris

 

Hi Chris, hope all is good?! I know that is my automatic logic too and I'm sure the correct scenario, it's just the way it's x'd in specific areas made me start to think of other possibilities?

 

May be the result of a bitter ex.

 

It would not get a straight grade with that damage.

 

Haha good one! It weighs on me that someone could actually do this though?! On the flip side, if it hadn't been defaced by whomever, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to afford it?!

 

Speaking of weigh. Have you weighed it?

What was the price tag on it given the mintage and details grade?

 

Cheap It wasn't listed as a proof but as "UNC Deep Mirror Proof Like". I recognized as soon as I saw it that it was likely a proof, and with the X marks, I was able to scoop it up at the close of the auction. Even knowing that it was compromised, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to pick one up under the radar so affordable? Yes it was weighed as soon as it was through the door and nothing was amiss. I shipped it off soon after receiving it to a buddy to borrow for his research as a comparison coin for looking at the differences between Philly PR's, branch mint PR's/specimens, and circulation strike PL's and DMPL's. Once I receive it back, I'll have to make a determination on whether to have it slabbed as a compromised proof and sell, or just hold onto it?

 

I'm not 100% sold on it being a proof, but those rims do look rather square to me.

I would say if you got it "cheap" and can get it certified as proof, then you should be able to get significantly more for it than you paid for it. I would sell it.

 

The rare proof 4 X dollar. Maybe someone thought it was worth 4 dollars

 

oh, the humanity!

 

Dang I saw that coin on eBay, but I think you're right, it's a proof. Sadly it was defaced, but should be a quick flip for you if you get it in a PCGS PR details holder!

 

What a shame.

 

Maybe someone put reference marks on it before punching holes in it, to make some sort of a whirly-gig or button...?
Then realized it was a proof and decided to use a different coin instead.

 

1879 and 1880 shared a single reverse die for the Proofs, and it's never been seen on a Business Strike. It's characterized by one large and one small bump on the D of DOLLAR, and I can plainly see them in these pics. Very_darn_difficult to counterfeit.

It's a Proof.

 

Awesome, thank you SuperDave!!