1888 Morgan... Counterfeit?

I'm waffling on this coin because I've studied it for a while compared to a 1921 Morgan that i know is genuine and I just can't find any super apparent differences... The weight is dead on, the details are all good... It just feels "off" in hand, looks like the tiniest bit of a "mushy strike" which is another thing but I'm just not sure...
@Morgandude11, @Santinidollar, anybody elses opinions are appreciated

 

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It could be fake i don't like all that gunk might be casting residue im pretty certain it is.

 

Here they are compared...

 

If it is a Fake, then it's pretty darn good .

 

The granularity of the surfaces and devices is putting me off big time. If it's not a poorly executed counterfeit then it's been harshly cleaned. But I'm no Morgan guy so the experts here can opine.

 

My feelings exactly...

 

IMO, dipped and I don't like the right wing feathers, the breast and the left wingtip. Orange peel everywhere. I wouldn't buy it, but that's me.

 

It has the look of cleaned half to death, which some counterfeits do.

 

Certainly is suspect to me.
I would think its fake. Looks grainy.

 

I don’t think it is a fake. It is just a really ugly, lifeless looking coin. It has been harshly cleaned, and has luster less surfaces. Hard pass on this coin at any price.

 

Acid left that finish on it. It was cleaned with or dipped in acid.

 

Whether or not it is counterfeit, it is a definite no buy. It is a common date, and much more attractive coins can be found, for a reasonable amount of money. With Morgans, get the most attractive coin you can afford, and you are better off buying certified until you feel really comfortable with the series.

 

I definitely would not have bought it for any more than $15 but was offered it for $10 at a flea market, figured I may as well take it for the silver content LOL

 

In that case, nice

 

Don't compare it to a 1921 Morgan. All the original Morgan dies were destroyed in 1910. The Mint had to make new dies in 1921 by making them from existing coins (similar to what counterfeiters do) and there are differences. The relief is a little shallower on the 1921s, for one thing, especially on Liberty's cheek, which is flatter. There are also other slight, subtle differences. Compare it to some other pre-1921 coin. BTW I agree with your thought about the mushy strike. That sends up a red flag. The star to the right of the word "DOLLAR" looks HORRIBLE. Plus that coin has been cleaned to death. I'd pass.

 

Don't have an 1888 but here's my 1889 for comparison

 

There's a single berry in the top right leaf cluster, it's to the right of the cluster, in the 1921s, and that's from all Mints. On every other Morgan dollar there are two berries in that cluster, one to the right of it, and one to the left of it. Just another difference...

 

I think it's very suspect. Surfaces have a grainy look; numbers and letters look puffy as opposed sharp/squared off; and very little fine detail in, for instance the cotton bolls and the arrow feathers. Hard to say about the edge reeding as the photo is mostly out of focus, try again?

 

I think I'm leaning fake. The photos are not super sharp, but I think the 1 in the date looks off. And what's this area?

 

Whizzed? I have a Barber dime that looks like this, F condition but shiny white, broken glass/pebbled appearance all over it.