This 1886 Morgan has doubling in the date and stars to the right, but it also has a spike on the neck, chin and lip. The spike on the lip is a little more difficult to see. I checked VamWorld and the double date is listed, but it doesn't mention the spikes, stars or die crack on the reverse. Has anyone else seen this and would it be worth grading? View attachment 75594
The spike you see on the lip looks like an old clash from the tip of one of the leaves on the wreath. The spike on the neck is a clash from the eagle's right wing just below the "n" of IGWT. It looks old, too. Quite often, these clashes fade as the dies continue to be used. Other times they are polished out. These clashes are very common, and are not usually mentioned in the VAM listings unless they are extremely severe. Die cracks are also common. You have to keep in mind that the dies are subjected to the impact force of 150 tons per square inch for every coin produced. Die cracks are often helpful in determining a die progression and are only listed if there is substantial metal displacement. Chris
