This GSA 1884 CC Morgan doesn't seem to match up with any on Vamworld, so I was hoping you guys could help. 1. Date seems different. (The bottom of the "4" is higher than it should be & all look as if they've scooted upwards a bit.) 2. Tiny spike on the neck (Is this a clash mark?) and a strange mark going down the neck. Does anyone know what that mark is? Also, are these clash marks on the reverse?
Additional pics: Here are pics of the obverse & reverse. The coin is still in it's original GSA container.
The clashes you see are common ones that do not warrant attribution in, and of, themselves. The spike on Liberty's neck is from the edge of the eagle's right wing (viewer's left), and the clash between the eagle's wing and the righthand wreath is from the "cap vee" on the obverse. There are other common clashes that are sometimes found such as the tips of the leaves along Liberty's chin, lips & nose and Liberty's profile between the eagle's wing and the lefthand wreath, but none of these warrant attribution either. The clashes that do warrant attribution are the "n" and/or "G" of IGWT along Liberty's neck below the spike you mentioned or the "s" and/or "t" of "Trust" in the hair vee above the date. There are a couple of other "letter transfers" which also occur, but the two I've mentioned are the most frequent. As for the date, beginning in 1880, it was punched into the working dies using a 2-, 4- or sometimes a single-digit logotype, which probably accounts for the "4" being a little high. I even has some specimens where the third digit is higher than the other three. Your photos aren't sufficient to determine which VAM you have, and since you have the coin in hand, it should be much easier for you to narrow the search by eliminating those listings that mention characteristics not found on your coin. Chris
You can research VAMS here for Morgans, and many consider it bible on VAMs: http://www.vamworld.com/ I really don't see anything in the photos your provided to looks like any VAM for the 84CC. But here is the link to the 1884CC on VAM World, perhaps you can find something on your coin that matches one of the known VAMS for that date and mint: http://www.vamworld.com/1884-CC+VAM-4A
Thanks cpm9ball. Is there someplace that has reference pics of the more important clashes? I was able to find these links http://www.vamworld.com/Attribution+101 & http://www.vamworld.com/clashed+dies, but I'd really like to see other pics if anyone has links. Here are some extra pics of my coin. Do these look like clash marks to you? Another view of the neck:
I appreciate the thought BUncirculated, but I checked there first and couldn't find what I was looking for.
If you can give me better photos of the full obverse & reverse of the coin, maybe I can get you pointed in the right direction. Please take photos from directly overhead, not from an angle, and don't try to photoshop the lighting. I'll also need a decent close-up of the date area to include the neck vee, and a close-up of the mintmark. Chris
Thank you Chris. Unfortunately, I am using a cheaper digital microscope with annoying lights. If I come at the coin straight on you get a glare from the lights. I thought that I might have a new VAM than the ones listed on vamworld. The CC looks to be tripled under magnification, but differently than mentioned in VAM 5 & my obverse is completely different than VAM 5's. I've heard that NGC will allow the GSA coins to be graded in their holders. Do you know if they'll do new VAM attributions as well?
Yes, NGC will grade the GSA's in their holders, but they do not attribute the coins. If it is a new VAM, it would have to be sent to Leroy Van Allen for confirmation and/or attribution. Even still, NGC does not include the attribution on the insert for all VAM's. NGC will only include the VAM if it is an 1878 (8TF, 7TF or 7/8TF), Top 100, Hot 50 or Hit List 40. It's unsure if you may have a new variety, but in any case, it would definitely not be on NGC's list of accepted VAM's. I'd be very surprised if the mintmark were tripled. The mintmarks were punched into the dies by hand, so there is no possibility of hub doubling (or tripling). While it's possible to have a repunched mintmark (RPM), the diesinker would have had to be pretty drunk to overpunch it a second time. I'll wait to see your photos. Try to do the best you can. Chris
I just checked again. It sure looks tripled to me. Back in a few with pics. I just realized what you were saying and assume that I should have said that it was overpunched twice. Regardless, here are additional pics. They aren't as clear as I would have liked, but hopefully they will help. What kind of setup are you using for photos?
Obverse & Reverse Pics: . . . Do you know what the mark is down her neck? Is that PMD, a planchet issue or something else entirely? Also, does the V of her neck seem longer to you? Nevermind, I think I'm seeing things after staring at this coin for too long!
I can't see anything that would identify it. When I try to zoom in on your photos, they get too blurry. Sorry! Chris
If it's not listed at VAM World, it's no doubt unknown. As Chris stated in post #11, if it's a new VAM it would have to be sent to Leroy Van Allen for confirmation and/or attribution.
