Hello again, and Happy New Year! Just got back from the Dupo (IL) Coin Club Show in Collinsville, IL. It was a bit of a quiet show (one room, probably about 30 dealers) with a couple dealers cancelling (i.e., a couple empty tables) including some longtime regulars. Still, it was a productive show from a shopping standpoint. I don't set up there as a dealer any more (it's much better to just be able to shop, plus I have my hands full selling online anyway) but I was able to pick up some fun new purchases. My favorite coin that I plan to keep (which isn't the subject of this GTG) was this toned Proof South Africa 1967 1 Rand in a PCGS PR66 slab. As is extremely common with these, the obverse is a mottled mix of uneven golden browns, yellows, reds and blacks - with a hint of opal - and the reverse is a fluorescent rainbow of gorgeous neon color. Since it has a TrueView already, I will share this here before we get to the GTG portion of my post: Just one of those coins that when you see the coin, and the asking price, you don't let it out of your sight until you've paid for it. Now, on to the coin that is the subject of my GTG for this 2023 New Year's Day - an 1884 O Morgan Dollar. I found this coin at the first table I visited at the show, and the dealer asked me if I would crack it out of the slab to dip it to remove the color, and if I thought the dip would kill too much of the luster. My answer was that I would keep it as is and not mess with it - and since he was selling it, I'd be happy to take it off his hands for him. I don't find the color too distracting (I think it's pretty typical for coins in this type of holder) and this particular coin has a bit of something "extra" that makes it a solid pickup overall. Please feel free to GTG for this coin, and if you're up for an additional challenge, here are closeups of some specific areas on the obverse. I'm pretty sure I have the VAM attributed correctly, let's see if we get the same answer. Date: Top of the cap: Thanks, and have fun!
Looks environmentally damaged. The tone is uneven and appears to have been in a moist environment. All Morgans are collectable and yours is no exception. Hope you got a good deal. I like it thanks for sharing. AU or?
MS 64 is my guess....it's as clean (mark wise) as some MS 65s but the streak and potentially dull luster caps it at 64 for me
I think I have to agree with MS64 might get the 65 but a few too many lil bag ding on the rev i think.. Very nice pickup
I’ll go 63 and the toning intrigues me. Wondering if it is in an old ANACS or PCI holder given your comment about toning in the holder.
The answer to my GTG: The coin resides in an ANACS Gen 1 Small Holder as an MS64. The VAM (which is not attributed on the slab) is - I believe - VAM 23b (Doubled 1-4, Clashed Obverse n & s, Die Break Cap Top) http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/1884-O_VAM-23B The holder makes it cool and the VAM makes it a little cooler. On a side note, I sincerely wish ANACS would go back to these holders (if they did, I'd be sending them a lot more coins.) Thanks for checking my post out, and have a great week!
Sure fooled me, sorry. Appears that old slab was not sealed very good. Thanks for sharing the result. Remember, all Morgans are collectable.
PCGS and NGC have done "retro" holders but Anacs has not. I too would like to see them go back to these-or something very similar. The only thing I wonder about is if there is some copyright or licensing that does not allow them to use those small white holders again. Maybe @Burton Strauss III could answer that question.
There are very few issues, other than desirability. The patents (ACG, SEGS, ICG) are long expired. I've never found a patent for ANACS, NGC, or PCGS on the shell. BUT It is expensive to make a mold for plastic injection and for a slab, you need at least three (outer shell top & bottom and insert). Injection molding clear plastic is likely more expensive than opaque. I've seen costs quoted at 25K for a simple plastic shell for a product. This page (https://formlabs.com/blog/injection-molding-cost/) says more like 3k each for low-volume molds. That same page gives per-item costs of $3 - or $8-10 per shell and you probably need a custom "horn" for the sonic sealer.
Additionally, the "retro" were current-generation SHELLS with throw-back style labels. Much easier. A retro SWH is a bigger deal than anyone has attempted.
