The chip on the nose is a killer pickup. Usmc60, Morgan Dollars are categorized by varieties called VAMs. It's an ongoing attempt to identify all Morgan and Peace die pairs, so every one is a VAM of one sort or another. The chip on the nose of your coin is uniquely attributed to VAM-2A. It is so-named because after the first die pair was identified, a second obverse die was discovered to be paired with the same reverse. That one became VAM-2B, and the original, 2A.
Sir just add one more thing this coin is almost proof like in appearance these photos are not the best
I know you cannot see it clearly in the photos under the L in liberty and in the U. I believe this to be a retaind die chip. I know these are not the best photos.
Super Dave if I may rely on your expertise, question? I believe the proof coin in the Morgans one was in 1879, but in my research have found little information on the proof like appearance of the 1878 CC. Question, and as for as the retained die chips which are not on her face as you can see in the photos, I know this is an incorrect saying that this coin has pemples along her hairline. In my research what I've read is that this only occurs mostly on proof coins, super Dave I would appreciate your insight on these two questions.
Any die can catastrophically fail and lose a chip at any time, under any circumstances, at any physical spot on the die. There's no rhyme nor reason to die chips, unlike die cracks, which generally follow higher-stress areas of the die (which is why some issues tend to crack in the same places). The detail images above show what sure looks like die chips, but they're not known in those locations for VAM-2A and the chip on the nose is a smoking-gun attribute for that variety. So I'm a little unsure what we're looking at here.
Dave I know the photos are not that good but under 40 power magnification you can plainly see the jagged edges around what looks like a chip, it goes down into the die and on the retained chip in the y at 11:00 o'clock position of the chip Is raised slightly and the one under the L still retains a portion of the design but I cannot really tell if it was raised our not but you can see the distinctive jagged impressions all around the circle. Totally agree there's same thing I have discovered on VAM-2A the nose and the letter doubling in liberty are a definite signs four VAM-2A I just figured if anyone would have the information you would, I believe the cherry pickers guide mentions retain die chips on other varieties on the face or I may have read it in my study of VAM and the same for the proof like in the1878cc
Well, once created die chips don't refill, and to the best of my knowledge the chips on your coin are not known for VAM-2A. So it has to be either a later die state than any currently known for VAM-2A, or a different die with an identical nose chip. Neither possibility is exactly easy.