Yet another of my "is this a proof" posts

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by No_Ragrets, Sep 24, 2025.

  1. No_Ragrets

    No_Ragrets Self-proclaimed Semi-Amateur Numismatist Supporter

    I'm starstruck with this recent addition, an 1873 IHC. I only have one other high grade [raw] penny from this series, a 1907 (RD, I am assuming) that has been posted here before but the fields on that coin are nothing compared to this one. This one appears, to me at least, to have very reflective fields and great detail. Definitely better details than the bulk of my IHC collection, so I'm kinda of at a loss to determine proof or business strike. What are your thoughts?

    I'll post the same pictures again that have already been shared earlier, but I'm linking a video from my imgur account as well. It's not entirely in focus because... well, because I'm a nervous Nelly now that I think this could be a proof and don't want to handle it very much. So I put it on paper and gently tilted it back and forth.

    Anyways, please feel free to chime in and share your thoughts. I'm eager to upgrade my IHC album and this coin just thrust me into it face first. Thanks!

    https://imgur.com/a/VXFUknf

    20250923_143329.jpg 20250923_143352.jpg 20250923_143251.jpg 20250923_143230.jpg 20250923_143433.jpg 20250923_143452.jpg 20250923_143413.jpg 20250923_143358.jpg 20250923_143516.jpg 20250923_143540.jpg
     
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  3. Evan Saltis

    Evan Saltis OWNER - EBS Numis LLC

    No this is not a proof.

    But it does look nice and probably AU55 RB.

    This one is the open 3 - the more common of the two varieties.

    Still a couple hundred dollar coin. Not bad.
     
  4. No_Ragrets

    No_Ragrets Self-proclaimed Semi-Amateur Numismatist Supporter

    That whole open or closed 3 was driving me nuts! What's the real giveaway or tell on it?

    Edit to add: The video really shows the reflective properties, which is what's throwing me off a lot. I know of "proof-like" Morgans but never knew the IHC to have fields like this one
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2025
  5. ksmooter61

    ksmooter61 Scary ghost - BOO!

    See this from USA Coin Book.

    IMG_1144.JPG
     
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  6. No_Ragrets

    No_Ragrets Self-proclaimed Semi-Amateur Numismatist Supporter

    Here's a screenshot from a previous post of the date. Does this still fit the bill for open 3? Screenshot_20250924_165256_Chrome.jpg
     
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  7. No_Ragrets

    No_Ragrets Self-proclaimed Semi-Amateur Numismatist Supporter

  8. ksmooter61

    ksmooter61 Scary ghost - BOO!

    That would be a closed 3 to me.
     
  9. No_Ragrets

    No_Ragrets Self-proclaimed Semi-Amateur Numismatist Supporter

    I thought so, too. Though I'm not very experienced in IHC's, so I have to kind of rely on others who are far more knowledgeable on them than I am. But those fields keep getting me thoroughly confused. The way they reflect on camera still doesn't do it justice.
     
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  10. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    https://imgur.com/a/VXFUknf
    Nice coin with pic and video! ;)
    I'm not sure what variety this is but it's worth more than I have in my wallet. :(
     
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  11. No_Ragrets

    No_Ragrets Self-proclaimed Semi-Amateur Numismatist Supporter

    I think I currently have a whopping $2 in my wallet, so you are not alone there!
     
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  12. general quarters

    general quarters Active Member

    best way i can think of to tell proof or not is to compare. i just did this with a 1939. did not have a cent proof of that era so i used some business strikes to compare. there were some differences, enough that i consider it a proof. the field had a lot to do with it also.
     
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  13. geekpryde

    geekpryde Husband and Father Moderator

    Looks closed to me.
     
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  14. Barney McRae

    Barney McRae Well-Known Member

    No idea about any of the questions. But it's very nice coin, the video is great.
     
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  15. No_Ragrets

    No_Ragrets Self-proclaimed Semi-Amateur Numismatist Supporter

    It's also very slightly underweight, but still within tolerance at 3.018 grams. I am curious why the "TY" in liberty is so weak when it doesn't seem to have very much wear elsewhere. Could that small bit of difference in weight cause a weaker strike at just that one spot, or is there wear from circulation that I'm just not seeing? The feathers directly above that look pretty darn good to me.
     
  16. No_Ragrets

    No_Ragrets Self-proclaimed Semi-Amateur Numismatist Supporter

    Thanks!
     
  17. Mr.Q

    Mr.Q Well-Known Member

    Whatever, it's a very beautiful IHC.
     
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  18. Millard

    Millard Coindog Supporter

    Very Nice!
     
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  19. RonSanderson

    RonSanderson Supporter! Supporter

    I have some IHCs that I think are proofs. I will post the animations and maybe we can figure this out. (Without sending it to a TPG, of course.)

    The 1890 seems the most questionable, but it seems to be coated with something. The smooth spot on the reverse looks proof-like, though.

    01c 1879 PF full 01.gif

    01c 1890 PF full 01.gif

    01c 1891 PF full 01.gif

    01c 1893 PF full 01.gif

    01c 1903 PF full 02.gif

    01c 1909 PF full 01.gif
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2025
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  20. mpcusa

    mpcusa "Official C.T. TROLL SWEEPER"

    I agree with most, looks like a very nice business strike in my opinion would say 55 or even may go as high as a 58, the detail is amazing :)
     
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  21. No_Ragrets

    No_Ragrets Self-proclaimed Semi-Amateur Numismatist Supporter

    All of those are very nice! And I'm definitely a fan of the animated pics, I'm just not quite there yet with my photography so I just did the video upload.

    I think by appearance, mine most closely resembles your 1909. But the way the light moves across it is more like the 1879. There's definitely some highly reflective areas that simply shoot the light right back at the eye, while other areas seem to be muted from the toning. Even those spots still reflect though, just not as brightly.

    I took some more pictures of this one next to my other IHC's in my 7070 and this one is by far superior in the level of detail. It's even got small hints of a cameo effect at the right angle. I don't know, I'm kind of torn. I absolutely want to say this is a proof but I'm just not quite certain about it. How else would it have mirrored fields and between the devices?

    But back to yours... I would think those could all easily be proofs. Strongest mirrors in order for yours looks to be '03, '79, '09, '93, '91, then '90. But great detail on each one of those. 20250925_143619.jpg 20250925_144348.jpg 20250925_143541.jpg 20250925_144252.jpg 20250925_143354.jpg
     
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