I bought this 1878s dollar on Ebay because it looks like a Long Nock. However, I can't match up the mint mark with any of the Long Nocks on Vam World. The tail feathers are damaged but it does not look like a fake. Does anyone know which VAM this is or is it a fake?
Independent of the mintmark as a diagnostic, I find it hard to tell if it is a long nock because it looks like some contact may have distorted the design elements in that area. Even the mintmark looks a bit "mashed" to me.
I don't think it's a long nock, those have tapering at the end of the nock. This one looks like it's just had a hit that pushed the design out to mimic a long nock.
It does look like a "smashed nock," but the lower feather is smashed as well, and the nock is long compared with it. A smashed short nock wouldn't stick out that far. Check VAM 59. I think I see the clash mark at the front edge of the eyelid on your coin.
I think it might actually be vam 59 as well. OP give us an update if the PUPs match. If so, that is one helluva score !!! The last 2 circ examples (V59) hammered at $500+ each
I'm starting to agree with the VAM-59. The 4th star looks like it has the matching partial break. Sweet score!!
Is the fourth star counting up four star in back of the head the one that is broken on the VAM 59? This star on the coin looks like it is broken but there are white areas on top of the star especially on one of the spokes and where the break occurs. Is this common for this VAM? The white part of the star appears to dribble to the side of the star making me think perhaps someone had sodered metal on to the star to make it appear that it is broken. However, when I look at one of the examples of the coin on PCGS that same star appears to be white on top as well.
Yes. Many 1878 Morgans of all mints have that point of that star broken to some degree because the hub used to make the dies broke. There may have been some attempts to repair the star on some working dies to some degree. Most coins that show this star broken show a "crumbled" look rather than a clean break.
I sent a message but it looks like it didn't make it to you so I will try again. I looked at the two examples on PCGS and none of the fourth stars look alike on the two examples which backs up your statement that the fourth star was constantly being repaired. At this point I feel 75% certain my coin is a VAM 59 but I have ordered a Bausch and Lomb jewelers loupe 30X power to get a better look at the line in front of the eye. If I can confirm the line is part of the die itself and not a scratch someone later added to the coin then I think I can confirm beyond a doubt that the coin is a VAM 59.
