Cool stuff! Other than to state the obvious (check eBay), I don't really have any guidance. I'm sure content, as well as those characteristics...
Black spots can really drag down a grade on an otherwise stunning coin. I just figured that them being on the reverse wouldn't affect the grade...
The scratch is probably hiding in the direct lighting. Light the coin at an angle and see if it pops out. Your reverse die cracks match those on...
That was the short response. Longer response: Step 1: Start with the date. Repunching? Yes, on the 1 (under flag) and on the 7 (strong at...
3A
Welcome to CT and the hobby in general. As was mentioned, common, lower value raw stuff from sellers in the US with a good track record are...
I'm surprised I just ran across this thread today. Lots of interesting points made here. With no big shows since FUN, my professional coin...
Uff-da. It's a fool's errand to try and find a wheel mark without the coin in hand. This is where a very small, bright light and tilting the...
This is a tough one. 4 looks the most natural until you notice the spacing is odd. There are Morgans with overlapping reed segments, but those...
Damage to the die can occur while it's being made, and this includes chips and cracks.
VAM 113 always has the fleck on the cheek.
Don't be a slave to the "matched set" mindset. Get the nicest coins that make sense for you to buy. No matter the grade, make sure they're...
The 21-S "Zerbe" proofs had bad detail, and mirrored, but dingy surfaces. Wayne Miller believes it is possible that a business strike die was...
The 1878 page on VAMWorld is a bit daunting, but it's organized by several high-level attributes, and some of the upper-level sections have links...
64
As soon as I saw "govmint" in the URL, I knew the answer was to avoid it. Didn't even have to click on the link.
Attributing 81-S can be a pain in the neck. Lots of machine doubling on the obverse makes a mess of the date, where there might be repunching....
Yes, let's. Start with the arrow feathers -- parallel or slanted top feather? Then check for long nock (70-86) or short nock (100-198), assuming...
Sometimes a lesson learned the hard way is necessary.
It could also be a cut in the coin, believe it or not. Knife cuts don't remove metal, rather they raise it up next to the cut. When the coin is...
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