When I first saw this coin I instantly thought counterfeit and it's UGLY. Then I examined it more in depth, weighed it, used the metal verifier, and decided it was genuine so I bought it. This date only has a few VAM'S and my mint mark doesn't match up to the known reverses. It looks like my right C has been repunched. I was wondering what others thought. Is it repunched, die deterioration, new vam, or damaged? Is it counterfeit?
I may be a weirdo for this but besides nice UNC examples I think coins like this are my favorite and I like them more than say VF type examples. Nice pickup.
It looks like it's been in circulation for 124 years. I don't think a counterfeit would look as good as your coin does.
The die chip in the 3 won't necessarily be on all specimens. Also, it might be there and worn into the rest of the 3. Being a rather ratty coin, there's a lot of "slop" in the more detailed features. I think I have a VAM 3 in VG or F. I'll try to remember to find it and take a look at the mint mark.
The marks on the obverse on the rim are also on the reverse like it was held with pliers or something similar.
