GTG: 1883-O Morgan Dollar

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Question from novice on grading Morgans. With the number of marks, my first impression is MS-61. Also, I'm wondering about that little bit of flatness in the hair covering the ear. Is that wear or strike weakness? Coach me up please.

 

I seem to have misplaced my full images for this one. I'll get it out of storage and re-shoot it...

 

The flatness you see is due to a slightly weaker strike, which has plagued New Orleans Morgan's. This one however is actually a fairly decent strike.

As far as grade assessment, I think you are a bit too hard on it. There is a difference between grading a coin in hand and grading from an image. The downside to grading from an image is you are only given a static view of it from a single perspective. The entire story is not revealed and we have to do some interpreting to make a guess. I would suggest you look at a lot of images of already graded Morgan's and start developing an eye for how they look in images. Especially if you plan to buy coins online.

 

Is this the VAM known as the "Buffed Wreath" aka "Buffed Reverse"?

I have a 4th Edition VAM Encyclopedia but all they have listed is 1, 1A and 1B for 1883-O.
No VAM-1C.

Further investigation mentioned a "Clashed M", and finally VAM World had it listed under their "WOW Elite List". This is where they mention "buffed wreath".

This was a very difficult thread to follow but now I think I know why everyone is so excited, extremely nice coin btw, and I enjoy your photography too.

But I was also confuzzeled over the Encyclopedia not having the listing. I had always thought it to be the Go to VAM Source. Anyone know why no listing?

Spark

 

The print date of the original 4th edition was 1997 I believe. The VAM-1C was discovered in 2000 so it would be included in the update that is available.
My go to source is VAMWorld 2.0. http://vwtest.varslab.com/

 

+1

 

Yes, it is the "buffed reverse" and a very early die state of it. I am still on the hunt for the later die states as well. I also have an 1889-O that is known as the "Crumbled Obverse". It's a very cool VAM as well.

 

I've managed to cherry pick an 1880-O VAM-45A and 1891-O VAM-1D along with let's just say several 1883-O VAM-1C's. I find the so called buffed dies fascinating.

 

Forgot what DM. Stands for

 

Deep mirror.

 

Copyright page shows 1991, that explains it, for 4th edition. I bought mine in 2015 thinking this edition was all-inclusive.

I have approx. 25 Morgans and maybe 15 Peace that I am checking for attribution. Thanks for rhe update info...Spark

 

Well you have me hooked on these "buffed" coins. I have located an 1880 VAM-1G, that I really want. The problem is the dealer has it marked way up because it has some toning. The toning is not really attractive at all, otherwise I would buy it. It's bad enough that I would dip it.

I also have a weak spot for heavy die file lines, I just love the way they look in the light.

 

I was at MS-63 PL. the marks in the field and cheek are just too severe for a 64.

What’s so special about it?

 

The reverse die was not properly hardened http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/1883-O_VAM-1C1

 

It's what @Dave Waterstraat stated above. The die was not properly hardened and it had a slight internal collapse very early in its life. You can see evidence of it around most of the devices on the reverse. This die did not last long in production and was pulled because of the defect, so there are not a lot of them out there.

Some people are not fans of this sort of thing, but I and others love it.

 

This reverse die was so soft it clashed with two different obverse dies resulting in heavy clash marks on the reverse die and no visible damage to both obverse dies.

 

I guess I am in the “meh” catergory. Maybe it is because I hate Morgans.

 

As requested @Cheech9712 here are full coin images of my VAM-1C2 LDS that's my current avatar. My apologies for keeping a lady waiting..

And this is my VAM-1C1 EDS