Morgan Dollar 1896 O over S ???

I wander if anyone could take a look at this Morgan Dollar and tell me more ?
Could this New Orleans over San Francisco mint mark be a discovery coin, an error, or a very well made fake ?
I can't see any sign which make me think of being a fake.
The O over S is well know of the 1882 series, but not for
the 1896.
I couldn't find any information that they where ever produced.

With regards, Frederik

 

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I am sure the VAMpires will be around soon enough.
Here is a list of the known VAM's for the date/MM.
http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/1896-O_VAMs

 

Dear P & G,
Thanks for your reply !
I haven't seen this site before, but couldn't find the O/S there.
So I am still in the dark what it is.
I must say your expression of VAMpires is very funny !
With regards, Frederik

 

That doesn't look like the crossbar of an "S" to me. It would be nice if you could post a better close-up of just the mintmark. Maybe @messydesk can help.

Chris

 

Dear Chris,
With the old camera and scanner I have, I can't send any pictures better then this.
But, I did send coins in to PCGS.
This one came back at Certificate number 36839056
I couldn't send this large picture, but I do hope this brings some light into it.
With regards, Frederik

 

Click on picture to enlarge...

 

Looks to me like the O took a hit and the displaced chunk ended up in the center of the O. Hmmm...

 

How great you find the change something like this could happen ?
There are no signs at the outside which could explain a chunk.
It still seems to be a enigma !
Thanks for your effort !!!
With thanks, Frederik

 

Not an O/S. Not exactly sure what happened to cause that, since I wasn't there at the time, but it's not an O/S.

 

Okay, would you please show me what one would look like? I have one that looks similar, and I don't see how two coins would be so much alike.

 

Not the O/S. The coin is worn so it's difficult to tell if it's a die chip or if the O took a hit and displaced metal.

As far as I know, there is no known over mintmark for this date.

 

This it what an O/S would look like...

 

No expert but yes. I see the S

 

Damn. An i wrong again. I see the S

 

Well there you have your answer

 

Since at least two people have similar coins, could it be that the reverse die suffered a neat/clean (die) chip at a very interesting location (O mint mark). The late die state reverse die was possibly retired soon thereafter.

 

If you're referring to the two pictures shown here, they are the same coin.

 

Hi John, it is difficult to make up any conclusion when there are so many who tell different things. If possible do you think you can send me a picture ? I hardly have any knowledge over the O over S, but if two coins are substantial the same; it is even harder to believe in an error situation. Thanks for your reply ! Frederik

 

Hi C&C, the S mint mark is very visible in your coin, but I think it's the large O over the small S. Forgive me when I am wrong, but I think in the coin I showed it is a small O over a small S, and therefore much more difficult to make up what exactly it is. Thanks for your reply, Frederik