Hello all you super smart coin peeps! I got this Morgan (1881 S) a few months back and after a quick look decided it was just a damaged Morgan. Pulled it out the other day and started giving it a good look......got a new AMscope a few weeks back and now that I look at the damage a little closer, I got to thinking, could this be a possible strike thru or is it just PMD. If PMD, what the heck would cause this damage? Just pondering.....thought I'd throw it out to the experts. What do you think?
Kinda looks like the edge of another dollar hit it leaving a reeded edge hit. I dont think i have seen one this big before though
I'm having a hard time telling from the photos. If the surface of the coin rises up above the normal design elements at either side of the depression, sort of like the rim of a volcano, it is PMD.
While a small reeding hit is also visible, that's not the cause of the questioned anomaly. It's certainly not a strike through and, perhaps unfortunately, wasn't caused by a firm leafy vegetable, or a soft one for that matter. Even though I cannot say exactly what or how the damage was caused, it is nonetheless damage.
I'm not too good with Morgan's but could this be a die clash from an Eagles wing? It looks like it could be to me but I can't quite picture it. Just a thought, otherwise I'd go with PMD.
Hee hee hee, good one Salty Sam! Thanks everyone, the damage extends all the way thru the letter B in pluribus. It's a interesting looking coin......any ideas on the circular gold blotches? I tried applying a tiny amount of acetone in the areas, they didn't budge, I'm thinking some type of epoxy.....
Soak it in acetone in a sealed jar for a day or two or five and see if they loosen or dissolve. Go buy a baby food jar and clean it out. That's what I use for long term acetone soaking.
Cascade, will soaking it remove any of the toning? Also, if I can get a few good pics of the OB and RV.....would you like to help me with a VAM attribution? I'll try and get some more pics out tomorrow morning, my wife says I have to go out and drink beer with her now.......my life sucks.....
NO... acetone will not touch toning one bit. It only effects organic matter. What it will do though is possibly leave a discoloration where the stuff was if it does dissolve it depending on how long it's been on there as the metal under it would age at a different rate. But we're talking about a severely damaged coin here so it will never be more than that anyway. Go ahead and soak it. This is a great coin for you to start learning how to use acetone on. About vamming it. I collect 81s's and I'm a vammer BUT I don't vam 81s's. It can be a monumental task and there are only 2 vams that will add value anyway however, with the damage, even if it is one of the two it still won't add much if any premium. Post a clear pic of the reverse and I can tell you if it's one of the 2 if you like
That's a hit from the toughest asparagus I've ever seen. Right on the bridge of the nose is the best evidence of metal displacement from a postmint hit. I cannot imagine what caused it, though, and I'm not ready to completely rule out a strikethrough. This is a good one.
I'm going with struck through kale. I can't really tell from the photos, either, but I'm inclined to say PMD just because I'm having a hard time thinking of exactly what kind of strike through could have caused that. I'd say I'm 60/40 PMD/struck through. I'd have to see the coin in person to tell for sure.
Really dave? That nose bridge area is why I threw out a possible strikethrough. But if you still think it's a possibility this coin just got a whole lot more interesting
Guys, here's a few more pics. I tried to get some good closeups of the hit. I thru in a couple extras of the date, mm, ob and rv. Enjoy!
99% probability it's postmint; I'm just trying to avoid going off like a grenade for once. The detail images more clearly show where metal went after the hit, and are pretty conclusive.
Not one of the 2 list vams. And what's going on with that date. Even with all pmd this is one heck of an interesting morgan.