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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,847 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
8938 Posts |
Pretty cool coin that came across my desk at work this morning, and I thought I'd have some fun with it. If anyone is able to, or if it's even possible to, get a definitive VAM, or ascertain which mint the coin was struck at, I will giveaway an ASE to the person who successfully does so. Now, this may end up taking a group of people, and in the event it does, it wouldn't be fair for me to reward just one person. In the event that it does take a group of people, I will hold an open giveaway for all CCF members over 50 posts and give away 2 Morgan dollars. What I can tell about this coin is that it is dated 1878 and is a 7 Tailfeather Reverse. I believe the eyelid is doubled but I suppose it could just be gunk.     |
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
Can you tell if it's a Philadelphia, San Francisco or Carson City issue?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
8938 Posts |
No. That's the challenge, to ID the Mint of Origin. No trace of the mint mark remains. The only visible part of the reverse is the tailfeathers, tip of branch and arrowheads.
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Moderator
 United States
15381 Posts |
That is a seriously worn coin!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5661 Posts |
If you can determine the MM on that reverse, that would be the ultimate PO-1. I may be wrong, but I don't think anyone is going to win this contest...
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Valued Member
United States
399 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2869 Posts |
I might be able to reveal the mint mark using my new silver testing potion. That looks like a retired pocket coin to me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5661 Posts |
Except 1878-P VAM-18 is an 8TF variety. The problem is all three mints made 7TF reverses, and most of the die varieties are subtle enough to be hard to identify on any circulated coin, much less a coin like this. I'm not even sure where I would start.
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Valued Member
United States
399 Posts |
I started by guessing the date and then started looking through the VAMs. Definitely doubling on date (I decided) and then looked for some match on die marks. Shot in the dark!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4395 Posts |
The only design variance that I could find that would confirm what mint this other than a mintmark would be if this is a Reverse of 1879 (Reverse C), which was used only in Philly for 1878. (Carson City and San Francisco used the B1 and B2 reverses) It looks like there might be enough of the arrow feathers left to determine the reverse design in hand, but I can't id it from this one photo. So I'm just going to guess it's a 1878-P Reverse of 1879. There are 3 1878-P Reverse of 1879 with notable markers involving the eye. VAM-230-2 "Die Chips Above Eye", VAM-222C "Spiked Eye", and VAM-228-1 "Die Chip Eyelid". VAM-222C looks most like what Grape is describing as a doubled eye. So yeah VAM-222C is my best guess: http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.c...8-P_VAM-222CI'm not sure a definite attribution is possible. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5765 Posts |
Not a Morgan guy but I do like varieties so I'm interested to see the outcome on this thread.
Words of encouragement are one of the major food groups.
We need to consume them regularly to thrive and grow.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8938 Posts |
Quote:
I might be able to reveal the mint mark using my new silver testing potion. The idea is to do so in a non-destructive method. Quote:So yeah VAM-222C is my best guess: http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.c...8-P_VAM-222CI'm not sure a definite attribution is possible. Neither am I, hence the bounty. I'll check this one when I get into the shop in a few hours. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1527 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1527 Posts |
I'll say that it's 1878-P VAM-185A Spike Above Eyelid
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2869 Posts |
Quote:
1878-P Reverse of 1879 This with the VAM-230-2 "Die Chips Above Eye" VAM is my guess for this one. The "doubled eye" looks like a small cluster of die chips to me. |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,847 |
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Posted 07/29/2021 12:48 pm
