The Mint's poor quality control appears to be my fortune, or misfortune, depending on how you look at it. I just received this 1776-2026
Morgan dollar Reverse Proof in the mail, and while it looked perfect at first glance, upon closer inspection, several abnormalities popped up. I will not be returning the coin, as I am not much of a stickler for perfection when it comes to the quality of my coins, and I am an avid collector of mint errors and varieties, as those who frequent this subforum may be aware.
1. The coin had what appeared to be a contact mark on the cheek. Under closer examination (under my microscope), this apparent contact-mark revealed itself to be a minor strike-through error, with the culprit likely being a piece of fiber. I made such a determination by observing the lack of pushed-up metal, the uniform flatness of the mark, and the slightly curved (rather than straight) nature of the mark.
2. The coin also exhibited a long yellow streak through Liberty's hair on the upper half of the coin, only visible under bright light. After viewing it under magnification, I believe this anomaly to be a retained struck-through fiber. The difficulty is that it is interrupted at certain points, unlike the generally continuous nature of a struck through fiber error. Perhaps the fiber was ripped apart under the pressure of the striking chamber? Is it possible that this yellow streak is some sort of toning? Yes, but I'd like to understand how it would only show up in such a localized area.
3. The reverse proof finish in Liberty's hair on the bottom half of the coin is interrupted by some weird lightness that again only shows up under a light. I am completely stumped as to what might be its cause--perhaps the mirror finish was improperly applied, or maybe it reflects milk spotting?






