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 Replies: 22 / Views: 2,218 |
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Valued Member
 United States
78 Posts |
Thank you gentlemen... all part of the learning curve.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2125 Posts |
VG10. Hope I'm wrong but it looks like there may be some evidence of a removed mint mark under the wreath. Go to heritage and compare the date position of a verified example with yours. A coin as rare as this should be graded by a 3rd party.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2869 Posts |
I agree with the need to take it to a TPG |
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Valued Member
United States
465 Posts |
VG 10. Agree I'm concerned about the inconsistency where the mint mark would be.
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Valued Member
United States
78 Posts |
Interesting observations about the mint mark. My Great Aunt had this in her collection for at least 70 years. But I suppose nefarious characters are not a modern invention... I took a closer look at the area just under the wreath, where a mint mark would be. Using a 10X loop, I don't see any evidence of an old mark... but I'm certainly no expert. I found the example on the left for sale on ebay, 1894 in a graded (F-12) NGC slab. My coin is the picture on the right. I'm totally new to this but tried to compare the date position in relation to the dentils. Looks the same to me. Kinda fun to do some investigating. Thanks for the inputs. I will plan on making it one of my first submissions.  |
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Valued Member
United States
78 Posts |
For fun, here is a blow up of the area in question on 1894 my coin. Gotta love macro photography!  |
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Valued Member
United States
78 Posts |
More investigation...
The real 1894-P should have Vam-3 Doubled Reverse.
From VAMWorld:
The only die pair known to produce genuine examples of the circulation issue of this key date. Many skillfully executed forgeries exist, authentication by competent professionals is recommended.
I've been using my loop and looking for the doubling, but not really seeing it. With the wear and the gunk on the coin it's hard to tell. This may well be one of those skillfully execute forgeries.
The education continues...
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5684 Posts |
That's a good thought about the possibility of a removed MM. I did an overlay of the date with a genuine 1894-P VAM-3, and the date position of the OP coin is an exact match. Given the amount of circulation wear, the other die markers might not be identifiable. My inclination is that it's genuine, but it certainly would be worth sending it to a TPG so they can examine it in hand and get it authenticated. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1694 Posts |
Agree think its VG 10 Details . Nice looking coin
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18712 Posts |
VG details and as stated should be authenticated
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1778 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3668 Posts |
A frequently altered coin starts with the common 1894-O VAM-1. The key distinction is the heavy die polishing in the letters of LIBERTY on the 1894-O VAM-1. The polishing lines on that variety are sharply different from the lines on a genuine 1894, and should exist on even relatively heavily circulated coins.
The other alteration is to change a genuine 1897 dollar to a purported 1894 by altering the last digit of the date. These are pretty easy to spot, because the spacing between the "9" and the purported "4" is way off.
I think I can make out some of the genuine 1894 markers on your coin. Damage and blemishes in the area where a mint mark would be found are always concerning, but can occur on heavily circulated genuine coins.
Clear photos of the die marker areas would be needed to do an authentication from pictures. The decisive marker is the series of die scratches in the triangle at the eagle's left foot (our visual right). These exist even on AG-03 examples. That's the closeup photo that would really help us here.
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Valued Member
United States
78 Posts |
Thanks for the information. I have looked at the link with the identifying die scratches. Unfortunately I'm away from home for a couple days and not able to take a close look at that "triangle". I'll check it out when I get home. I hope there isn't too much gunk in there to see what I need to with a loop. I'll try and get a close up, macro shot of the area. It's been fun doing the research. I'll keep you posted. I'm getting together a group of Morgans for submission. What is the consensus TPG for a newby to join and submit a first group of coins? PCGS or NGC? Hope it's not out of bounds to pose that question. If it is, please disregard. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
992 Posts |
AS far as TPGs you mentioned, it depends on where you live.
I'd send them to the closer one.
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Valued Member
United States
78 Posts |
Well, It turned out to be genuine and no details grade for the rim bump. A little higher grade than most thought. Very pleased with this outcome!   |
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Posted 07/07/2021 9:54 pm
