1798 M 8R- What Do You Make Of This Damage?

Westwood Arms- Thanks for the help. That is about what I figured. It is just a bit difficult to see how the overall value of 8's are effected due to their high tolerance for chop marks. And since I am someone who likes Asian chop marks, I don't really see the non-Asian "W" mark as that big of a deal.

I tend in this case to agree with Namachieli the location on the field is typical for a test scratch, Not so much a letter or graffiti as a test to see if the coin is a plated forgery. The 8R was extensively counterfeited during its exceptionally long circulation period.

To a US coin collector that type of damage will COST a lot when you try to sell the coin. The discount quoted 10-30 is a BUY discount in my experience - when you try to sell it expect offeres in the 50% to melt range.

I know that is how they are treated here locally.