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 Replies: 27 / Views: 4,370 |
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Valued Member
United States
70 Posts |
I'm pretty new to this coin collecting thing. I purchased an 1894 Morgan dollar at an auction. I knew they were often counterfeited but now I'm starting to have some doubts. Could someone help decide if I was wronged?   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7621 Posts |
Based on what I can see I think this coin has had an "O" mintmark removed from the reverse. I think also that the "X" scratches (near where the mintmark resided) were added to try and hide the removal.
If you look between the D and O in "dollar" on the reverse you can see what looks like a faint "o" mintmark (or what's left of it).
So, to answer your question ... Yes, you got cheated.
Welcome to the forum! Sorry this happened to you.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4932 Posts |
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Valued Member
 United States
70 Posts |
Hey guys, Thanks for the welcome. I don't have the coin with me right now, but I zoomed in with the current pictures. It is kind of frustrating that an auction could sell and advertise a non-authentic coin.  |
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Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
What kind of auction was it?
This coin should never be bought raw..ever.
I hope you can get your money back. Looks like those scratches were intentional. I see a removed mintmark.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Valued Member
United States
70 Posts |
It was an online silver and coin auction. Everything was for sale "as is". Just something to remember if something is too good to be true, it probably is.
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
Exactly
Welcome to the CCF BTW :-)
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
United States
624 Posts |
I dislike buying online for this reason, but especially if it is being sold "as is" or "no returns". It just screams scam to me. I do buy online often but it is rarely for more than a couple dollars and never for coins this old. Too much risk at play.
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Valued Member
United States
403 Posts |
It is impossible to tell for sure from those pictures if a mintmark was removed or not. I have noticed people here tend to bandwagon onto the initial opinion rendered, for whatever that observation is worth.
A removed mintmark is a distinct possibility here, though, so post better pictures of the reverse when you can.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6478 Posts |
I don't know about a removed mm. There is not enough evidence from these pics!
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
932 Posts |
I see a little circle which might be the middle of the "O". Quote:
I have noticed people here tend to bandwagon onto the initial opinion rendered, for whatever that observation is worth. Or maybe we just see it differently  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
Welcome to the CCF, Bnmkr1, sad welcome as it is. While your coin appears authentic, I'm unable to say with absolute certainty that it's an altered mintmark. I suggest that you take the coin to a major show and consult with a few graders and knowledgeable dealers who, coin in hand, can more closely adjudicate it. Like the 1928 Peace dollars, this year is often prone to alteration by removal of the mintmark. Good luck ... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4469 Posts |
Dave 700 is correct that the date position is wrong and the mint mark appears to have been removed from a authentic Morgan. Below is a photo of a 1894 with the correct position of the date. From the single die used for a 1894 business strike the left edge of the base of the 1 is over the left edge of the third denticle from the point of the neck, and the right edge of the base of the 1 is over the right half of the fourth denticle as noted in the photo below:  The date in the OP coin below in not in the correct position as the 1 is over the 4th denticle from the point of the neck.  Edited by Slider23
10/17/2015 10:07 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2189 Posts |
I recently posted a similar coin that was brought in to me. Your photos are not close enough of the MM area or the eagles left leg. If you can inspect that area with a good loupe you may have your answer. read below from the NGC site. "Die gouges that move from East to West can be seen in the space between the eagle's left leg and tail feathers. A large gouge is visible just above the right-most talon of the eagle's left leg, noted in the image by the arrow. Because this die line sits within a recess of the coin, it is visible on both low-grade and high-grade examples alike. If you're looking at an 1894 dollar and this mark is not present, the coin is fake." The area to inspect,  Edited by RK55
10/17/2015 10:05 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
Welcome. I hope you stick around, you've come to the right place for really expert opinion, and kudos to you for having the courage to ask about your "1894" - no one wants to be given bad news or have a mistake publicly aired. That said, dave700x has nailed the diagnostic on this - clearly not authentic, and whether it's an altered specimen or a forgery in toto hardly matters. Here's how the date should be oriented on a genuine example. Note where the "1" is located vis-a-vis the dentils beneath it, which is at variance with how it is on your coin.  Edit: I see Slider23 had posted on the same point while I was preparing my reply. Colligo ergo sum
Edited by Lucky Cuss
10/17/2015 10:29 am
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Replies: 27 / Views: 4,370 |
Posted 10/16/2015 11:59 pm
