MorganOb.jpg
MorganRev.jpg
Posted 02/10/2009 3:25 pm
The scans are a tad small to be forming concrete opinions from, but that's never stopped me before. 
I see definite wear both obverse and reverse. However, that has to be balanced with the fact that Morgans can come fairly weakly struck, and strike weakness tends to show up in the same areas as wear. So, I'll share kinda "stream of consciousness" opinions on the coin.
The obverse shows weak hair - it's pretty flat all over. Wear, or strike? A little of both. The scan shows "lightness" on the cheek - with a scan, that equates to wear. Luster is dark on a scan. The cotton bolls are weak. The lower hair is weak, indicative of strike rather than wear because the cheek and upper hair wear before it.
On the reverse, the breast is weak but detail remains on the two large lower leaves. A weak strike affects the leaves as well as the breast - this reverse was fairly well-struck but has seen circulation. This theory is supported by detail remaining on the top edges of the wings. Details remain on the eagle's legs, another place where one picks up signs of a weak strike.
Poorly-struck obverse, nicely-struck reverse (die wear - they didn't keep dies together for their whole working lives), AU50.
I see definite wear both obverse and reverse. However, that has to be balanced with the fact that Morgans can come fairly weakly struck, and strike weakness tends to show up in the same areas as wear. So, I'll share kinda "stream of consciousness" opinions on the coin.
The obverse shows weak hair - it's pretty flat all over. Wear, or strike? A little of both. The scan shows "lightness" on the cheek - with a scan, that equates to wear. Luster is dark on a scan. The cotton bolls are weak. The lower hair is weak, indicative of strike rather than wear because the cheek and upper hair wear before it.
On the reverse, the breast is weak but detail remains on the two large lower leaves. A weak strike affects the leaves as well as the breast - this reverse was fairly well-struck but has seen circulation. This theory is supported by detail remaining on the top edges of the wings. Details remain on the eagle's legs, another place where one picks up signs of a weak strike.
Poorly-struck obverse, nicely-struck reverse (die wear - they didn't keep dies together for their whole working lives), AU50.
