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1891-O Morgan Silver Dollar VAM-1A

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Author Previous TopicReplies: 12 / Views: 534Next Topic  
Valued Member

United States
189 Posts
 Posted 03/27/2025  08:59 am Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add UnimpossibIe to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Hey all, I posted pictures of the Obverse of this coin in the grading forum yesterday looking for opinions on the surface. I did not include pictures of the Reverse because I wanted the discussion to be about the surface and not the VAM, but I think my vagueness may have hampered people's ability to properly evaluate the coin. It appears to be a VAM-1A1, weakly struck, with parallel lines across the cheek extending into the hair. The obverse surface has kind of a grainy texture to it and I'm trying to determine if this could possibly be related to the weak strike and/or die polishing, or if it is from cleaning, environmental damage, or some sort of alteration like overdipping or whizzing. All opinions are welcome and appreciated as always.



Pillar of the Community
United States
882 Posts
 Posted 03/27/2025  09:52 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add I6609 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Is that a die clash on the reverse between the tail feathers and the branch. Don't know a lot about Morgan's but looks like an old cleaning to me a lot of scratches moving in all directions. But I'm not the most experienced. So let's see what others have to say.
Valued Member
United States
189 Posts
 Posted 03/27/2025  09:57 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add UnimpossibIe to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
@I6609 here is a link to the VAMWorld page for this variety:

http://ec2-18-221-104-31.us-east-2....91-O_VAM-1A1
Pillar of the Community
United States
882 Posts
 Posted 03/27/2025  10:49 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add I6609 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for the link first time to VAM world for me the clash may explain some of what I see I'm going to keep my nose out of this one and be a watcher and a learner.
Valued Member
United States
189 Posts
 Posted 03/27/2025  2:19 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add UnimpossibIe to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Here are some scope photos of the Obverse:













Valued Member
United States
189 Posts
 Posted 03/27/2025  2:40 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add UnimpossibIe to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
And the Reverse:












Pillar of the Community
United States
1993 Posts
 Posted 03/27/2025  4:09 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add smat45 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
That is a strong clash E there!
I would have to send it off to John (messydesk) to have it graded and attributed.
I'm just a little concerned about the surfaces...
Hope she straight grades for you...Good luck!
smat
Valued Member
United States
189 Posts
 Posted 03/27/2025  4:14 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add UnimpossibIe to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thank you smat.
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Zurie's Avatar
United States
5256 Posts
 Posted 03/27/2025  7:13 pm  Show Profile   Check Zurie's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add Zurie to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I love the E clashes. As I said in your other thread (which has apparently disappeared), I think the lines on the cheek are roller lines. They don't have the appearance of planchet striations, and die polishing lines are typically on the fields, not on the devices. I still think the obverse surfaces are not original, and the graininess can't really be explained by a soft strike.
Valued Member
United States
189 Posts
 Posted 03/27/2025  7:46 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add UnimpossibIe to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thank you Zurie. I found a comparable 1891-O on Coinfacts, can you tell me if these also appear to be roller marks:



Thanks again!
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Zurie's Avatar
United States
5256 Posts
 Posted 03/27/2025  9:09 pm  Show Profile   Check Zurie's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add Zurie to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Yes, those are roller lines, similar to yours, but without the surface disturbance.
Valued Member
United States
189 Posts
 Posted 03/27/2025  9:36 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add UnimpossibIe to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thank you again, I always wondered what caused that type of striation. Now I know what to call it. Any guesses on what could've caused the surface disturbance? I'd think it would likely be some sort of chemical or environmental damage as it seems to be in the nooks and crannies, but I'd appreciate the opinion.
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-makecents-'s Avatar
United States
6640 Posts
 Posted 03/27/2025  10:26 pm  Show Profile   Check -makecents-'s eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add -makecents- to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Very nice clash! I was eyeballing an 86-O VAM-1A the other day on the bay. I agree, roller lines.

LINK http://vamworld.com/wiki/1886-O_VAM-1A
-makecents-
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