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 Replies: 8 / Views: 778 |
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Valued Member
United States
291 Posts |
When I first saw this coin, I thought it was a proof. (I've never seen a proof Morgan in person). What led me to think this was the rims look almost fully squared, the empty spacing between denticles, and the fields are super reflective. This coin isn't in the best condition, but some others have found proof Morgans in the wild in bad conditions before. I can't post Reddit links here, but if you google: Looks can be deceiving. Impaired proof Morgan dollar found among culls, you will see what I mean. My question is, to help me discern in the future, do Morgans that exhibit what I stated above are simply Morgans that were struck with Early Die States?   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3619 Posts |
This may very well be an impaired 1880 Proof Morgan, VAM-13. I see some of the key markers, and the VAM-13 die pair was only used for proofs. The VAM-13 reverse die was used for proofs for three years, and was the only reverse die for the 1880 proofs. Is this your coin? Would you be able to post some high resolution closeups of the areas with VAM-13 markers? What I think I see with the existing photos you posted on the obverse are the dimples on the "8"s in the date and the gouge at the indentation in the hair at the center of the neck, and on the reverse are the double lines above the eagle's right inner claw (our visual left) and the gouge on the top center of the eagle's right wing (our visual left). My first stop if I even suspect a proof is to go directly to the VAM listings. As far as I know, every proof Morgan die has been studied for markers. There are so many high resolution photos of the known proofs on the TPG sites and auction listings that finding comparison photos for almost every (or maybe every) die pair is easy. Your instincts for suspecting a proof are correct. Even heavily circulated proofs will look different from business strike coins. Edited by fortcollins
12/21/2025 4:44 pm
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Moderator
 United States
94636 Posts |
Very nice Riu!  congrats of the find. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73579 Posts |
Congratulations on the find!  Errers and Varietys.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3323 Posts |
If this is an impaired Morgan proof, you have quite a find there! I see evidence of clashing on the obverse and reverse. This will be an interesting investigation...
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Very nice! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4989 Posts |
Eagle Breast and Liberty's hair seem very flatly struck which has me doubting it's a proof. The examples I've seen posted of proofs, even moderately impaired ones like PR-58, have full detail in those areas. If it's wear from circulation I'd expect to see more of it in other areas of the coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3619 Posts |
The first question is whether this is VAM-13. I see what appear to be four markers for VAM-13, but those four markers aren't enough to confirm the VAM. If it isn't VAM-13, it isn't a proof. If it is VAM-13, only two possibilities exist: either it is an impaired proof or the history of the VAM-13 die pair needs to be revised to show that it was also used for business strikes after serving as the proof die pair. If it is an impaired proof, two further possibilities exist. Like many of the impaired gold and silver proofs of that era, it could have been placed in circulation by its owner during the depression of 1893-1897. Or a controversial possibility may be back up for debate, whether the Mint may have placed rejected proofs into circulation. More than anything, we need high resolution photos of the VAM-13 marker areas to solve the threshold question whether it is VAM-13. This one is definitely interesting, though. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2280 Posts |
This is not a proof.
You realize when you know how to think, it empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think.
-Neil deGrasse Tyson
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Replies: 8 / Views: 778 |
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Posted 12/21/2025 8:09 pm
Uncirculated American Silver Eagles 
