1888 O Morgan - Wear Or Weak Strike?

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 1,714
keh New Member United States 32 Posts	Posted 04/21/2006 9:36 pm I recently acquired this 1888 O. It looks great, except for some flat spots in key wear areas. The hair over the ear and forehead on the obverse is very flat but shiny. The wear even extends to the ear. The breast feathers on the reverse are lacking in detail. To me, the rest of the coin looks MS64 or so. There is a distince cartwheel effect. If its AU and cleaned, they did a hell of a job on it. Is this a poor strike or wear? Given the facts, how would you grade this coin? Thanks Edited by keh 04/21/2006 9:46 pm Report this Post to the Staff

swamperbob Pillar of the Community United States 5362 Posts	Posted 04/21/2006 9:52 pm Morgan dollars were struck in a collared press so if the coin is full weight and it was a light strike there should be no sharp seam visible at the collar - and I can't see one. So I would vote for a weak strike. VAM alludes to some strike weakness being rather characteristic of 1888 at New Orleans. Report this Post to the Staff
bobby131313 Forum Dad United States 24161 Posts	Posted 04/21/2006 10:50 pm It could also have been an unc coin that someome decided would be prettier if the polished it. [:0] Shop CCF Members on eBay. Report this Post to the Staff
Morgan Fred Rest in Peace United States 2684 Posts	Posted 04/21/2006 11:41 pm keh, this is a problem coin... not in the sense it's been altered, but given your images and what you state, I can't decide if it's an extremely weak strike as is typical for New Orleans Morgans and other series (I've never read why O coins are weak strikes; low steam in their presses?) or if it's a weak strike combined with just a little bit of wear, mostly as evidenced by the smoothness of the hair over Liberty's ear and the lack of feather detail on the Eagle's breast. I'm definitely inclined toward the latter. If so, then it's an AU-58; I don't think I'd want to assign an MS grade to this Morgan without having it in my hand for upclose and personal observation under some lenses. I don't think it's been cleaned, at least from what I can see in the images; it's luster appears intact. There would be no reason why light handling should remove luster from the high points. In terms of value, there isn't much difference between AU and MS in 1888-O's although it might make a difference if you're trying to assemble a Mint State set. I think it's a nice coin! Fred Report this Post to the Staff
keh New Member United States 32 Posts	Posted 04/22/2006 9:11 pm Again, thanks for the expert information! Report this Post to the Staff
keh New Member United States 32 Posts	Posted 04/24/2006 1:09 pm I just found this site: http://home1.gte.net/res05izg/morgan/strike.html It looks like my coin matches the description for a very weak strike. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 5 / Views: 1,714

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