| Author |
 Replies: 37 / Views: 4,599 |
|
Valued Member
United Kingdom
115 Posts |
Hi all, Here is a coin that I have already posted on the classic US coin grading site 1879s Morgan(18/7/09 12:12pm) since then I have bought a microscope and various bits to look, and to take, closer photos of my coins. I notice the date on this one has a small imperfection in the lower part of the eight (inside the eight), and also on the nine, (raised on top) I have tried lightly brushing it but it doesn't come off. The R in TRUST is broken at the top, which I have found on the VAM site, but nothing on the date. Is this unique?  |
|
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
The "879" looks like it has been scraped a little bit, displacing some of the metal.
BTW, what is PAF?
Edited by biokemist6
08/03/2009 10:54 am
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Given that the marks seem to be on a line, it's likely that they are the result of a post-mint impact. You can see the depressed areas below each feature, where metal has been displaced in the direction of the raised parts. Quote:
I have tried lightly brushing it but it doesn't come off. I must beg you not to repeat this practice with another coin. The possibility exists that the coin's value has been greatly reduced by having been brushed, depending on how obvious the result is to a keen eye. Were the parallel marks above the date existing before your work on the coin? They are a sign of mechanical cleaning, anathema to a numismatist. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
b17, Your 1879s PAF (Parallel Arrow Feather) has taken a hit from the bottom of the '8' to the top of the '7'. That appears to be a die chip on the surface of the 9's upper loop.  I took another look at the whole coin in the grading section and saw more unusual features ... see highlights  Can you provide close-ups of these areas as well? Last question ... have you weighed the coin? If so, how many grams is it? Thanks |
|
Valued Member
 United Kingdom
115 Posts |
Thanks for the feedback.
SuperDave - when I said I lightly brushed it, it was with a camera lens cleaning brush, and I only lightly dusted the coin, I hope that this was okay?
SeatedNut - I have just ordered some scales, and they should be with me in a couple of days. I will post close up pictures tommorow
Thanks
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
when I said I lightly brushed it, it was with a camera lens cleaning brush, and I only lightly dusted the coin, Ah. That should not affect silver; gold, however, would be another story. The reason I was worried is that the striations above the date on your coin are characteristic of brushing, and I was afraid your investigative process created them. A lens brush will not do such a thing, and there are more numismatically benign reasons why such marks would appear on a coin. With that said, it's not a practice I would advise for a coin in Mint State condition - pristine silver could conceivably be affected by even a lens brush. |
|
Valued Member
United Kingdom
115 Posts |
Here are the close up photos of the P and the S. The P looks like it has taken a hit and displaced the metal? but I can,t see anything wrong with the S?   I'll post the weight when I receive the scales Thanks |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
b17, The 'S' appears normal with slight doubling ... must have been a shadow. But that 'P' definitely has something going on! I've enlarged it and highlighted the markers: Circled die chips, left arrow to either die gouge or ?, right arrow to doubling. I don't have access to VAMWorld at work, but you could check that out ... if genuine (that's why I asked if it had been weighed) that 'P' should be listed prominently on VAMWorld pages. If not, maybe a discovery VAM? I love a good mystery.   |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
b17, If you are still interested in attributing this coin, could you take close-ups of the areas highlighted in these cropped shots of your coin?   |
|
Valued Member
United Kingdom
115 Posts |
As requested, I'll post weight as soon as I get some accurate scales  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1219 Posts |
No disrespect meant here fellas, but this post is going off course. The reverse is the importent thing on this coin. We know it's a PAF, but which reengraved wing feather is it. The 9 is obviously open. That should cut down the odds on the Vam#. Find out what VAM it is and then start looking for anything that would cause concern about it being a new Vam#. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
No offense taken, but there is method to my madness. I spent last evening looking at every 79-S PAF (eliminating closed 9's and unbroken R's). I did notice a diagnostic (thin die crack in bonnet) on the VAM 56 that could be on b17's coin ... ergo the request. Here are the pictures from VAMWorld. The first is the die crack on the bonnet and the second is overpolishing on the Designer Initial (also note the polishing lines in the hair around the letter 'M'). b17 you'll have to confirm/deny the presence of these.   |
|
Valued Member
United Kingdom
115 Posts |
Apologies for going off course, I'm new to coin collecting and eager to learn, so any information gained on my coins, and Morgans in general, from the experts on the forum is much appreciated. I can confirm that I can't see any die cracks in the bonnet, and I can't see any polishing around the M  I'm having a battle at the moment to get the pictures right (lighting and size), but here is another photo of the bonnet |
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
I didn't realize we were trying to attribute. The place to start, given b17commander's excellent detail shots, is the "r" in "trust." One pic of that will immediately narrow the list.
|
|
Valued Member
United Kingdom
115 Posts |
Just got the scales today and the coin weighs 26.79g  Do you guys still want any other photos of this coin, or as MorgansRmine states "the post is going off course"? |
|
Valued Member
United States
278 Posts |
VAM-9, VAM-35, VAM-39, VAM-42 are your options so far.
|
| |
Replies: 37 / Views: 4,599 |
Posted 08/03/2009 11:03 am
