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 Replies: 23 / Views: 3,396 |
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Pillar of the Community
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1267 Posts |
Team, This 1889-S Morgan dollar has been graded by ANACS and also has a VAM assigned to it. Can you guess what they are? You may be surprised... Thanks for looking Ben   |
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Member
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Pillar of the Community
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1703 Posts |
Well to give it a grade,The 1889-S is not known for a weak strike. I would say EF45-AU50 without a better picture I would say VAM-4 or VAM-7 doubled mint mark.
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Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
Ben, it's clearly circulated, but how circulated? Given that 89S's are generally fairly well struck, they start off life with more to lose. For circulated Morgans, I dig out my reference collection (there's a lot more degrees of freedom with circulated Morgans than there are with Mint States = meaning there's a lot more room for error). However, this one exactly matches a PCGS VF-30 (93CC) in my collection. The clean Eagle's breast and worn hair, particularly above Liberty's ear are the indicators, combined with the general lack of major detracting circulation marks (the rim ding at 6 o'clock on the obverse and the small gouge in the Eagle's breast may be discounted).
The usual codicil: I have not yet read other response so as not to be influenced, even subconsciously with my opinion. Keeps my brain sharp and my grade-by-image skills honed.
Give the other Morganphiles a couple days to catch up with this thread before posting the actual ANACS grade.
Fred
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Rest in Peace
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2684 Posts |
VF-30, no higher at PCGS. ANACS' mileage may vary. Forgot to mention that I'm not a VAM collector, at least normally except for certain major VAMs (90 Spitting Eagle, 7/8 TF, rev of 78/79. Bryan is the VAM specialist. BTW, for the others who take shots at grading from images, it would be helpful if, in addition to your assigned grade range or specific grade, you gave the reasons for your assessment. It makes discussion of certain points easier if the specific negative aspects of a particular coin are pointed out. Very often, we overlook key points or marks on a coin. Fred |
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Pillar of the Community
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I think this coin looks more worn that it is ,, AU-50
reverse comments
the eagles breast although lacking feather detail still has a rounded appearance and not flat like would be expected with VF wear the eagles leg on my right also lacking detail is sharply contrasted by the left leg, cotton leaves and bols are sharp
Obverse comments
although the hair above the ear and behind, curls at forehead show some flatness,, I do not think that the coin was circulated to any real degree, the rest of the obverse details do not show VF wear for sure,cheek shows no flatness ,ear is sharp, rims look good as do the denticles.
Rick
Edited by Metalman
07/30/2006 10:40 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
AU-50? Naw, never happen.  I'm gonna come over to NM (bringing some of this rain), and if I can get past your Rotties show you my PCGS Morgans and why this wouldn't make AU at PCGS. ANACS, I'm not so sure.  Go ahead and come on over ,, its raining here also !! Your Rotties don't bite, do they?   Any dog will bite that question is ,,will they have a reason to?Fred PS - Gotta get my Jeep's rear end rebuilt before I go on any long trips. Do I have any Morgans you want to pay a lot of money for? Fred Best I can do is help you rebuild the rearend,, its alot easier though to roll that one out and put another back in.Edited by Metalman
07/30/2006 10:45 pm
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Pillar of the Community
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quote:
Originally posted by Morgan Fred
VF-30, no higher at PCGS. ANACS' mileage may vary.
Forgot to mention that I'm not a VAM collector, at least normally except for certain major VAMs (90 Spitting Eagle, 7/8 TF, rev of 78/79. Bryan is the VAM specialist.
BTW, for the others who take shots at grading from images, it would be helpful if, in addition to your assigned grade range or specific grade, you gave the reasons for your assessment. It makes discussion of certain points easier if the specific negative aspects of a particular coin are pointed out. Very often, we overlook key points or marks on a coin.
Fred
Point taken. I gave the EF45 grade because the obverse shows slight wear on the hair above the date,forehead and ear,with flat spots on the edge of the cotton leaves.Reverse looks closer to AU50 with wear on the eagles breast,top of the legs and talons.If it were EF45 it would show wear on the wing tips and I cannot see any from the picture. |
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Rest in Peace
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2684 Posts |
Good eye, TLS, but this Morgan actually has more wear on its wingtips than my PCGS VF-30. While the wingtips will show varied wear, they're more protected by the rim and denticles than the wings themselves which are a little better indicator since they're higher points. Of the hair wear, the hair above Liberty's ear is the best indicator since it's a high point of the obverse devices (followed by hair above her forehead; the hair beneath her neck isn't as good since it's protected by her neck. I have a PCGS G-06 which has good detail on her neck hair). On this well-struck 89-S, there's actually quite a bit of wear on her hair above the ear compared with a Mint State; on a well-struck MS, there is actually six lines of hair below the first major hair curl above her ear (there are none visible on this 89-S below the first major hair curl). Now, all that said, there's nothing like a Morgan in the hand to make a more valid and realistic guess at a grade. Grading from images is fun and it keeps the grading skills sharpened, but it's guesswork at best. And nothing beats a good reference collection, part of which, if I can't raise some green this fall on ebay, is gonna go on the block for some major car repairs. Gotta git. Oh-dark-hundred (0500) comes early tomorrow for a major trip down to home in the desert. From 50s into 100s, there's gonna be some acclimatization problems. Thanks to all for the great evening looking at the world's most beautiful coin, the Morgan! Fred |
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Pillar of the Community
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Stay in High Country Fred...it'll be weather shock!
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Pillar of the Community
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So Ben,how long you going to keep us in suspense? |
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Pillar of the Community
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1267 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by TLS5933
So Ben,how long you going to keep us in suspense?
Well, Fred wanted me to wait a day or two for the other Morganphiles to take a gander. I reckon I'll reveal the grade & VAM tomorrow. Take Care Ben |
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Forum Mom
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Don't know about the VAM, but I think the grade is EF40. I'd like to see a little more breast feather detail and less obverse wear to go higher. |
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Gosh, I'm so used to New Orleans coins and 1921's that it's tough to grade one that was well-struck! Although I tend to lean towards Susan on strict grade, methinks it'll be found in an ANACS EF45 holder. I don't know if I'm seeing the hair as clearly as it could be; perhaps there's more hair there than meets the eye. I believe it's a VAM-5 High 9, but I could be wrong. That's the most likely candidate VAM that would be offered for visual identification with pics of this size. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1267 Posts |
Ready for a SHOCK!!! [:0] AU-55, 1889-S/S ~ VAM-7 (Good Job TLS  ) Take Care Ben  Edited by Bonedigger
08/02/2006 12:30 pm
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TLS5933, got the bug yet?  |
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Replies: 23 / Views: 3,396 |
Posted 07/30/2006 8:08 pm
