Another Morgan - 1882 S

I love the reverse tone...how about MS-64.

I'm not sure that I can get on the MS bandwagon with this one, given the relative strength of San Francisco strikes. I'd have to see it in-hand to be sure. So, at the risk of being a spoilsport, I'm going to call it AU58.

On the bright side, I think it might be a VAM-20, noting the highly tilted mintmark. Although R3, and not rare, it's one of the farthest-leaning mintmarks in the whole series and is therefore significant.

Look for doubling on the right sides of the date numbers, especially the first 8. That's a key to separating the VAM-20 from the other tilted-S VAM's of that date.

I still say a strong MS64 with that second obverse pic.That "S" mintmark is a S/S doubled mint mark I believe.The 1882-S is one that had a number of weaker strikes,not like New Orleans but some.

I think its a VAM-7 which is still a R-3 but has NO shifted MM and I do not think this MM is shifted either, I think just the coin was turned in the picture. What made me choose this VAM is the die chips between the loops of both 8's and it looks like the second 8 is doubled to the left a little, of couse I cant see the 2 but its supposed to be doubled also

Here's Leroy Van Allen's words on 1882-S strikes:

Most specimens are fully struck although a few exist with slight weakness.

I remain convinced that this is a slanted-S example. Use the baseline of In God we trust as the horizontal, and imagine a perpendicular line through it to the mintmark. The tilt is obvious, even in these small pics, and that's part of my reason for feeling it's a VAM-20.

Here's the book description of the VAM:

III#178;17¡PC#179;e(Doubled Date, S Tilted Far Left)

Obverse III#178;16 - Entire date doubled. 1 doubled slightly on top right side of vertical shaft. First 8 doubled slightly on right outside of lower loop. Second 8 doubled slightly on left inside and strongly on right outside of upper loop. 2 doubled strongly on right outside of upper loop.

Reverse C#179;e - IV S mint mark tilted far to left and shifted slightly to left. One of the farthest S tilts known.

In view of the new pics, I am more firmly confident in my attribution.



Edit: Oops, I guess this forum software doesn't speak ASCII

I'll stick with the AU-58 to MS-62. Like Dave said, this is one of those coins which really needs to be studied in hand since the images, as very good as they are, don't give the whole picture (npi ). With Mint State Morgans as common as the 82-S, a TPG is gonna be rough on the grade if it proves to be MS. I am also still suspicious of what appears to be residual toning around the stars and numerals indicating a possible old cleaning.

I'll let the VAM fans figure out which variety it might be.

Fred