Help ! 1884-S Morgan Dollar

Hello Again !

I'm attaching full image both sides and thanks againg for the quick response and assistance.


Ted

Obverse
Reverse

Hi flockleader and welcome to the forum. Lots of friendly people here loaded with expertise and experience. Also, lots of Morgan nuts in the group - I'm one.

As Susan stated, this potentially very valuable Morgan appears to have been harshly polished thus ruining its value; there are what appear to be wire brush marks in the field in front of Liberty's face. Possible value can't be determined presuming it is a problem coin. If it is, in fact an uncirculated 84S Morgan as it appears to be, it would have a value of about $7000 at the lowest Mint State (MS-60), but in cleaned/whizzed condition, its value might not be more than one or two thousand (maybe less, maybe more) although since this is a rare coin and very difficult to obtain in any Mint State condition, it might go for anything. It most certainly WOULD sell, but buyers won't pay anywhere near top price for it in its condition. Also as Susan stated, ANACS is the only certification company which will encapsulate problem coins.

One other caution. I believe it's possible this is a counterfeit 84S. Despite the polishing, I think I detect granular surfaces in the field and on Liberty's face which would indicate a casting although I do not see similar indications on the reverse. Again, ANACS would be the one to go to authenticate the Morgan, but would only slab it if it were authentic.

Stick with the top third party grading services, i.e., ANACS, PCGS, NGC, and ICG for all grading services. They do not switch coins. Other alphabet grading companies, especially the boiler room basement types might be tempted to switch coins, but it doesn't happen very often, even by the rip-off companies. An altered coin such as this Morgan, presuming it has been polished would probably not be switched since the potential value is not worth the risk.

Definitely cleaned, probably meets the criteria for "harshly." A respectable TPG would not slab it. It's a shame - whoever cleaned it cost themselves several thousand dollars.

That is, of course, if the coin is genuine. It's definitely a prime candidate for counterfeiting, being so rare in MS. Between the previously-mentioned granularity on the obverse, and the structure of the breast feathers which doesn't seem right, I have my doubts about it being genuine.

Guido, if the coin is genuine it undoubtedly fell into the hands of someone who didn't know better.

I wouldn't buy this coin, even knowing it was genuine. Although rare, there are MS examples available - PCGS and NGC have slabbed 500 between them (understanding some of that will be crackouts). Heritage has auctioned 7 since August. For me, an upper-end AU at one-tenth the price is the right ticket.

This coin has so many remaining effects of cleaning, and the owner must be very idiotic, as it draws attention to the fact that it may not be genuine. Everything is wrong for the condition. Can't wait to hear back from you after you have it looked at by a professional service.