RWB

It might be a dropped letter that fell off the turnip truck down south.... ?

So minor as to be of no value.

The contemporary term was "white cents." Silver coins were considered "white" and gold was called "gold" or occasionally "orange." However, only the CuNi cents from 1856-1864 were ever routinely referred to by the metal's color.

New CuNi cents were called "white cents" because of their light copper color. Over time, these lightly tone to darker shades. If a cent is cleaned, the process roughly starts over again. when the Philadelphia Mint began redeeming these, the pieces were melted, a little nickel metal was added and then used to strike shield nickels.

Anyone who wants to see how to easily pick out an AU coin can hop over to VAMworld: http://www.vamworld.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6963 Nice, clear, and simple example. It won't work on anything except a "real" AU coin. (Now, check out all those MS coins with wear....)

Barely visible and barely worth anything. "Clearly visible; clearly worth something."

Here's the NGC slab. I'm pleased with the coin for what it is, not what the little paper says.

Seems like good fun term even if not technically accurate.

"Honest wear" = a colloquialism referring to ordinary and routine wear rather than intentional abrasion or damage.

"Exploding stars" are one of the defects caused by not using a closed/close collar. The metal stretches under pressure -- kind of like a pregnant woman's striae as the womb enlarges -- except coin stretch marks never go away. Luster is uniform and present throughout. This piece merely has a little honest commercial wear.

I acquired this nice classic EF grade 1813 O-110 simply for its rugged incompetence and character. [EF = obvious wear on high points but has considerable luster remaining.]

Thank you! I merely do what I can, as best I can.

Congratulations, you've already started and made substantial advancement, although that might not be immediately evident! Examining and assessing a coin - independent of price, hype, or sales pressure - is a fundamental to learning the hobby of numismatics and getting maximum enjoyment. Asking thoughtful questions also points to clearer understanding and more rapid progress. (There's a "new" member here who began just a few months ago, and who has made immense progress based on a similar approach as yours. He contributed to this thread.)

Let's be frank about damaged coins: they have no future. They will always be damaged and will always trade as such.

Not "word smithing;" it's accurate description. A "fin" has long standing historical references and clear US Mint definition. "Wire" has no US Mint meaning at all and when applied to a coin rim or edge is simply confusing laziness or possibly studied ignorance. Change for the better.

I feel the key question is whether the bubble gum is still good.

From the photos it might be Fine; but, definition is poor and I suspect, as JKK mentioned, that it is an older fake.

There are version with a fin rim and with a flat (normal) rim --- no US coins were ever made with a "wire rim" or "wire edge."

"The Matrix" knows.

High probability of being a counterfeit. Post better photos, including details of mintmark, date and word LIBERTY. [Consider getting your money back and reporting the seller to the FBI.]

Tourist fodder.

We don't have the necessary die records to state the number of 8-TF dies that were reimpressed, or the number available at any specific stage of image transfer. Morgan advocated 2 impression per day and stated that 7 or 8 were required for full transfer. The faint or absent under type features on 7/8 dies suggests most were at an early stage of transfer-- maybe 1 or 2 impressions. Attempting to reimpress a nearly complete die would have left many tell tale marks.

It has no numismatic value....is that better?

That's what truth does: it eviscerates the lies, inventions, ignorant, blatantly dishonest, and self-serving.

7/8 TF silver dollars were produced when the new 7-TF hub was used to alter existing original 8-TF working dies. Bits of the original design remained visible on some dies. This was done to expedite use of the new reverse design at the west coast mints. See my book Girl on the Silver Dollar for details and photos.