EagleRJO

Taking about stashing things doing a reno, an English couple found $842,330 worth of gold coins under a floor during a kitchen reno ... https://boards.ngccoin.com/topic/429217-english-gold-coin-hoard/#comment-9823387 And about the storage lockers, I have heard that sometimes older people put a bunch of their belongings in them when they have to move to say a retirement home, but they just can't let go or sell off some of their stuff and they may feel more secure stashing valuables like coins in them.

Since you have a bag of Morgans to go through an example of this using the first 1886 (P) is to first access PCGS CoinFacts for that coin, and go to "view more images" ... https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1886-1/images/7166 Scroll down until you see one that is close to the condition, which for that coin looks like a low MS grade (MS60 to MS62) since there isn't any significant wear, but there are multiple contact or bag marks on the obverse face and neck which knocks it down in grade. Also make sure the obverse and reverse have matching dies, as some counterfeits get that wrong. Comparing the overall details it looks pretty good, so next go to VAM World and look up that coin ... http://www.vamworld.com/wiki/1886-P_VAMs There are a bunch of VAMs, so first look at the date and see where it is relative to the "neck point" in terms of the denticles (i.e. check if its a "near date" or "far date") and how much above the rim it is (i.e. check if its a "high date") to narrow down the choices. Also check if the font of the date matches. For that coin it looks like its a normal distance away from the neck point (a little more than two denticles away from the neck point), and set a little higher than usual (see attached), with a pretty good match on the date font. It does look like the coin has a "high date", since it's set a little high, which helps narrow it down and would be either a VAM-7 or VAM-31. You would have to look at the coin in-hand to see if there is any minor doubling of the ear lobe (VAM-31), otherwise it would be a VAM-7. From the pic I can't be sure, but it doesn't appear to have a doubled ear lobe. So the end result is that it seems to be a legit low MS grade Morgan dollar that is a VAM-7. Keep in mind that this check isn't an absolute in verifying a Morgan is authentic as it's just based on some pics which doesn't tell the whole story, and some counterfeits are extremely close to the real deal for some of the higher value Morgans. But that is a good step to take, in addition to carefully checking dimensions and weights, relative to evaluating a raw Morgan. Hope that helps out going through the bag, and it may seem a little overwhelming at first, but after going through a few like above you should start to get the hang of it.

Good job on the photos. Too bad about the coin.

Jason, there is actually no shot whatsoever that the op has a "mule" (see attached). Well, maybe in the stable behind the barn if they live on a farm. Kidding aside, the op's coin has a matching obverse and reverse (therefore not a mule), and possibly just a vice job strange impression or damage. So them having anything remotely close to the controversial 1959-D Lincoln Cent Mule (see attached) is an impossibility. In fact it appears to just be damage, regardless if its an impression or dried adhesive of some kind. https://www.pcgs.com/news/the-mystery-of-the-1959-d-mule-lincoln-cent

That was enough right there. Almost cartoon like.

Rest your Arm on something , like a few stacked books, if you are using a phone camera and keep the lens about 4 to 6 inches above and square with the coin. NGC Coin Explorer and PCGS CoinFacts have photos of coins for comparison, with the latter having a link to a multitude of grades for each particular coin.

Didn't you hear that starting in 2021 the TPGs and the US mint went woke, with new DEI hiring requirements that have nothing to do with actual qualifications. That's how you end up with a 2022 quarter struck on silver planchet error when the new DEI hire for forklift operator grabbed the wrong coil to punch out the 2022 quarter planchets. I guess it's possible that a proof coin has one die that is polished more than the other, or perhaps a proof coin was in circulation and one side had more wear than the other resulting in it appearing to be less proof like.

As RWB noted that would not be a "transitional year", and I think you meant to imply that somehow your coin may be a "transitional error" as the mint changed (or "transitioned") from the wheat cent reverse in 1958 to the memorial cent reverse in 1959. However, there is no shot whatsoever that that your 1959 cent with a correct memorial reverse somehow ended up with a strike on the obverse of just a wheat stalk from the 1958 reverse design. Also, the area in question doesn't look anything like wheat stalks.

Through 1989 mint marks were hand punched into working dies, so there would be variations in the location. Starting in the early 1980's complete dates had been added to the master hubs. So by 1990 both the date and mint mark were incorporated into the master hubs, eliminating variations in the locations for both of those elements of a coin, with a few tears shed by variety collectors.

I would not use the plastic flip holders because you can cause "flip rub" on coins (https://www.pcgs.com/News/Examining-Contact-Marks-On-Coins), which could downgrade a coin from say an MS to an AU slider, as a result of minor rub marks from sliding coins in and out of the flips. It's better to use say DirectFit capsules or PCCB slab holders, with either available on Amazon.

You really need to learn how to evaluate these coins yourself as it's not reasonable to expect members to go through countless posts to work your way through a bag of them, which look like they are turning out to be fakes. Did you acquire this bag of Morgans from the same source, which might be a clue as to authenticity. Have you compared the details of the coins to those shown on NGC Coin Explorer as recommended by Sandon? Once it looks like it might be legit just looking at general details the next step to authenticate Morgans is to go to VAM World and try to identify a particular VAM with the coin in hand, starting with the date and mark then looking for other markers. A lot of the markers just can't be picked up very well with pics. http://www.vamworld.com/wiki/Morgan_VAMs_by_Date Btw, much better job with the pics keeping them in focus and cropping them, which make it much easier for members to see and evaluate.

Apmex has some nice raw Morgans, including some BU grade 1921-D's valued at $75 listed for $80. I have purchased a number of raw Morgans from them which I have been happy with.

Pretty good home label except for the crooked stick on grade label, and it looks like AU grade to me. Is that a coin you have or are considering buying?

See the attached for an example of the very rare 1958 DDO Lincoln cent. Notice the distinct doubling of "Liberty" and "In God We Trust", which your coin does not have.

For the first one (top left) I don't think the date is that much different from a "far date" VAM (attached) if maybe it took a hit in that area, but the reverse doesn't match any of the know paired dies for the far date. So at least that one doesn't appear to be authentic. They all have a similar off appearance, and looking at the bottom two 1889-CC's the dates are way off. So they are likely all fakes.

Best way to authenticate Morgans is to go to VAM World and try to identify a particular VAM with the coin in hand, starting with the date and mark then looking for other markers. A lot of the markers just can't be picked up very well with those pics. http://www.vamworld.com/wiki/1889-CC_VAMs http://www.vamworld.com/wiki/1894-P_VAMs Also, they all appear to have an off dull grey color which might indicate they were faked or possibly over-dipped.

In addition to there being the obverse and reverse rotation difference (enough right there), as well as the lack of detail loss, there appears to be a difference in the fonts. Look at the upper loop of the 2 in the date and the last T in Trust. So it definitely looks like is it's faked, but I am left wondering how it was done.

Just looks like circulated coins to me too, and I don't see a 1982-D cent. Also, attached is an example of one of your coins rotated and cropped as Bill mentioned.

No

Not an error coin. May have been given a home brewed science acid treatment by dropping acid on the reverse, which may have spilled over a bit effecting the obverse and exposing the copper core on the edge. Similar to what's discussed at error-ref.com, but it doesn't appear to have been submerged. https://www.error-ref.com/acid-shrunk-coins/

I'm not familiar with those coins or counterstamps, but it is a very distinctive and repetitive pattern so it may be something similar to chop marks by merchants.

NGC needs to get with the times. PCGS has been straight grading Trade Dollars with Chop Marks as a variety since 2003. https://www.pcgs.com/News/Pcgs-Now-Designates-Chop-Marked-Trade-Dollars I really like the chopped Trade Dollars because I think it gives them character and history, like the attached example from my collection which I can imagine being handed to a merchant at an Asian port for some silk and other goods.

Why are you submitting the coins?

To muddy the waters a little more you can also have UNC (uncirculated) silver eagles in addition to the proof and bullion ones. Many use "ASE" to mean either bullion or proof silver eagles, so I usually clarify which if the one referenced is not obvious. Attached: Proof ASE, Burnished ASE and Bullion ASE (no MM)

Also happens with a lot of older US coins, but seems like it's less common an issue with older German coins I have come across.