MORGAN DOLLAR / reverse question/ pics included 0

[dollarfan]

hello again,  many thanks to those who provided great info on my last post.  I just purchased this coin as a more eye appealing double.  I noticed a flat "burnished" looking area above the eagle on the reverse and was wondering what that is all about??   also,  these pics were from the site i purchased so i hope i am not violating any rules by posting.  I only wish i could take pics like these.  thanks in advance

[Coinbuf]

I cannot tell from that photo.

[MarkFeld]

2 hours ago, Coinbuf said:

I cannot tell from that photo.

I can’t either, but if I had to guess, I think it might be light haze on the coin. Edited to add - my second guess would be cloudiness on the holder, itself. Bottom line, I think Coinbuf got it right.

Edited December 5, 2020 by MarkFeld

[Cash mike]

I'm not quite sure.

[Greenstang]

Hard to tell, it could just be the lighting on the sellers pictures. Have to wait until you get the coin and then you can post pictures.

[RWB]

The coin was struck from clashed dies. This might have imparted a slightly different field texture to the part of the coin below the motto and also to right of the eagle (compare texture to left and right of the < shape line).

The vertical line below the word IN is part of Liberty's throat on the obverse. The < shaped line to right of the eagle's wing comes from the back of Liberty's head. The gentle curve at lower left is Liberty's profile. (See arrows on illustration.)

Edited December 5, 2020 by RWB

[dollarfan]

3 hours ago, RWB said:

The coin was struck from clashed dies. This might have imparted a slightly different field texture to the part of the coin below the motto and also to right of the eagle (compare texture to left and right of the < shape line).

The vertical line below the word IN is part of Liberty's throat on the obverse. The < shaped line to right of the eagle's wing comes from the back of Liberty's head. The gentle curve at lower left is Liberty's profile. (See arrows on illustration.)

wow that is an amazing observation    i can clearly see it now that you have pointed it out. THANKS RWB!!

[RWB]

The VAMworld.com site has more extensive information die clashes, cracks and other interesting defects/errors. Also, the members there are collectors of silver dollar varieties and can help with answers to your questions. There are lots of photos and information on taking coin photos.

[James_OldeTowne]

I agree with RWB's excellent explanation regarding clashed dies.

By the way - VERY nice photos!

[S3R3NDIPITY]

On 12/5/2020 at 5:30 PM, RWB said:

The coin was struck from clashed dies. This might have imparted a slightly different field texture to the part of the coin below the motto and also to right of the eagle (compare texture to left and right of the < shape line).

The vertical line below the word IN is part of Liberty's throat on the obverse. The < shaped line to right of the eagle's wing comes from the back of Liberty's head. The gentle curve at lower left is Liberty's profile. (See arrows on illustration.)

I’m blown away by the sheer professionalism of RWB’s observations which can’t be faulted in any way. We desperately need this level of American numismatic expertise in British numismatics. We have nothing like it this side of the pond.

[RWB]

S3R3NDIPITY,

Thank you for your kind and generous remarks.

American numismatics, having a much shorter history than Britain, has placed more emphasis on varieties and production irregularities. However, the techniques and approach for British coins would be nearly identical, so anyone with a good knowledge of 19th-20th century coinage should be able to replicate the process and results. There is also a major advantage for British collectors - the magnificent archives of the Royal Mint and Bank of England, plus the Gold Guild archives for 18th and 19th century. On top of that there is the outstanding metallurgical research of Sir. William Chandler Roberts-Austen.

Sadly, the US Mint Bureau never maintained its own history, operations, processes, production details and related materials... Us poor Colonials have been trying to figure out how our Mints really worked for decades. That has been the overall focus of my research for a long time, and it is only now that the discoveries are beginning to percolate to the hobby and business of American Numismatics. I'll mention, specifically, the book From Mine to Mint as a beginning compilation of US Mint operations, equipment, and processes for those interested in the subjects.

Edited December 12, 2020 by RWB

[Hoghead515]

2 hours ago, RWB said:

S3R3NDIPITY,

Thank you for your kind and generous remarks.

American numismatics, having a much shorter history than Britain, has placed more emphasis on varieties and production irregularities. However, the techniques and approach for British coins would be nearly identical, so anyone with a good knowledge of 19th-20th century coinage should be able to replicate the process and results. There is also a major advantage for British collectors - the magnificent archives of the Royal Mint and Bank of England, plus the Gold Guild archives for 18th and 19th century. On top of that there is the outstanding metallurgical research of Sir. William Chandler Roberts-Austen.

Sadly, the US Mint Bureau never maintained its own history, operations, processes, production details and related materials... Us poor Colonials have been trying to figure out how our Mints really worked for decades. That has been the overall focus of my research for a long time, and it is only now that the discoveries are beginning to percolate to the hobby and business of American Numismatics. I'll mention, specifically, the book From Mine to Mint as a beginning compilation of US Mint operations, equipment, and processes for those interested in the subjects.

Do you have a website that you sell your books on. Im going to request one to my old lady and hopefully I'll have one in my stocking Christmas morning. Also which one would you recommend to the new collector. Ive read a few things from you online and I can't wait to read one of your masterpieces. Im going to eventually try to collect them all. Also do you ever do book signings. One of these days down the road I'd like to meet you and get you to sign a couple of them. I love reading your post you write up. You are overflowing with knowledge. 

[RWB]

The distributor is Wizard Coin Supply in Chantilly, VA. Ask for an autographed copy - there's no extra charge. Other hobby book sellers have copies and each seller sets their own price and shipping terms. I receive nothing from any of the sellers.

Here's a book list with summaries. The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle book is available only from Heritage Auctions, Dallas, TX.

Renaissance of American Coinage 1905-1908 – 2006.
Origin and development of the Saint-Gaudens and Pratt gold coins of 1907 and 1908. Substantial new discoveries including gold patterns, unpublished letters, and much more. The standard reference. Detailed photos and carefully referenced text to original sources. NLG Book-of-the-Year, 2007. Hard cover, $64.95 retail.

Renaissance of American Coinage 1909-1915 – 2007.
The seminal work on the Lincoln cent, Buffalo nickel and Panama Pacific commemoratives. Complete, accurate explanations of designs, production difficulties, proofs and U.S. Mint events include destruction of 19th century pattern hubs. Another standard reference for these coins. NLG Book-of-the-Year, 2008. Hard cover, $64.95 retail.

Renaissance of American Coinage 1916-1921 – 2005.
The book that awakened coin collectors to “lost” stories of the new silver coins of 1916 and the Peace dollar. Complete revision of nearly everything about these coins. NLG Book-of-the-Year, 2006. Hard cover, $64.95 retail.

Note: The three Renaissance books constitute a veritable 1,000 page encyclopedia of both the coins and production methods for this time period. Explanations of everything from making reductions to the “proof coin” processes are described in detail. This vital information is available nowhere else.

A Guide Book of Peace Dollars – 2009-2020. The first and only comprehensive reference book on the Peace dollar. This volume includes information on every date and mintmark combination, plus pattern and proof pieces. A detailed chapter presents entirely new research about 1964-D dollars. Barry Lovvorn, co-author. Soft cover, $19.95 retail. 4r^d edition, 2020

Annual Assay Commission – United States Mint, 1800-1943 – 2010. Complete, original manuscript minutes of every annual assay commission meeting for which records exist, plus coins reserved for assay prior to 1850. An indispensable research tool for the serious numismatist. NLG Extraordinary Merit, 2011. Set of 4 DVDs in custom case, $75.00 retail.

Silver Dollars Struck Under the Pittman Act of 1918 – 2011. Complete, original manuscript daily journal entries of every date and mint of silver dollar struck from 1921 to 1928. Required reference for anyone involved with die varieties or coinage production. Includes a lengthy research essay on the Pittman Act. CD-ROM in jewel case, $12.95 retail.

United States Pattern and Experimental Pieces of WW-II – 2013. Coinage experiments for the cent and nickel before and during World War II. Completely erases all previously published information on these fascinating pieces. Released February 1, 2013. NLG Best Specialty Book, 2014. Full color printed edition of 190 pages. Price $29.95 retail.

From Mine to Mint: American Coinage Operations and Technology 1833 to 1937 – 2013. Equipment, technology, operations of the US Mint as it evolved from muscle to steam to electric power. March 25, 2013. NLG Book-of-the-Year 2014. 560 pages, $39.95 retail.

Truth Seeker: The Life of Eric P Newman – 2016. Primary author of the definitive biography of one of America’s most dedicated research numismatists. Includes extensive material from Newman’s personal papers including an inside look at the Col. E.H.R. Green collection. NLG Book-of-the Year award 2016.

United States Proof Coins 1936 – 1942 – April 2017. Detailed guide to proof coins made from 1936 through 1942. Includes mintages, deliveries, sales, pieces per die, varieties and a wealth of information never before available to collectors. This is the definitive reference for collectors and sellers of these coins. Full color, 350 pages, soft cover. $39.95. Best Specialty Book award.

Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles 1907 – 1933 – May 2018. The only detailed guide to double eagle gold coins designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Includes every known major die and mintmark variety, plus mintages, deliveries, survival estimates, and details of the use of these large coins in domestic and international trade. This is the definitive reference for collectors and sellers of these coins. Full color, 648 pages, soft cover. $90.00. Book of the Year and Best Specialty Book awards.

Private Pattern and Related Pieces: International Nickel & Gould Incorporated – May 2019. International Nickel Corp. (Inco) and Gould, Inc. private patterns are placed within their historical context and the commercial goals of both companies. Inco, by addressing the replacement of silver coinage in the United States from 1964-65, sought to increase the amount of nickel used in our coinage. Gould, Inc. proposed changing to powdered metal technology in 1976-78 and advocated use of compressed and sintered titanium in small size dollar coins. Although neither company was successful, they left a fascinating legacy of design, alloy and layered composition test pieces similar in size to standard U.S. coins. Full color, 248 pages, soft cover, $29.95.

Girl on the Silver Dollar – June 2019. Coin collectors have long believed Anna W. Williams was the model for George Morgan’s 1878 silver dollar design, but was she? The author examines available evidence and suggests Miss Williams modeled for Mr. Morgan, but her likeness was not part of the standard silver dollar design. This in-depth book also examines the origin and initial production of Morgan’s silver dollar, production of elusive 1895 dollars, and destruction of millions of coins in 1918-1919. Full color, 135 pages, hard cover, $24.95. NLG Best Specialty Book award.

Fads, Fables & Foibles – pending January 2021. Includes Barclay’s coinage experiments at the Philadelphia Mint, annular gold dollar and half-dollar coins, Joseph Wharton’s nickel alloy coins, Bedford international exchange gold, Hubbell’s goloid fiasco, and other odd and unusual coinage proposals. Full color, 260 pages, hard cover, $34.95.

Saudi Gold – pending March 2021. Gold discs made for Saudi Arabia, gold exchange standard, gold double eagles missing from US Mint, designing the Roosevelt dime and Franklin half, plus many other insights into US coinage and finance. Full color, 255 pages, hard cover, $34.95.

[Moderators - If this book list/description is inappropriate here, let me know and I will move it to the sales area.]

Edited December 14, 2020 by RWB
Fix formatting - as usual

[Hoghead515]

Thank you very much sir. Im probably going to start off with From Mine to Mint. Ill get it from Wizard. Ill start from the beginning. Im pretty excited to learn how they minted them back in the day. 

[Fenntucky Mike]

1 hour ago, Hoghead515 said:

Do you have a website that you sell your books on. Im going to request one to my old lady and hopefully I'll have one in my stocking Christmas morning. Also which one would you recommend to the new collector. Ive read a few things from you online and I can't wait to read one of your masterpieces. Im going to eventually try to collect them all. Also do you ever do book signings. One of these days down the road I'd like to meet you and get you to sign a couple of them. I love reading your post you write up. You are overflowing with knowledge. 

Mine to Mint is excellent, one of my favorites. 

[RWB]

5 hours ago, Hoghead515 said:

Thank you very much sir. Im probably going to start off with From Mine to Mint. Ill get it from Wizard. Ill start from the beginning. Im pretty excited to learn how they minted them back in the day. 

From Mine to Mint comes with a *.pdf version on CD. This is fully searchable by any word, phrase or collection of words - so it replaces a conventional index. The book begins roughly in the mid-1830s. Feedback from other readers suggests that you take your time and "browse" through the material. It's densely packed even at 550 pages. Also, if you want to use some of it for a coin club presentation or article, just let me know so I can provide original images -- as long as it's educational use and not for commercial/sales use it's OK.

Edited December 13, 2020 by RWB

[Hoghead515]

21 minutes ago, RWB said:

From Mine to Mint comes with a *.pdf version on CD. This is fully searchable by any word, phrase or collection of words - so it replaces a conventional index. The book begins roughly in the mid-1830s. Feedback from other readers suggests that you take your time and "browse" through the material. It's densely packed even at 550 pages. Also, if you want to use some of it for a coin club presentation or article, just let me know so I can provide original images -- as long as it's educational use and not for commercial/sales use it's OK.

Thank you so much. When its bad weather out and I don't get much work I really enjoy reading. I like reading anytime but can do it more in the winter months. Im really looking forward to it.