Is this mintmark real [opgelost]

Supposed to be a 1903-O Morgan Dollar

O is the mintmark used by the New Orleans mint from 1838 to 1909, so it very well could be correct.

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces1492.html

But is the mintmark real or altered. 1903-O is a key date in the Morgan series so I want to make sure.

The mintmark itself doesn't look like any examples of it I can see. I'll step aside for the better informed to answer your question now.

It does look suspicious. Here's a close-up:



The O should look much more open on a real 1903 O Morgan dollar.

Some fake 1903 O Morgans are magnetic. What about yours?

A photo of both sides would be helpful to identify a counterfeit. Did you weigh the coin etc? Having said that, the O does not look right. https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1903-o-1/7286

Citeer: "harryg"​A photo of both sides would be helpful to identify a counterfeit. Did you weigh the coin etc? Having said that, the O does not look right. https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1903-o-1/7286
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​Saw it on eBay and only the reverse was photographed.

The same seller has another one with the same O shape.

Citeer: "rushmore98"​

Citeer: "harryg"​A photo of both sides would be helpful to identify a counterfeit. Did you weigh the coin etc? Having said that, the O does not look right. https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1903-o-1/7286
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​​Saw it on eBay and only the reverse was photographed.

​Personally, I would just stay away from that.

VAMword is a site that specializes in the die/die state variations for the Morgan and Peace dollars.


http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/1903-O_Reverses

There is so much info that it takes a while to digest. But it may help.

Breen 5696 mentions a mintmark (VAM 2) that is supposed to have a narrow slit, so your mintmark may be correct.

Be sure to examine the area around the mintmark closely, and also examine the edge of the coin nearest the date for tooling.

Study the VAM photos (or see their earlier editions, entitled "Silver Dollar Fortune Telling") to see if they show the same style of mintmark.

If his price seems to be too good to be true, it probably is not genuine. If in doubt, pass on it, or ask him to get it slabbed by PCGS.

Keep your distance.

Citeer: "jimpop"​Keep your distance.

​Yes indeed.
1. Ebay
2. Only picture provided is the reverse. Why?
3. Mintmark very suspicious and trying to explain it away as a VAM

Citeer: "harryg"​

Citeer: "jimpop"​Keep your distance.

​​Yes indeed.
​1. Ebay
​2. Only picture provided is the reverse. Why?
​3. Mintmark very suspicious and trying to explain it away as a VAM

​1. Ebay is very quick to jump in and give refunds for "Not As Described". You just have to follow their rules.
2. Only one photo--probably so it would be bigger in the Gallery, but there should have been two photos.
3. Some New Orleans Mint Morgans have the "split center O". I have seen them--and I assembled a date and mintmark set that lacked only three coins to complete. I do not recall if 1903 is one of those years. The mint used hundreds of dies in some years, and did not always use the same mintmark punch. (All the dies for all mints were prepared in the Philadelphia Mint.) VAM is the BEST way to determine this, since they assign separate numbers for each identifiable die pair for a specific date and mintmark, using minute details such as mintmark placement, letter placement, doubling of arrowheads, letter doubling, mintmark characteristics, etc. If the "split center O" is recognized, that is your best place to verify it.

I'm very familiar with Morgans and VAMs and we can pick every coin apart ad nauseam. The seller happens to have 2 different dates of the same "VAMs" without mentioning the fact that they are VAMs? Another reason to be suspicious. Far too many red flags as far as I'm concerned.

I bid on it earlier but had 2nd thoughts so I came over here. I have since been outbid so I'm safe.

Citeer: "rushmore98"​I bid on it earlier but had 2nd thoughts so I came over here. I have since been outbid so I'm safe.

​Did it sell? Where was it at or what did it sell for?

50 minutes to go and it's at US $127!

Citeer: "Camerinvs"​50 minutes to go and it's at US $127!
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​Notwithstanding anything stated before, I would not bid on this. Any Seller who claims to accept "No Returns' should be avoided, whether on eBay, your local store, or a flea market!
By the way, eBay will override "No Returns" if the item is "Not As Described".

I agree.

And yet, four more bids in the last few seconds. It went for US $167.50!

Yikes!