Expert: PAPAJACK - 6/26/2008

Question
I read your answer about what to look for in an 1893-S Morgan silver dollar to determine its authenticity. I looked at my coin and it did not have the die marker indent on the letter "T" in the word "LIBERTY". I then sent it to PCGS for grading and they said it was an authentic 1893-S Morgan. How can that be?

Answer
Hello Michael,                      

I do not remember the answer you are referring to but I will do my best to better describe this anomaly.

There are die markers that show on every authentic coin, even in low grades with a normal wear pattern. You still have to detect any other problems with the coin (wear, cleaning, alteration etc.) yourself.

According to records only one Obverse Die was used on all the coins at San Francisco mint. And indeed the letter T in LIBERTY is showing a mark similar to what you are describing according to the authentication manual. It is near the center top, like a raised scratch in the cross-bar almost 5 degrees slanted from the vertical axis. Now being a raised feature this feature could have been worn down, rubbed off, hit flat or even have not been fully struck up when the coin was minted if there was debris caught in the die at that point.

So you can then look for a die chip that leaves a raised surface looking like a two tined pitchfork, (or rabbit ears) in the bottom left foot of the letter R in the word LIBERTY.   

There are other characteristics the authenticators use on both sides of the coins like the position of the date, eagle feathers and legends.

You might not see all these die characteristics without a microscope and good lighting due to the different die stages and the amount of wear, nicks, dents etc. your coin might have. But as I said there are other die markers the experts use on both sides of the coin to authenticate it.

I hope this answer helps.

Thank You for the question and Good Luck

PapaJack