Error? PMD? What is this…1903-O VAM-4A

[Mediocrates007]

Vammers,

I’m looking for an assist on this 1903-O VAM-4A I just picked up. The attribution was an easy one, so I’m not sweating that part (or am I?)

The part I’m confused by is the “broken R” on dollar. To my eye, it appears to have happened during the strike and not post-mint-damage.

At first look, I thought this could be the die, but looking at the example on the listing, this coin appears to be an earlier die state that hadn’t developed the crack at the mint mark yet.

I’ve attached several photos in the hopes someone has an idea. Thank you!

[Mediocrates007]

A few more of the R

[pup_picker]

i would call that a bottom-bagger coin but it got such a high grade which means it probably just took some very odd very unfortunate HARD hit by something that just mangled that area of the coin. PMD all day.

nice it is a 66 holder tho.

edited to add. that cac'ed? WOW

[Mediocrates007]

edited to add. that cac'ed? WOW

So that’s what got me too and sent me on this “it’s not PMD” train lol. The area is clean where the top of the R is and the metal is clearly pushed into the letter. A 66 and CAC? Not hard to miss in-hand either.

If it was a hit, I would expect to see the marks above the R? But I guess unforeseen things do happen when a 1,000 of your friends are hanging out.

[Kurt28]

If the PMD came from a glancing blow (low angle of incidence,) then you may have the mark above the R, and a dragging of the offender to the left.

Unable to upload photo showing arrow, but it is on the wreath leaf above the R.

[Mediocrates007]

If the PMD came from a glancing blow (low angle of incidence,) then you may have the mark above the R, and a dragging of the offender to the left.

Unable to upload photo showing arrow, but it is on the wreath leaf above the R.

Ok that is making more sense and adds to the above.

Also, I noticed you can’t upload screenshots, it’s the file extension I think. My workaround for that is to screenshot, then open in a different photo app and save so it’s a *.jpg.

[Mediocrates007]

@Kurt28 and @pup_picker , i think you both got it right. Thanks for the insight, I think this was a case of looking too closely.

I held up a coin to the spot and it lines up too perfectly.

I appreciate the help on a pretty trivial and minor thing.

[pup_picker]

you are welcome. i will pretty much offer an opinion on something, especially with as good as images as you provided. nj btw !

[Kurt28]

I'm sometimes hard to catch, but happy to help.
And I did use a .jpg extension, but I may have made another mistake.

glancingblow.jpg (37.56 KiB) Viewed 2004 times

[AlexP]

Looks like the mystery has been solved, just wanted to say beautiful coin! Love the obverse toning.