NNP

1879 $1 Morgan Dollar -- Partial Collar -- XF45 NGC. A partial collar error is also sometimes known as a "railroad rim" strike, since the edge resembles a train wheel. Half of the edge is reeded and the other half is raised and plain, but how did that happen? When the obverse and reverse dies come together, they squeeze the blank planchet slightly outward while imparting the design. A collar, in the case of Morgan dollars containing the edge reeds, retains the outward flow of the metal and imparts the reeding to the edge of the coin. The collar is mounted in the coin press so that it can move out of the way when each struck coin is removed from the press. Occasionally, the collar would only return part way to its normal position, and only part of the next planchet received its reeding during the strike. This Choice XF example has high-point wear on both sides, retaining considerable luster, all beneath original gray and ivory patina. Provenance. "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; Partnership of Eric P. Newman / B.G. Johnson d.b.a. St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman @ $6; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society. From The Eric P. Newman Collection.

From Newman I (Heritage Auctions, 4/2013), lot 4051, realized $499.38. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.