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 Replies: 21 / Views: 2,153 |
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Valued Member
United States
212 Posts |
Picked up this piece today at a Richardson coin show. I got it for 240. From a Red Book perspective, this is a great deal. It seems to be either a high AU or a low MS. I personally think it's around MS-60, but I need some expert opinion. I think there is some kind of cleaning on the obverse, but maybe it's just me. Any help is appreciated.   *** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. *** |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5417 Posts |
From the pics the coin does not appear PL. The hairlines may be cleaning buy if the coin is infact PL, they could just as easily be die polishing lines.
Any chance at better pictures under differeny lighting?
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Valued Member
 United States
212 Posts |
I tried to play around with the angles and stuff. The pictures low quality, but I think it shows the proof like appearance.  Edited by NickelCollector
08/15/2015 8:59 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36826 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
115 Posts |
I would agree, AU-55, as Elvis once said, "You did good son."
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Valued Member
United States
212 Posts |
I looked at some of the high points using a microscope, and can now agree with An AU-55 to AU-58 range, with maybe a chance at MS. Now, Should I get it graded? Or no? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Agree with AU55 details (cleaned). Those don't look like die polishing lines to me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7624 Posts |
With so many one dollar gold counterfeits out in the field I'd definitely get it certified. It'll pay off in the long run.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Your coin is counterfeit. I'll tell you why:
Being PL is a very bad sign for starters. Coins are typically PL for the first 4000 or so strikes, and then the PL wears off as the die wears from the metal flow caused during the striking of the coin. In 1874, 198,800 gold dollars were produced, so the chance your coin would be PL is very small. However, counterfeiters usually produce their coins on a relatively small scale, and they usually keep polishing their dies, so their coins come out as an attractive PL.
Another red flag are the spikes jutting out of the rim at 8:00 on the obverse and 7:00 on the reverse. These are toolmarks typical of many small counterfeit gold coins. There are probably more of these spikes, but those two are the only ones I can see from your pictures.
The only good thing about this coin is that it is still made of 90% gold and is worth whatever melt is. However, melt is far lower than what you paid, so I would try to return the coin and get a refund if I were you.
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Valued Member
United States
212 Posts |
type coin, I can see what you mean from the pictures, though I think it's just the 2x2 that it's in. I'll check right now.
EDIT: this is a really hard coin to do...
Edited by NickelCollector
08/16/2015 11:13 pm
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Valued Member
United States
177 Posts |
I really can't tell for sure from the photos whether it is counterfeit or not, but I can see the spikes that TC mentioned. I also see a LOT of parallel lines on both the obverse and the reverse, many of which look like they are raised, suggesting some serious die scratches. Coincidentally, the "spikes" TC mentions (if I correctly understand what he's referring to) look like they are parallel to the die scratches, so they *could* just be more die scratches that happen to intersect the rims, rather than tooling marks.
What this means is up for debate, but if counterfeiters continually polish their dies, then these die scratches could very well indicate a possible counterfeit.
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Valued Member
United States
212 Posts |
So I suppose I send it in for grading?
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Valued Member
United States
177 Posts |
Probably the surest way to know for certain.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
It does appear to have AU+ Details and lightly cleaned. $240 is a fair price for it but buying raw low denomination gold ($1, $2.50, $3) is scary business these days. For reference, here's an NGC AU53 piece that sold this summer for $259 on Heritage. http://coins.ha.com/itm/gold-dollar...Lot=1x=0&y=0 |
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Valued Member
United States
212 Posts |
If I'm correct, I've found where the supposed tooling marks are on the rim. I took another picture of the rim, and I just think it was dust or something. Probably doesn't help or anything.   Edited by NickelCollector
08/17/2015 12:00 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
589 Posts |
Quote:
It does appear to have AU+ Details and lightly cleaned. $240 is a fair price for it but buying raw low denomination gold ($1, $2.50, $3) is scary business these days.  NGC 1857 $1 AU-58 $245@HA.com in 2014 PCGS 1856 $1 AU-53 Slanted 5 $235@Stacks in 2015 Quote:1874 gold dollar- Many are found with the word LIBERTY partially or completely missing. This was probably the result of Die Deterioration. Not sure if your coin is genuine or counterfeit without having the coin in hand. I have three coins posted see if you can tell which ones are genuine.    From the pictures it is hard to tell. The one in the middle is a fake. The other two are problem free.  |
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Replies: 21 / Views: 2,153 |
Posted 08/15/2015 8:58 pm
