| Author |
 Replies: 22 / Views: 5,449 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6390 Posts |
Quarter eagles from Dahlonega are scarce and usually very expensive. I took a chance on this coin which looked pretty good in the seller photos. What are your thoughts, comments, and grading opinions?   |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3184 Posts |
|
|
Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
Nice! I have it's big brother, the 44-D Half Eagle.
I'll go with F12.
swcoin.ecrater.com
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5854 Posts |
I think this coin was not well struck to begin with which probably accounts for some of loss of details. Some of the features like the hair have a sort of rounded/wavy look which IMO is result of strike. Wear, from what I have read and seen, has a much flat look to it. I might be alone in this but I am going to say VF-30. I am a bit concerned with a scratch from the A to the mintmark but given the mint, the severity, and the location of the scratch, the TPG's might let this one slide. I am on the fence whether or not to call this a problem coin. Below are links to three examples from Heritage's archives. The first two are both graded VF-25 by PCGS. The third one is an example with an weak strike. http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleN...4&lotNo=4778http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleN...7&lotNo=4298http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleN...3&lotNo=5294 Don't see southern gold all that often. Sweet coin!  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
I too think it's mostly weak strike, I wouldn't go as high as VF-30 but VF-20 is not out of the question for this VERY desirable coin.
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3546 Posts |
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
Looks like a very nice example. What is going on on the reverse from the mintmark to the A in America? An old scratch? It compares very well to this PCGS OGH VF25 (linked earlier also) that sold on Heritage last month. http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?hdnJu...&saleNo=1174 &lotNo=4778&x=0&y=0 I'd say VF for sure and VF30 is not out of the question as D0ubl3Eagle noted. |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
6390 Posts |
Quote:
What is going on on the reverse from the mintmark to the A in America? An old scratch? I think that line might actually be a die clash, corresponding to the upper edge of Liberty's head. In-hand it does not look like a scratch. Gradewise I think this coin is in the VF range, with reverse strike weakness that is very typical for the date. Sharply-struck 1844-D quarter eagles exist but they are in the minority. The coin was definitely overgraded in an NNC holder when I bought it:   I knew the NNC grade could not be trusted, plus that service was likely to overlook cleaning problems. I took a chance and offered a bid that I felt was appropriate for a cleaned piece with VF detail. When I received it I was pleased that it did not appear to have been cleaned. I cracked it out for submission to a real grading service and discovered another little problem:  Pathetic of NNC to not mention such an obvious defect on their label. The edge had been filed, likely to remove evidence of a mount. The location of the defect at 7:00 relative to the obverse is a puzzle, however; if mounted the mount position is usually at 12:00 or 6:00. The amount of metal removed did not affect the weight which was correct at 4.1 grams. I contacted the seller, expecting he might just say "too bad" since I had removed the coin from the holder. However, he was a stand-up guy and we negotiated an additional 30% discount. That brought my cost into the price range of PCGS and NGC-certified pieces sold at auction that had "filed-edge" and "mount-removed" problems noted on the labels. So, my collection now includes a Dahlonega quarter eagle, damaged but priced accordingly. It will have to do until such time that I'm willing to pay 2-3 times as much for an original piece. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
OUCH! ...on the damaged (soldered?) rims. I thought that I noticed a flat spot on the rim in the opening OP images at 8 o'clock.
Edited by oih82w8
10/10/2012 11:53 am
|
|
Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
Yeah, XF45 is way out of the question. As far as I'm concerned, NNC is a basement slabber.
BTW, I'd buy from that seller ANY day of the week...very cool of him ;-)
swcoin.ecrater.com
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Given the location of the filing, I'm guessing NNC "repaired" a sizable rim ding.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
305 Posts |
wow, XF45 is out of range and they didn't mention the problem!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3546 Posts |
Quote:
is a basement slabber. That's putting it mildly but rather a disingenuous subbasement slabber unless the grader had a bad day and just let one 'slip' by  |
|
Valued Member
Canada
138 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4541 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6390 Posts |
PCGS verified authenticity and decided the filed rim was a "mount removed". I think it was worth having it slabbed to document that it is a genuine piece. The XF Details grade seems a bit high but I'll take it. The coin looks not too bad in the new PCGS plastic!  |
| |
Replies: 22 / Views: 5,449 |
Posted 10/09/2012 01:29 am
