| Author |
 Replies: 12 / Views: 3,358 |
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
270 Posts |
Hello all! So recently I purchased a small lot of Canadian/U.S/GDR coins. The star of the lot was a 1983 GDR 20 mark coin, with the Martin Luther commemorative portrait. It came in a 3-piece sliding case, which appears to be from the German mint(?)....and looks like either a proof or a completely uncirculated MS. The coin does not have much cameo, but is hard to tell...basically I would just like any information on this coin, a solid valuation, and I am also curious if it would be beneficial to have it graded and slabbed? The coin appears to have a ring of corrosion or toning? Do you feel this coin is a plateau or will it gain value with age? I appreciate any information as all ive found on this piece is in German!! Thanks, Luc. (NEW-mismatic) Diamater 33mm Weight 20.89(cheap scale) Horizontal grain under loupe (Black dot near the head was a mark on my camera not the coin)    *** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***Edited by UncleLuc
12/22/2014 7:12 pm
|
|
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
The base metal coins of the DDR generate some numismatic interest in their own right, as a balance to the Federal Republic Mark coinage. |
|
Valued Member
 Canada
270 Posts |
Sorry, forgot to mention the coin consists of .500 silver.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Germany
1238 Posts |
Mintage was 46,000 (mostly unc, and 5,500 proof). In that "Luther Year" both the Federal Republic of Germany (then "West" only) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR *) issued commemorative/collector coins. The value of your piece (which is not quite what you would get if you sold it) is about €300, maybe less due to the condition. After the mid-1950s, the GDR had just one central mint (in Berlin) which on some coins used the "A" mintmark while it does not show on others. The piece was designed by Heinz Rodewald, hence the "R" sign. (* If you use the German " DDR" abbreviation instead of GDR, you'll get a misleading automatic link here ;) ) Christian |
|
Valued Member
Canada
270 Posts |
Thanks for the all the info so far! Keep in mind the coin has never been handled, and under a loupe I cant find a single flaw on the highest points...possibly a bad picture misleading condition. The only problem I can see is the corrosion ring on both sides...I saw on the internet a similar condition coin was graded at MS67....where do you think this one would grade?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
992 Posts |
Looks from the photos to be in the MS65-67 range, to me. Better photos would help, but with the value of the coin in mint state, I would get on the PCGS site and make contact with them, preparatory to sending it off for restoration and grading. They will return the slabbed coin to you and you can then shop it around for best price once the grade is tied down and removes the risk from the seller/buyer equation as to range of value.
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
270 Posts |
Awesome answers everyone! My original plan was to send it off to get slabbed and graded and thats probably what I'll do now that ive recived all this info. The problem was that I had took the coin in with me to a small coin/bullion dealer (who I will leave un-named as I do not want to hurt their business...) and ended up leaving more confused than when I went in... The young guy that I showed the coin to during my bullion purchase, took a 3-second look at it and said "its gonna be worth silver weight" and also "We see a lot of them"...this almost made my head explode as I still cant find one for sale anywhere in north America? Also, the only ones ive found abroad online are selling for €300+.... I knew the coin was something special so I gave him a quick laugh, took it back and thanked him.
..Did this guy know what he was talking about? Maybe did he think it was a regular 20 mark silver or do you think he just didnt care? Keep in mind this place is primarily known for bullion and not numismatics... re-assurance that this coin is a nice one from anyone is good to hear!!
Also mentioned you said pcgs would "restore" the coin? Would this mean they would remove or stop the toning? Or is this a quality I want to progress? Also, how can I provide "better pictures" to better assist any grading suggestions? Ie. Angle, lighting, ect.?
Again thanks for all the info and replys!!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
992 Posts |
Bullion dealers are the last people to ask about numismatic values, they know what they know, and that's all they know.
PCGS will authenticate and grade the coin as part of the slabbing process. They also offer 'restoration', which is a professional cleaning that does not harm the coin. You can discuss that with them.
You won't need to send better pictures to PCGS, just the coin. I was just mentioning photography as the photos are oblique, not perpendicular to the lens.
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
270 Posts |
I absolutely agree that bullion shops wouldnt be the best place for advice, however in this instance, the shop I brought it to would have also been the place I would submit my coin for grading.. At the time, I would have felt stupid telling the guy to send it away to be graded right after he told me it was worth $5...but now that I have done more research and have heard your opinions I now would have the confidence to disagree with him... remeber I am a NEW-mismatic, and dont feel I have the knowledge or place to disagree with a "professional", unless armed with the proper information...
THANKS TO ALL! keep suggestions/grades/comments comming!
I will post pics of the final grade/slabbed coin in the future!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
992 Posts |
Good luck.
Remember, there are professionals and then there are guys behind the counter at a coin store. Often not the same person.
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
270 Posts |
Hopefully better pics...again, the black dot on both pictures is a lense issue and not a mark on the coin.   |
|
Valued Member
Canada
270 Posts |
Hi all! I'm hoping to get a few more grade opinions as its kind of slowed down...I will be sending it off on tuesday, and I would love to get some more guesses on it before an official grade...this would show me exactly which community members have a good eye for picture grading. LET 'EM FLY!
|
| |
Replies: 12 / Views: 3,358 |
|
Posted 12/22/2014 02:11 am
