| Author |
 Replies: 10 / Views: 3,871 |
|
|
New Member
Germany
5 Posts |
Hi from Germany, New here I hope to find friendly collectors to discuss with! I'll begin with a Quarter Eagle...: I read comments about 2 1/2 Dollar 1911 D , diagnostics of genuine coins and possible counterfeits. I'm not sure about a coin which was offered to me, are there members which could give their judgement? Here in Germany knowledge about this cointype is not easy to find. Grade doesn't seem to be remercable, maybe VF. The "D" looks like a strong one and the date 1911 seems to be in order. The eagle-side has certain marks above "ES" and "OF", which might be typical for Denver Mint(?). Will try to upload images. Greetings!   |
|
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
Hardy28  Nothing like starting out with a bang. The 1911-D is the scarce issue. These were well know counterfeit coins. This one looks AU-50 IMHO Lets see what the other members think |
|
Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Welcome to Coin Community, Hardy28. Quite the welcoming coin.  There are two key diagnostics one might count on for the 1911-D $2.5. First, scalloping at the rim at Noon on the reverse. Second, a wire rim on the East side of the obverse. I see both fairly clearly with your coin. Although this is not conclusive - nobody can make that call based only on images - I am cautiously optimistic that you have an authentic coin. Let us wait for further opinion. I may not be completely correct, and there are some very good fakes of these. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4691 Posts |
I would NEVER purchase this coin unless it were in a TPG slab. Also weak D vis-à-vis strong D carry a huge discount. |
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
Also weak D vis-à-vis strong D carry a huge discount. It's the key to the series; the discount isn't that huge.  Either way, this is the "Strong" version, if real. I have other diagnostics in mind, if a very accurate detail image of the mint mark and arrowhead area were available. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2589 Posts |
I would also grade it at AU, however I'm not familiar enough with the series to distinguish if its counterfeit. Their are counterfeits of this series made in the middle east in the 1950's and 60's that are of a higher gold content than the real things.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5854 Posts |
You may be surprised but the discount between a weak and strong D is significant. Looking through the Heritage archives, an example with a weak D NGC AU-58 sold on 3/22/13 for $2938 while another example with a strong D also a NGC AU-58 sold on 4/26/13 for $5288. From the same April auction, there were several AU details of which 2 sold for $2350, one for $2585, an another for $3819. SsuperDdave probably has better eyes than I do because I am not seeing the wire rim at approximately 12:00-5:00 on the obverse. I do see the scalloping at the top of the reverse and the mint mark does not look like one that has been obviously added. There is a die polish line at the arrowhead but large and sharp pictures will be need to see it. If genuine, the coin could grade in the AU range but there appears to be a scratch under liberty that may result in it grading as a problem coin. to CCF! |
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
I defer to more accurate knowledge regarding the price differential, and stand corrected. I expect to see the wire rim only to about 3:00, which the image seems to confirm. The only place to go from here, probably, is the shape of the mint mark and the known die line inside the arrowhead. |
|
New Member
 Germany
5 Posts |
Hi and thanks to all you kind replyers  ! Very interesting aspects. Of course I understand that it's only a scan - with reduced size. I could try to focus on certain parts or details of the coin (as I understood SsuperDdave). I don't understand enough English as necessary to know which part. I'd also reflect about asking for the possibility of a "slab" (is that kind of sealing by a numismatic company? How much would normally be the price?), Jimbucks! |
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
These are questions we have answers for. The Third-Party Grading ( TPG) system is popular in America but less so in Europe. An independent company authenticates, grades and encapsulates your coin, as a form of reassurance if you are purchasing sight unseen. Your coin is the Key Date of the series, and a potential US buyer for it would definitely prefer to see it in a slab. Authenticity is always a worry, especially with a coin this rare. Surface originality is also prized, and if the coin is adjudicated as having been cleaned, value will drop substantially. The two major TPG's are PCGS and NGC. Both have European offices (in Paris and Konstanz, respectively) and both have affiliations with German dealers with whom you can arrange to have your coin graded. Your cost in total for this service - cost relates to the coin's value - will probably be near US$100 once shipping and insurance are figured in. On the bright side, I estimate your coin to be in the AU range and has a value - if authentic and original surfaces - near US$4000. The smaller details I was talking about are the shape of the inside of the mint mark, which has a characteristic look, and a very small die line in the recessed part of the coin next to the arrowhead. It's a very tiny line, and would require significant optical magnification to show here. Were you in the US, I would automatically recommend the coin be sent to a TPG. Our ability to help here does not replace the need for a series expert to examine the coin in person. |
|
New Member
Germany
5 Posts |
Thank you, SSuperDdave, for so clear answers! I've tried to enlarge the scan of mintmark and the arrows. If that will do to see more?
Otherwise I'd try again. Now I'm looking for a chance to add the photo, but up to now I haven't found. Maybe I send new topic if that's easier for me.
|
| |
Replies: 10 / Views: 3,871 |
|
Posted 01/06/2015 2:40 pm
