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 Replies: 7 / Views: 1,625 |
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New Member
United States
38 Posts |
I am looking at buying a complete set of liberty head nickels from a collector, containing 2 1885 coins, he is asking almost 3k for the set one of the coins is in very good condition the other is not so good but still a very nice coin, all comments welcome first coin obv Image:  85_1_obv.jpg38.79 KB first coin rev Image: 85_1_rev.jpg39.49 KB second coin obv Image: 85_2_obv.jpg34.67 KB second coin rev Image: 85_2_rev.jpg35 KB |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
All I can say is WOW on the first coin !! My guess at grade is MS-64 ,but then I have to ask myself, why would the coin not be slabbed? this coin alone makes the kind of money in a Top TPG that this collector is asking for the set . The surfaces look dark and maybe retoning after cleaning ,hard to tell for sure ,but its possible. The second coin the surfaces look more natural but I also suspect a cleaning sometime in the past on this coin, the lighter fields and the dark halo around the devices could be the results of being cleaned VF-30 for a grade. Rick |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
954 Posts |
First of all, I know next to nothing about V-nics, but....something about the first coin just screams WRONG at me. At first I thought the 5 looked wrong, but the more I look at it and compare it with others, it's the second 8. It looks too big. I hope I'm wrong  Hopefully someone will come along that's knows more than me about them. 3k is a lot of money, do you have a dealer you know that you can take the coins to? I'm a little nervous about you spending that kind of money, especially if the coin is an altered date, can you tell[:0]  |
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New Member
 United States
38 Posts |
The coins are from a collector in Germany, thats why they are not slabbed, the European market for US coins doesn't really go for slabbing, I did notice the 8 as it is slightly thicker but I thought it might have been doubling although its not something I have heard of with this date |
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Forum Mom
 United States
5877 Posts |
The first coin definitely appears uncirculated and contact marks are minimal. The coin looks dark in the pics, but that may also be lighting. Even blown up, I couldn't find any evidence of cleaning. I think the first is in the MS63-64 range.
The second coin I grade at F12 with the "I" so faint.
$3k is a lot of money to risk. If the seller is willing to guarantee the athenticity of the 2 1885's, then it could be worth it. Just be sure that you protect yourself. What are the conditions of the other coins in the set?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
smcc
there are known cast copies and altered dates known for this date, buying from overseas is basically sight unseen,
Mint state examples of the 1885 should be suspect!
even if the seller offers a very good authenticity return policy ,it could be very hard to enforce.
Rick
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Valued Member
United States
363 Posts |
I know absolutely nothing about Liberty nickels, but I would agree with the others: be very careful when spending this kind of money. If there were some way the two coins could be authenticated it would be nice. If it were here in the U.S. I think you could offer to pay for the certification of these two at least if there are no problems. If they come back in body bags then the seller pays. But overseas, I don't know. |
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New Member
United States
38 Posts |
I chickened out in the end, I asked the seller for some more pictures of the BU 85 and they were still inconclusive, he was also a bit coy about the whole returns process so decided to give it a miss, thanks to all for your feedback
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Replies: 7 / Views: 1,625 |
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Posted 10/14/2005 1:10 pm
