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 Replies: 18 / Views: 2,274 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1499 Posts |
The 1796 No Stars Quarter Eagle is the rarest of all United States type coins. With a mintage 963 and an estimated surviving population of between 88 (Coin Facts) and 125 (my number), the coin is usually only seen in major auctions or at very large coin conventions. Like many coins it can go in cycles with respect to the number of appearances. When the market is moving up, you see more them. When it is quiet you will see none at all, or really doggy problem coins. Here are a couple of sets for photos for your review. What would be your grade for the first set and the second set? As the late Paul Harvey used to say, "I'll be back with the rest of the story." No Stars Quarter Eagle #1   No Stars Quarter Eagle #2   *** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. *** |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8904 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8517 Posts |
I believe they're both the same coin. Different lighting I suppose.
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7621 Posts |
Same coin. Some yahoo couldn't resist the temptation to "make it better".
The top set of pictures shows it after if was cleaned or whizzed and it probably now reposes in an NGC problem holder showing AU details.
The bottom picture is when the coin resided in a problem-free PCGS holder that probably was around AU-50'ish.
That's my opinion and I'm sticking with it (for now!).
Edited by westernsky
03/30/2016 2:16 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Same coin AU-50, terrible picture in the PCGS holder, looks a lot better in the NGC slab image but I don't trust either image.
Personally I think it has more of a cleaned/whizzed appearance in the PCGS image.
Edited by Conder101
03/30/2016 12:06 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
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Valued Member
299 Posts |
I wouldn't attempt to grade based upon a single photo ; I'd need to see the coin in hand, with my light, in my space.
Don't think they are the same coin though, NGC is EDS, PCGS LDS.
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
WoW!! my grade  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
They are the same coin. All minor defects are shown on both photo sets.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Agree they are the same. AU-53 details.
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Valued Member
United States
383 Posts |
Same coin. Even if it does have "problems", which looking at the 2nd pic makes me think it could have serious hairlines, it still probably straight graded at AU-55. The TPGs tend to be more lenient on such rarities.
ET
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1499 Posts |
Congratulations to those who figured out that these were pictures of the same coin!
The story of this coin is sad. I first saw this piece in the mid 1990s when I was a dealer. It was in an NGC EF-45 holder and was flawless for the grade. It had the original "old gold" toning which not too dark, and had no annoying copper spots. I would have loved to have bought the coin, but there was no way I could swing it.
The dealer who owned it let me take it on consignment to show to one of my best customers. Although I don't advocate buying coins as an investment, this one had all of the earmarks of great buy. It had eye appeal; a lot of the collectors dreamed of owning one; it was perfect for the grade and the price was very viable.
My customer was not interested however. Later I would learn that he didn't like small coins, and this one was the size of dime. I had to return it. The dealer from whom I got the piece subsequently sold it.
A year or so later I saw "another" 1796 No Stars Quarter Eagle in the same dealer's case. It was in a PCGS AU-58 holder. When I took a closer look I saw that it was the same piece, but now it was covered with hairlines, and the once muted luster that had marked its originality was now replaced by a garish shine.
I asked the dealer if it was the same piece, and he told me, "Yes." He agreed with me that the coin had been messed up, but the owner had been rewarded with higher grade from a more prestigious grading service.
The second photo is not a matter lighting. I took both pictures, and the dealer, who has handled the coin at least twice collaborated my observation. This is a lesson about how greed and ignorance were rewarded, at least in my opinion.
Edited by billjones
03/31/2016 08:21 am
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Valued Member
299 Posts |
Gee, I'm surprised I botched that one ... that 6 in the date crumbled away somehow . Oh the games people play ; discouraging.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
937 Posts |
I am the worst at grading gold.
Since there is no grade called ooohhh pretty yellow shiny! I will say
Coin #1 XF40
Coin #2 VF 20
They both looked cleaned to me, but does that mater on something so rare?
Edited to add: After reading what everyone else said, See I told you I was the worst at gold.
Edited by Tryna
03/31/2016 6:03 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8904 Posts |
 I totally didn't catch they were the same coin... I would still be very happy to have it in my collection! |
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Replies: 18 / Views: 2,274 |
Posted 03/30/2016 11:18 am
