| Author |
 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,415 |
|
Valued Member
Italy
78 Posts |
I recently picked up my very first US gold coin: a 1914 Half Eagle. Here's the story: a friend of mine, a jeweller, showed me some gold coins, asking if I would have saved some from the melting pot. Most of them were very common european gold coins from the late 19th to early 20th Century (Belgium 20 Francs, Italy 20 Lire), a couple of Swiss 10 Francs and two Half Eagles (1882 & 1914), both Philly minted. I've choosed the 1914 because the 1882 looked cleaned, however, I'm far from an expert about this coinage and the surfaces of this Half Eagle are particulary difficult to grade, due to being incuse rather than in relief. What would you grade this  ? Thanks in advance    |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3184 Posts |
indian gold is so hard for me to even guess a grade, but congrats on your first gold!
|
|
Valued Member
United States
288 Posts |
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
36903 Posts |
The coin does not look genuine to me. Sharper photos might help in determining if it is fake.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3477 Posts |
What do you see that looks off, IndianGoldEagle? I've just started looking at these and would appreciate learning your concerns.
Nick
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
I agree it appears to be questionable. A lot of the "detail" is soft and mushy. The reverse looks doubled/tooled in some areas the obverse is very soft at the base of the Indians neck. The lettering seems to be odd as well.
What does it and what is the diameter?
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Agree obverse detail very weak and mushy compared to reverse.
Edited by Coinfrog
02/02/2017 7:42 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3210 Posts |
Agree looks off. Bottom feather very soft and worn while reverse feathers are sharp and detailed....wear doesn't happen that way
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2589 Posts |
In regards to the odd wear pattern, its common to find these as ex-jewelry pieces. Often times the reverse is protected, while the obverse is exposed and as a result has more wear. I don't know enough to say whether or not its Counterfeit, but I have encountered Counterfeit Indian Head gold coins in the past that were made of gold. Often the gold Counterfeits are actually a higher percentage gold than the geniume issues are.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2563 Posts |
It might have been tooled and/or cleaned. It could be fake all together. Not the coin I would have went after tbh.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
@Xavier - Good point, but I would think the reverse would show more wear rubbing against the chest than the obverse.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1499 Posts |
I agree with the others. Given the amount of detail, wear is not a huge issue. The lack of sharpness, especially on the obverse, and the "busy" reverse fields make me very suspicious of this coin. I don't think that it is genuine. My rule of thumb to most collectors is buy certified gold. Why take the chance? I know this piece is high grade, but compare the level of detail in the protected areas. Even a circulated genuine piece has sharp devices.   |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
36903 Posts |
Having Bill's photo helps to compare the feather detail on the eagle. The OP coin does not match. Very mushy detail on the Indian. Most likely a Lebanese fake from the 1960's-70's.
|
|
Valued Member
 Italy
78 Posts |
"Certified" is almost impossible to obtain here, and since the coin was purchased at melt value, I've take the chanche. Weight is correct for this denomination and the metal is gold. Plus, 1914 is not a key date and I think is normal to buy at melt (maybe I'm wrong?) or with a very small premium.
Sorry the pics are not the best, they were made with my phone.
|
|
Valued Member
Italy
78 Posts |
BTW thank you all for the replies! OT: can I change the discussion title to "My First Fake Gold"?  |
|
Valued Member
United States
304 Posts |
Look where the head is. It looks funny.
|
| |
Replies: 17 / Views: 2,415 |
Posted 02/02/2017 1:56 pm
