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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,054 |
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Valued Member
United States
60 Posts |
I was looking at this chap's listings on ebay and noticed he had some nice high grade Busties: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Gerrywh...W0QQ_armrsZ1However, upon review of his feedback, he seems to have an endless supply of these high grade Busts. I am not saying they are counterfiet, but an endless supply sends up some kind of warning flag. Any thoughts before I buy one or two? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
His halves are cleaned big time! Some are VF-EF yet are blast white! The pics may be photo-shopped also. I don't think they're fakes but you can't be sure with the images he provides. Stay away!  Edited by BH1964
02/05/2009 11:13 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
3039 Posts |
It's a shame that the possibility of fakes makes one look twice at coins he wants to buy. I guess with our appetite for nice coins, someone will fill it one way or another. Caveat Emptor !
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Pillar of the Community
United States
781 Posts |
some of those do in fact look very heavily cleaned. too bad too because a lot of them don't look to be too badly worn.
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Valued Member
United States
432 Posts |
Hi everyone, since the topic came up, I was wondering if bust coins are counterfeited much, I know there are some rare ones but most are reasonable in fine condition for their age
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
The guy's photos are greatly overexposed; it's impossible to tell whether any of the coins he's currently offering have been cleaned. I would think, though, that if he were a shady seller he'd have received at least one Negative over ten years and almost 3,000 Feedbacks. He hasn't, according to Toolhaus.
Color me undecided.
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Valued Member
 United States
60 Posts |
Superdave - I thought that as well (not a single Negative feedback in thousands of transactions). On the other hand, endless supply of any coin from early 1800s seems "off" to me. I can't figure it out either. I might have to buy a couple/gamble on it and see for myself. I'll keep everyone posted if I take the plunge and go for it...  |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Careful with that - guys like him tend to have repeat customers, and you're unlikely to get a bargain even at auction. My turnoff is not the seller - he appears pretty good - but the quality of the photographs. My move in a situation like this (my own buying opinion, not to be taken as advice) would be to get what I considered a decent deal at a grade between 5 and 10 points lower than the apparent visual grade of the coin.
Busties are not uncommon. It's just that, pound-for-pound, they're far more expensive than Morgans due to their enthusiastic following.
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Valued Member
United States
383 Posts |
I'm still fairly new to this whole game, but if the coin is just for you, and you have no resale intentions, then what's the big deal if it's cleaned? Wouldn't you rather have a nice clean looking coin than a dirty one?
I mean, the whole eye of the beholder thing makes me think that there's gotta be some market for cleaned coins, no?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Quote:
Wouldn't you rather have a nice clean looking coin than a dirty one?
I would rather have a nice, crusty original coin than something bright white and scrubbed to death  Cleaning is damage, there is no way around that. Sure, there are differing degrees of cleaning and some appear better than others but they are all damaged so that will reduce the overall eye appeal of the coin. With that said, yes, there is a market for cleaned coins, especially in the rare or key date category when non-problem examples are prohibitively expensive. Also, some people just plain do not care that they are damaged. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
Quote:
...decent deal at a grade between 5 and 10 points lower than the apparent visual grade of the coin.
I agree and bid at 10 to 15 points lower on raw coins. I just picked up this bust half for $53: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...190281634651It looks better in hand than the pics. I grade it VF20 but the price was VG8. With the economy down, these type of deals are becoming very common. |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
It looks better in hand than the pics. I grade it VF20 but the price was VG8. With the economy down, these type of deals are becoming very common. You, sir, are a winner.  O-110, I think? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
Quote:
O-110, I think?
I wish I knew. This is my first Bust Half purchase. The flip's marked 50/00, CV$200. I don't see the 00 under the 50 but I'm still very happy with the coin. |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
I wish I knew. This is my first Bust Half purchase. The flip's marked 50/00, CV$200.
I don't see the 00 under the 50 but I'm still very happy with the coin. Unpossible. The 50/00, O-116, has the I in PLURIBUS entirely on the other side of the T in STATES. That's my first pickup when attributing Busties - the relationship between the I and the T. I'm thinking my attribution is wrong, though, based on Heritage pics. Let me dig deeper. Edit: is the top of the 5 curved, or not? It's tough to tell from the auction pics. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
The top of the 5 is straight and comes to a point. I'll try to get some decent pics and post them on the Grading Forum later.
Thanks!
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,054 |
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Posted 02/06/2009 01:37 am
