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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,049 |
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New Member
United States
11 Posts |
This is part of my Pop's coin collection. It is in the slab so the pictures aren't the best. It was graded by GEC so I am purposely leaving out what they graded it to prevent any biasing. I am a bit skeptical if it is even real but my heart is beating out of my chest right now. First, how can I tell if it is real? Second, what would you grade it as?   |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
25155 Posts |
It's probably real, but we would need an accurate weight to be sure. If this were my coin, I would not hesitate to crack it out of the GEC slab.
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
74064 Posts |
It's most likely genuine. Looks MS to me.
Errers and Varietys.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11880 Posts |
Take it to a jeweler or metals retailer with an xrf gold tester and have it tested. Call them before you go and see if they have one. It is unobtrusive and they will tell you right away if the composition is 90%. Also, no need to remove it from the holder. That will tell you whether the gold content is correct. Checking whether it is an authentic mint product is trickier as it requires numismatic expertise.
Looking at this coin, it looks almost too good to be true. The coin not only looks to be in mint state, but it looks to be in superb condition. If real it would be worth significantly more than its gold content. Good luck and let us know how it turned out.
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.comEdited by numismatic student
06/04/2025 11:08 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7027 Posts |
 .....please keep us posted...lovely example....  |
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Moderator
United States
15419 Posts |
Agree with NS comments. Hoping for you that it proves to be authentic. Keep us posted.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
It definitely could be real and appears genuine at a glance. Do you have experience handling valuable raw coins? If so I'd take it out of the holder and weigh it. It is a common date with many high-grade pieces surviving today.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
Can't tell authenticity from those photos. Need sharp photos because gold counterfeits can be very good.
For it to be in a basement slab holder, I would say the coin is either not authentic or altered/tooled in some way.
Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3642 Posts |
The coin matches a known die pair. On the obverse, there is a small but bold curly die break between the "E" of LIBERTY and the hair. On the reverse, there is an long but light die crack through the top of "TATES" through the middle of "OF" to the eagle's left wing tip (our visual right).
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New Member
 United States
11 Posts |
I took this coin (and another one I will post) to a reputable coin dealer hear in town. He said both the coins are real but do not grade as high as they were by the TPG (which I already knew). Drum roll please... He said he would put the coin at MS60 to MS61. It was graded by GEC at MS66. So, now we know. What do you think? Is he right? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2023 Posts |
Not my area but it looks better than 60/61. With this confirmation that it's genuine, I'd send it to a real TPG (NGC or PCGS) for certification. You'll have an easier time selling it that way (presuming you eventually want to do that). |
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New Member
United States
11 Posts |
The guy at the shop said he didn't think it was a high enough grade to have it graded again, but I don't know him and don't know if I can trust him or not. I will probably take it to another coin shop and see what they say as well before making a decision about having it regraded.
Yes, the goal is to sell off Pop's entire collection and use it to help fund their remaining days.
I appreciate you saying you think it should grade higher. I am less experienced than anyone here, but comparing this to examples online I thought it looked a bit higher as well. If I end up getting it regraded I will get better pictures with it out of the case for you guys.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
18662 Posts |
the coin is higher than the shop owner is grading it. most likely thinking that if you would be looking to sell he can get it at a good price for resale.
MS64 range, tough to tell with these photos as to the remaining luster. looks like there is minimal marks but if most of the luster is gone it probably is not going higher
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Pillar of the Community
Portugal
655 Posts |
Hard to say because photo is out of focus. But I agree with panzaldi, it looks very good to me. Only bit that appears a little worn is the tip of the left, it may be from just the bad photo.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
There is no premium until the grade reaches Gem MS-65. I would not grade this coin, which costs much money and would take a couple of months time. Sell it as is!
Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11880 Posts |
Quote:
There is no premium until the grade reaches Gem MS-65. Let me know where I can buy MS64 1899 eagles for spot so I can back up the truck. As a numismatic professional, should you be so cavalier with facts?  *** Staff Comment: Please dial down the snark! ***IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,049 |
Posted 06/04/2025 10:26 pm
