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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,535 |
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Valued Member
United States
278 Posts |
 I recently picked up an 1881-S $5 gold piece. The image looked good and I bought it sight UNseen as choice BU from a reputable dealer. Upon arrival to me, I checked it out quickly, but due to another coin (which I thought, and paid for, to be an S and it was actually an O), this coin never got the examination it should have. Packing it away into an Airtite, I noticed a strange mark on the obverse right. I immediately thought PVC damage. I studied up on the acetone treatment, and gave it an overnight. This is what I have now:    Obviously something is going on. It does not look like "damage" or a scrape or contact mark. And acetone should have cleared up PVC residue. Any other ideas? Edited by rustyboy
06/15/2009 10:44 pm
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Moderator
 United States
16677 Posts |
I would politely ask him for a refund and return the coin. If he refuses, don't deal with him again. On a coin of this magnitude, he should have explained the PVC residue and, sent you the right coin. That's just my opinion of course. I don't know this dealer and have never dealt with him obviously. This does affect the eye-appeal of an already beautiful coin  swcoin.ecrater.com
Edited by vermontensium
06/15/2009 10:44 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6381 Posts |
The reddish area looks like a copper spot, which is caused by a local irregularity in the mixture of gold and copper in the planchet alloy. These are fairly common and are not considered defects. However, they can reduce the eye appeal of a coin and therefore a collector may not be willing to pay full price for a spotted coin. The darker streak at the lower right of the spot does not look normal, although I suppose it could be an inclusion of some sort which happened to end up on the surface of the coin. If it bothers you I agree with Vermontensium: negotiate with the dealer to trade it for a coin you do like. FYI, here's a photo of my 1841 Russian 5 rouble coin. This coin has an obvious copper spot on the obverse and a couple smaller ones on the reverse.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
But I don't think rustyboy's has a copper spot... I mean, it was sorta taken off with an acetone bath. |
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Valued Member
 United States
278 Posts |
I guess I wasn't clear. The acetone bath did nothing. It does look like a copper spot, but still with something even more different in the direct center of it. It could very well be some odd alloy.
Its after the 7 day return policy, so its really shame on me. I have learned my lesson about making sure I am completely satisfied by thoroughly examining a coin prior to salting it away. It still puzzles me about what the mark really is though.
These three photos are just taken under differing conditions to attempt to show the defect in "a better light."
Edited by rustyboy
06/16/2009 06:31 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2540 Posts |
I am not sure, but it sure doesn't look like a copper spot to my eye.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Probably a copper spot with other impurities involved
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2589 Posts |
id suggest sending it to anacs for encapsulation, if there is any damage on the coin they will list it, but if its a copperspot they will not
-XoG
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Valued Member
United States
278 Posts |
That has got to be the best idea yet.
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,535 |
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Posted 06/16/2009 01:16 am
