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 Replies: 11 / Views: 2,444 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
870 Posts |
Alright friendly folks, I'm humbly submit your expertise here one more time... =) What do you make of this 1945 Merc? I have an opportunity to purchase it, and I'm not a huge Mercury dime collector... Nonetheless, looks like a neat coin to me! I wish the scans were bigger and better, alas, this is all I have to go from at the moment. Thank you!   |
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Valued Member
United States
462 Posts |
It looks clean and a lot of detail in the hair on the obverse is a good sign that it is MS. But the kicker is whether the bands on the fasces are split. That cannot be discerned from the picture, though it looks promising.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
564 Posts |
It looks like au to ms. The picture is to small to grade any better than that. 1945 is a common merc so it should be rather cheep in a low ms state.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
870 Posts |
Pinenut, the seller tells me that the bands are full, and is looking for money equivalent to that. Is this something that can be faked or reproduced?
I've offered to pay something near his asking price if the coin comes back graded as he claims the coin is, but I figured this isn't one to buy unless it's certified as such...
Edited by delaner
08/17/2010 12:28 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5833 Posts |
I don't think its fake, but coin doctors can "tool" it to produce the full band appearance, so authentication is necessary if one's unsure.
If this coin comes out FSB, and depending on grade, it can cost 5 figures in solid MS.
delaner, did you see the coin in person ?
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Valued Member
United States
462 Posts |
I'm also concerned with his choice of language. "Full bands" could mean to him something different then the "Full split bands" that we are talking about.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
870 Posts |
yes, full split bands... =)
No, I have not seen it in person yet. Trying to go slow with this one. Neat coin! We shall see. Thanks for the advice so far, welcome to as much as can come!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
528 Posts |
If you cant see them do not buy it as a full split band. Its not worth paying a premium for something you cannot see. He might all so thing that split bands means the vertical bands. I wouldn't take the chance.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
870 Posts |
Cool. We've agreed to send the coin in to be certified, then agree to a price. What do you reckon it would graysheet at?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5833 Posts |
Perhaps have the person take better pictures, bigger and more contrast. Will save you the trouble and $$ before submitting to TPG. |
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Valued Member
United States
254 Posts |
The 1945 merc is the rarest dime in the series to have split bands, let alone fully split bands. The ones that I have in mint state are completely flat so as to not even have a hint of split bands. I've looked through so much dealer stock and have never found a good example. Just based on my experience and probability alone, I would say that it does not have split bands. Also, this date is commonly found with tooling to simulate split bands. Be very careful!
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Valued Member
United States
314 Posts |
I concur with the move carefully assessment. Don't know what he is asking, but the FB vs FSB designations are very tricky. Let him pay for the TPG and if it comes back FSB, then you might find out it costs more than you have to spend and maybe you've missed out. Or you can go ahead and spring for a beauty. That might be better than shelling out the bucks and finding out it won't go FSB. I've seen so many at FSB that never make the grade. Good luck. |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 2,444 |
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Posted 08/17/2010 11:55 am
