My father had a ring made many years ago. It is an 1881 $5 Coronet Half Eagle (with motto). I cannot take a pic of the reverse side of the coin. So........just based on the obverse, what is the grade and value? Thanks
Actualy as it is a prong setting if the coin is properly removed there should be no damage. (this is of course providing the jeweler that set it did it properly) It is beveled and inlay setting that usualy cause damage to the coin due to adhesives used to attach the coin. If set properly in prongs in a setting designed for a coin there should be NO damage.
IMO, if the man wore the ring at all, it is guaranteed to be damaged. It will have picked up dings and scrapes along the way.
The prongs itself wouldn't damage the coin, atleast I would imagine. But as Rickmp said, if he wore it -- it's most likely damaged or scratched, gold it a soft metal after all.
The prongs absolutely can cause damage, but this is likely a moot point. Also, does it look to anyone else as if solder may have been used on the prong by the 5th star? Either way, it is likely a very common issue with problems, so grade does not really matter in this case. Assume the general value to be melt.
If the prongs are not too tight, and the coin is removed slowly and properly, the likelihood that any damage was done by the prongs is little. It's the same concept as jewelers use when they adjust the setting with stones. If you tighten the prongs or setting too tight, the stone will crack. Leave it too loose, the stone falls out. The prongs at 7 and 9 o'clock look indicative to be just curving around the coin, which would make me think any skilled jeweler could bend them back carefully (assuming all other prongs are like the ones I said). The majority of damaged coins due to acessories or jewelery that I have seen come from bezels and such that contrude on the majority or all of the coins rim.
Just because - under ideal circumstances - they could cause little damage, this in no way means that they likely did not. I've handled plenty of ex-jewelry gold (both before and after removal) and rarely have I seen a coin without at least some level of setting damage. Minimal marks/issues to major, damage is damage. Unless or until the coin is removed, this is all speculation, but again with all things considered, the point is moot.
He's right Hunter, you can argue all you want, but he will still be right. And hg, if your intent is to sell it, it is almost certainly worth more left as it is, as a ring. Left as it is, a ring, buyers who like that sort of thing will buy it as a piece of jewelry because they like that kind of jewelry. And jewelry does not sell for melt value. Take it apart, and you have scrap jewelry. Scrap jewelry does sell for melt.
