I watch this site from time to time, occasionally placing bids, none of which have ever hit. The moral to this story is: If you have the ability to go to the auction site and inspect the item, you have a huge advantage over 99% of the bidders. For this particular site, most of the auctions are conducted in or near Washington, DC. Case in Point. Yesterday, an auction ended for an 1864 bronze IHP with the "L" on the ribbon. Very pretty coin. Clearly MS. But is it a 2, 3, 4? Making that distinction from the two photos provided is beyond my expertise. I was willing to make a bid which (when the 18% hickie and $18 shipping were added) put me around $350. Bid ask for this coin in grade 60 is $330/360. Buyer shelled out $444 to fetch the coin, which is consistent with a 63 ($425/$475). I wonder if this was a "wishful thinking bid" or a person who lives close enough to Washington, D.C.to get to the auction site.
Thats not good......That coin is not the "L" variety. This is just a 64 Bronze. Be glad you did not win!
Red Raider: I blew up this photo as best I could, and there is an "L" shaped something on the ribbon in the location where the L would appear. I looked at 20 or so 1864s which were not Ls, and that area is smooth. I'm willing to be wrong, but there is "something" extruding from the ribbon where the L would be. Did you catch other markers which kill the L possibility? And does the color of my boots tell you anythang 'bout my alma mater?
Guns Up!!....too bad about last weekend though. Here are some pictures from coins I have owned in the past. The first two are of the "no L" variety Here are some 1864 "with L" for comparison The bust point is rounded in the "no L" variety, and is pointed in the "with L" variety. The coin pictured originally does not look like it has a pointed bust. I just cannot see the L either. Hope this helps.
Your two "L" coins are from different obverse dies. Check where the ends of the bust points are located in relation to the top of the 1. The one I posted is not as round as your "non-Ls" and not as pointy as your "Ls." Closest match, in my not-so-sharp eyes, is the your first "L" coin. But yes...I am glad I did not "win."
Aside from the back and forth on the L or No L, I avoid ANY online listing service that makes itself look like a government agency and uses "U. S." and a heraldic eagle motif in its mast head. These people are no different that the TV Hucksters selling a line of BS except for the fact that they employ shill bidders to over inflate bid in hopes of "luring" ignorant individuals into purchasing something well over its true vale with hopes of finding a huge SCORE. Even the name of the firm implies that the merchandise being sold has been "seized" when the reality is that these people are a consignment service using a "ploy" to suck in the stupid. To my untrained eye, the coin looks like the CN Version which if that turns out to be the case, then the buyer really took it in the shorts.
