Yikes, that poor girl has been through a lot! While I certainly won't look that good when I'm 220 years old, that definitely isn't a pretty coin. I agree with the $300 area.
Just because it has theoretical value due to the fact that a nice specimen would beyond the reach of most people doesn't make this coin a good purchase at any price. I just can't see buying it just for owning the date--it is really a genuinely ugly coin, and has value only to someone gullible enough to buy it.
While desirable these are not extremely rare coins. Between the varieties 2&3 leaves pcgs estimates the survival rate at 10k. This for a coin with a mintage of 100k. So desirable yes. Extremely rare no. Save your money for a nicer one
I'm fairly confident your definition of "good purchase" is heavily weighted toward "something I'd be proud to own and display", or at least "something I'd find pleasant to look at". Some people lean more heavily toward "something with an interesting history", and of course the dull old "something I can afford/something I can resell at a profit". Personal opinion, although it's certainly one I share in this case... Pretty sure that's true of any coin. Or anything else that can be bought and sold.
It might be a good candidate for conservation. I wonder if NCS can help. For the record I'm being sarcastic. I would consider a problem coin if the price was right and at $800 I'd pass and find something else. They are out there just be patient. I purchased a $5 1847 C gold piece that was ex-jewerly, could be considered a problem coin by some, but I was happy to finally find one that I could afford at the time, and it did fit into my collection.
Look, you are being pretty hostile, as I said I would not own the coin at any price. My opinion, not anybody else's-- to me it is worthless.
That is, with all due respect, a pretty self-centered view of our hobby. It's your right, of course, but thank Goodness we all don't feel that way about the history we're protecting.
I personally would rather have a hole until I could afford something better, even if I had to wait for a while than put in a coin that would give me the heebie jeebies every time I looked at it. Holes aren't all that bad. No one needs to judge the completion of our albums/folders. And I say wait, even though in my 60's I think twice about buying green bananas. Steve
I think the coin is ugly and worthless. That is my right to feel that way, and express it. I would pay NOTHING for it, and that doesn't impact upon the hobby, and its history we are protecting, as some fool will shell out $800 bucks for it no matter what I say. However, the coin, in my unhumble opinion, is worth nothing to me. If someone wants to buy it, so be it, but expect criticism for doing so from other hobbyists, and expect to not be able to resell it. UGH, it looks really awful!! It rates a zero on the eye appeal scale, and is so damages as to be totally unappealing. I would rather have a hole in the collection, than that coin.
I'm sorry; that honestly wasn't my intent. If anything, I have more respect for your own orientation (emphasis on quality) than my own (often price-driven). But when you use words like "gullible" to describe people whose approach is different from yours, it's hard to resist chiming in.
I don't have a problem owning problem coins when the specimen is extremely rare/scarce. I the case of the coin posted by the OP, I voted for Not owning it. I'd save additional funds until I could afford a nicer one.
LOL. I never have to worry about most of you guys holding back on your true opinions ;-) That's one of the things I like about this group.
I'd probably buy it if the price was right. Some people don't like problem coins but they do sell especially rarer ones. The biggest problem I find with problem coins though is that the sellers price is usually unreasonable because they made the mistake of sinking too much money in the coin and thus won't budge on pricing. I'm certainly not going to pay for someones mistake but if the price is right I'll buy anything that interests me.
When I post a question or start a thread, I hope I get the responders honest opinion, whether or not it agrees with mine. That's why I ask the question. I don't understand why people get upset about differing opinions, unless said opinion is expressed in a highly derisive manner! BTW, I still wouldn't buy that coin you posted...lol.
Yeah, I know. I thought it would probably be a bad idea... and it turned out that most of you agree. I'll keep my money in my pocket and wait. Plus, as I looked more, I found other problem coins that are (correct me if I'm wrong) much more desirable (even if not worth buying). E.g.: http://www.ebay.com/itm/322017943362 http://www.ebay.com/itm/141937445844
People get upset about differing opinions for the same reason we have differing opinions - differing opinions of what is "derisive." I, personally, hold to a far higher standard for that (apparently) than many around here, and as a result find fault in someone's choice of verbiage far more easily. I just have to keep reminding myself that, in the end analysis, I really don't care anyway.
It's just a worn out old token with no indication of its face value, certainly not a face that would sink a ship.