Purchasing a damaged coin, would you???

Here is an 1839 Seated Half I picked up. Because of a little graffiti on the reverse it was readily available and fits into my collection perfectly What would you have done???

 

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I personally would have said "Wait for an undamaged coin."
Unless this fits your wallet.
My philosophy is "Buy the best you can afford."
I would prefer NOT to have to re-buy any of my coins.
(Lesson learned from currently upgrading some of my Morgans.)

 

If you were able to get the seller to give you a decent discount on that coin then I think you did well. I don't think the damage to that Seated Half looks that bad. It's not something that drastically detracts from the coins overall eye appeal. The only damaged coins I avoid completely are "holed" coins. IMO a coin is completely destroyed once someone has drilled a hole throught it.

 

If you got a great deal and you wanted it, why not. It doesn't look that bad to me either.

 

yes to some

yes, there are times i would buy a coin like yours,i have some that i am
not proud of. 1839 seated half is a tough date and the coin is at least
a vf30 something.
buy what you can afford now and upgrade later

 

I like it and would buy it if it was something I wanted for my collection. It is afterall a normal consequence of the use the coin was put to.

 

I think its an overall nice coin, especially if purchased for the right money. I'd start thumbing away at that graffitti area. Maybe after enough time, you can wear the surface down so that the graffitti is gone.

 

never

 

I have purchased worse. : ) I say if it catches your eye, take it home.

 

What he said! :smile

 

Other than bag marks and other minor surface scratches, I couldn't sleep at night if I bought something that was damaged in that way. Overall, it's not a bad piece, as long as you're happy with it, but I would've waited.

 

To be quite honest, I think that a buyiong decision for that coin would have to be collector dependent. In other words if you like the series and collect those coins then having the opportunity to add it regardless of the damage must be significant for you.
Alonfg the lines of a guy who drives a VW and has the opportunity to buy a wrecked Mercedes..who might not care about the condition over the model.

Nice coin, regardless of the damage!

 

Absolutely I'd buy it... I think it gives it some character. This coin has been places and done things and it has a little scar to prove it.

 

I would have bought it if the price was right. But I'm not much of a role model and I'll buy just about anything in any condition if I want it. I think it's a pretty nice coin.

 

Ben.
I see nothing wrong with getting a coin if you like it, who knows you may never see this coin out there again for a sometime it's is yours enjoy.

Bruce.

 

I'll submit the dissenting opinion -

YES!!! BUY IT! (but only if its cheaper ;-) )

I know it goes against general convention, but I actually prefer damaged coins. I want a date, a hole filled in my collection. Especially when I first start off. Consider - you could complete a date/mintmark set in at least half the time and for less than half the price of buying XF or above coins.

To clarify: When I work on a date/mintmark collection, I try to acquire one coin with luster, AU or so is fine. Three or four VF or XF examples. And the rest can hit rock bottom.

 

I should have figured that you would chime in on this post.....lol.

 

damaged coin

if it is beautiful and cheap. why not?.

 

Simple realy if you see it, like it & can afford it then buy it :smile

 

If that had been made a couple of hundred years earlier, the price would be same as catalougue. It looks attractive enough, and I would not label it a "problem coin".