Yesterday I snagged this coin (from, well, not an expert dealer): The D is in very low relief, but it's definitely there. The hairlines are more prominent in these images than they are in-hand, but I assume they're enough to make the coin ungradeable. Weight and dimensions are spot on. I'm aware of the 1960s counterfeits with correct weight and composition, and this is certainly a date that would be worth counterfeiting. I have a copy of Fivaz' US Gold Counterfeit Detection Guide (assuming I can find it), but I'm not sure how much meat needs to be on the coin for it to be effective, and I know it's not exhaustive anyhow. I've seen other images of this date with the date and lettering much closer to the coin's edge, but I have the impression that this varies quite a bit. (Something about the die spreading in a poorly-controlled way?) So, for those of you who play in this realm: does this one look good? Are there particular tells I should look for? I can provide closer close-ups as needed (later tonight, after I retrieve the coin and bring it to my camera setup). Thanks, everybody!
Nice find although it's a shame about the scratches from being cleaned. That's a tough coin in any grade.
Genuine, but cleaned. Not worth a ton like the $2 1/2 counterpart, but still more than you paid I reckon. Nice find
Story of my life. (On the other hand, if it hadn't been cleaned, it likely never would've crossed my path.) I'm inclined to grade it lower based especially on what appears to be cheek wear, but I'm a rank neophyte with these, and I'd be especially happy to be wrong on this one. Edit: just as the photos bring out the scratches more clearly, they also bring out details more clearly. In hand, I have a much harder time seeing detail (for example) at the top of the eagle's wing.
The coin looks OK. One thing I should add (I was there): There were NO counterfeit U.S. gold coins of the correct weight and fineness in the 1960's. I want to say there were also NO counterfeit gold coins of the correct weight and fineness up to the late 1970's either, but there may have been a half dozen by then. It was not until the early to mid-1980's when the counterfeits were really up to snuff. One early authenticator/instructor told the class that by the 1980's you could take the official weight standard given by the Mint for say $5 gold Indians and the counterfeits would fall almost exactly on the weight while the genuine coins would be all over the place. PS The reason it is hard to see the details on the wing is because they are not there. The coin is AU.
Send it to PCGS....if it comes back a straight grade then...JACKPOT! You are risking about $40 bucks?
If PCGS straight grades that coin they should be run out of business. On their U.S. Coin Forum we are discussing an impaired PR-58 (buffed, environmental damage) pattern that they graded PR-66 first, then lowered it to PR-62. So I guess anything is possible from them!
Yeah, there's a good chance I'd get more than a $40 bump when I go to sell it just from the authentication aspect. If they judge it AU details, it's likely worth more than I give it credit for. And, as other threads have discussed at length, they might give it the key-date "gentleman's grade" -- but that would be quite a big, and pleasant, surprise.
Yeah, I think we'd be in "mechanical error" territory at that point. The photos exaggerate the scratches, but they're more than mere wipe-lines.
