Help with my 1838 quarter

Nice coin. Looks authentic to me, but what do I know.

That said, do you have any photos of the coin that don't have the fields overexposed (and possibly higher resolution/larger)? The reason I ask is because the seller's pics make it very difficult to judge the surfaces, and a bit "darker" shot would help in the evaluation.

Specifically, I'd be concerned with hairlines. Many eBay sellers have a way of hiding these problems using photographic techniques similar to what I see in the first post, and I'm a bit concerned something may be "hiding" in the photos.

Respectfully submitted and hoping I'm wrong...Mike

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Spy

 

What is a Spy?

 

It's a codeword or alert some members will use when they get a (Dicey or Iffy) feeling about pictures of a coin or coins posted. It could be anything from a dishonest/outlandish story about stolen coins to to an outright fake/counterfeit trying to be passed as genuine.

That's what it is, an alert for fellow collectors to possible BS.

Take Care
Ben

 

I would like to add that it has nothing to do with you the member, I think the smooth spot on the rim (was it jewelry) is where the question lies, maybe the picture being so clean. Many here are PhotoShop savvy. It could simply be your story or lack thereof. Not many new collectors bounce out with a coin like this w/o some sort of story to substantiate it, and believe me a coin like yours would have been remembered by many here including myself.

Take Care
Ben

 

Ben,
Thanks for the reply. I can understand the reservations members have about the coin. The coin looks exactly like the picture....no enhancement. I purchased the coin from a dealer, and yes it was expensive. I have been a gun and Civil War collector for 50 years and have always gone by the adage that you should always buy the best you can possibly afford. With the stock market in the toilet and money markets at horrible rates, I figured why not collect some good coins.

 

Well, that should clear up any doubt (which BTW, I didn't have to begin with) as to the veracity of the coin.

Take Care Hoss
Ben

 

I would be very concerned that a coin like that hadn't been graded and encapsulated by a highly respected grading company. While there are certainly exceptions, most sellers understand that they can maximize their prices in one of two ways: 1) getting the coin graded by a top grading company or 2) selling it as uncertified at a higher grade and price than could be obtained by having it certified. Going by the odds, at least, there is a very high liklihood that the latter occurred.