A Lafayette Dollar--Opinions Please

nah it doesn't look good its homogeneous now if one of the coins looked like this u could even sing black or white

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

we are to play poker with him and we will ceratinly beat him what do u say partner

 

Okay,

Here is my photo of the coin which I now have on approval. Please remember that you are comparing my photo to Mark Goodman's.




The obverse is deeply toned in blue green that mutes the luster somewhat. The mark on Washington's cheek and the spot between the "A" & "M" in AMERICA are much less pronounced in hand than in the photo. I agree with the grade of MS65. However, I also agree with the CAC's decision not to give the coin a green sticker. Instead, they placed a red sticker with an explanation stating the coin has MS65 surfaces but the luster impairment on the obverse keeps it from being a "good for the grade" MS65. The reverse is gorgeous. Blazing luster and superb toning. I doubt you could find a more attractively toned reverse of a Duvall 3-D MS65 Lafayette.

Here is a photo of the red sticker:



I am going to think for a few days considering the magnitude of the purchase, but I have to say I absolutely love the coin. Any opinions welcome.

 

I love it as well. I'll bet that was a bear to image.
Dark coins have so many looks.

 

This is one beautiful coin. I gave a it 64/65 if I recall. I never considered they would be so harsh in the toned areas of the reverse. So now you have a decision to make, hmmmmm. If it were I, I still believe this piece to have very very good investment potential , and certainly one, If I could afford it, would be added to my collection. So, I guess I am saying, I wouldn't pass this up. Perhaps , the CAC decision might be a negotiating factor with the seller, but as you pointed out , it is a Duvall 3-D ! A Rarity.

 

I'd pass -
The face looks like it has a fingerprint, and the dark toning kills the eye appeal IMHO.

Speedy

 

I'm not sure what your seeing...I went back and looked close and I don't see it. I do see something near the last "A" in America...is that what you mean? Ig so, good eyes because I completely missed that before.

 

The spot on the obv almost looks like gunk... As for buying a coin only in a slab I would buy the coin then get it slabbed. Looks very nice and original. What cracks me up is when someones says I will only buy the coin if it is in a slab. That tells me that the grading skills of the individual are poor at best.

 

I don't know, I think in this day and age most people would be very worried about buying a high dollar coin raw because of all the modern counterfeiting methods. Even if they are an expert in the series. This is especially true of coins that are toned. If you make a mistake and are fooled by a good coin doctor, you could lose a lot of money. The slab offers an extra layer of protection. I find it funny when people rely exclusively on the slab and don't know anything about the coin before hand...but there are certain coins I wouldn't buy raw in a series that I know well (for example, I wouldn't buy an 1893-S Morgan raw).

 

That's not what it tells me. What it tells me is that they are probably quite smart since they understand the value of a slab to the commodization of the coin on the real world market.

Ruben

 

I'm (gasp) with GDJMSP on this one....

That's a lot of money (to me) for a coin that (apparently) isn't good for the grade. I also think the coin is a bit strongly priced for a high-end 4 or low-end 5, and therefore would pass.

However, Lehigh is buying the coin for HIMSELF not us, so regardless of what we think it is his opinion that matters the most.

Respectfully...Mike

 

That's quite a difference between photographs -- particularly the obverse. The first photos give the appearance of both obverse and reverse being the same "darkness", yet the second photos make the obverse seem quite a different shade than the reverse. Which are more accurate to the coin in-hand? Just wondering...Mike

 

Did they brainwash you in California?

 

I've never been to California. Praise the LORD!

Speedy

 

Look at the neck, and face, and then look at the hair.
The lighter looking toning, looks like a fingerprint to me. Alot of the fingerprints I see are lighter in color, and stand out such as the toning/print does on this coin.

Speedy

 

I see it now. I never saw Lehigh's photo...only the original photo which masks it very well. I see what you are talking about now.

 

You know it is funny that you see a fingerprint. This is the seller's description of the coin. The seller is CRO (Coin Rarities Online).

1900 Lafayette Dollar
MS65 [PCGS]
Duvall 3-D variety.
Cool looking deep green and russet pull-away toning on the obverse, with pastel rainbow toning from the rims on the reverse.
One of the prettiest we've seen, and without the ubiquitous fingerprints we've seen on some of the mega-grade specimens of this type.


FWIW, I have the coin in hand and don't see a fingerprint.

 

Doug,

With all due respect, nobody is going to get this coin for 64 money, that is just unrealistic. The CAC decided not to sticker the coin not because of the surfaces, but because of the impaired luster on the obverse caused by the deep toning. This is a very difficult piece to price because it is the 3-D variety. Like I stated previously, the last two MS65 3-D's sold by Heritage went for $13K+ each.

I know that I if I were to buy this coin, I could sell it for between $9K-$10K in a few days time. I am not worried about the resale value. I simply need to decide if this is the Lafayette Dollar that I want to represent my set. If I buy this coin, I will not be purchasing another Lafayette Dollar. This is a big long term purchase that will be the cornerstone of my budding rainbow toned Classic Commem type set.