1908 indian head

Im just a bit curious as to how much my coin is worth.

 

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A genuine 1908-S Indian Head Cent in that condition would be quite valuable. You should have the coin authenticated.

What is the story on this coin? Where did you get it? Did you buy it raw on eBay?

 

what condition is it in?

 

looks xf too me

 

in ms-62 the coin is worth $425.00

 

Settle...down...
First off we need to find out if the coin is real.
Then we worry about prices.
I concur with Hobo's questions, what is the story behind the coin, Noobismatist?

 

The Chinese are known to counterfeit this particular coin. I suspect this coin may be an example of their handiwork. (It looks like examples that I have seen.) I would really like to know how and from where this coin was obtained.

 

I acquired it at a coin show in Portland March 2009

 

I would recommend that you:

• Hang on to your receipt.
• Submit the coin to a top-tier grading service for authentication.

 

Not sure what you guys are seeing that makes you think it's not authentic. Anyone have any detailed explanation of what they are seeing in that regard??? If fake, it's an extremely good one and better than the fakes I have seen of this date.

From the photos it has the look of a MS63BN or MS63RB to me and would be in the $350-$500 range assuming the color is natural which I suspect that it is. Of course, in hand the coin may exhibit some slight wear which would limit the grade to AU58, but even then an AU58 that looks like this is a $250-$300 coin. The small scratch on Liberty's cheek might be enough to keep it from certifiying though, but based on the picture, it doesn't look drastic enough.

Congrats on the coin and I too would recommend third party certification.

 

Other than weakness in the obverse denticles I don't see anything obvious that would condemn the coin. You must admit that a key coin like this in such a high grade makes one wonder why it is not slabbed. And the Chinese are making extremely deceptive fakes of this coin.

Noob,

Your thread is entitled '1908 Indian Head', not '1908-S Indian Head'. Did you buy the coin knowing it was a San Francisco Mint coin? (There is quite a premium for that little 'S'.)

 

Same assessment as Hobo's, these days, I'm not really trusting a whole lot of people with raw coins that are semi-key or key dates. Just the fact that it is raw makes me suspicious. The coin itself doesn't have a whole lot of red flags, but I think the fact that it being raw can.
I'd feel more comfortable if it was in a slab.
And your assessment of the grade is pretty spot on, although I'd think I'd call it an AU58...to be on the safe side.

 

Indian Head coin

I have a 1901 Indian head coin in a collection called Twentieth Century Coins. Would it have as much value as the 1908? barbiemom.

 

A little off the topic but I was wondering why if the coin is deemed authentic why would the small scratch potentially make it come back as only genuine and not an AU-58?

 

As a 1908, yes. As a 1908-S, not even close

 

It might not only be the small scratch. The coin looks to have some breaks in the luster, which might just be the photos, but the coin could've been over dipped, or improperly cleaned. My guess is that photo is hiding quite a bit. I don't think the scratch itself will keep it from grading, but my point about cleaning might. It depends on how inconsistent the TPG feels that day.
Heck, because this is a key date, the coin might grade at MS63 with wear and the scratch.

 

Per PCGS;

Notice the term is "without wear". Scratches, bag marks, even hammer marks, chisel marks are not wear.

 

and to add to rlm's post, if an otherwise nice coin has a scratch that is large enough to significantly detract from it's eye appeal and value, PCGS will deem the coin "ungradable" and put it into an genuine holder coded for either scratched or damage.

Think about it... if you were buying a PCGS graded MS63RB Indian Cent from a dealer and a coin showed up with a huge scratch on it, you'd likely be disappointed. Same goes for an AU58 with damage.

Based on the color I see in the photo, it doesn't appear to be dipped or artificial to me, but T$ is right that photos can hide quite a bit (intentionally or unintentionally).

 

I think it is genuine and AU also. The pictures make me think AU, but it could be a low MS as mentioned. Yes - I also recommend that it be graded. I agree, mentioned, that the hit would probably not keep this semi-key date from grading. It looks pretty nice to me.

 

If that's a Chinese couterfeit, that's an insanely good one, and that's just a horrendous fact we collectors must face... The mintmark is placed exactly right, but a good sign would be the price paid for this coin... Certification is definately a must...