Buying First Saint-Gaudens double eagle- Any Tips, suggestions,ideas??

Me personally, Randy, while I 100% agree with the affordability part of your statement for a 1908 No Motto (Wells Fargo or non-WF), many people believe it is one of the lower-struck coins in the series. It simply doesn't "jump out at you" like the 1923-D even in high grades.

But don't let that dissuade anybody from the coin's pedigree and otherwise nice appeal.

 

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Here's my 08 NM 64+ CAC. decent strike with good luster.

 

More on the 1908 WF NM from ATS by "Roadrunner" who seems to know what he is talking about:

"I've done the taste test. And for every dozen or so non WF MS66's I see in holders, maybe 1 or 2 coins are actually 66's. It's typically too many marks and not enough blast.

From what I've seen of the WF 66's they tend to be cleaner overall than the other date MS66's. It's really only in the strike where they falter. I've never been much of a "strike" guy. Luster, marks, and friction have always been at the top of my list....maybe that's a mistake. Most of the WF saints I see are closer to the assigned grade than the other dates. I would agree that as a group they were over-graded. But the kicker is, 80% or greater of ALL MS65-67 Saints are overgraded.

Why just beat on the poor old 1908 NM's? Go ahead and try to stack a pile of MS66 (76) or MS67 (8) CAC WF '08 NM's. If you got every one your stack would only be 83 pieces vs. 1860 of all other dates....most of those coming from the 1924-28. And if we compare MS65's it's only 28 NM's vs. 4570 of the "other dates." Stickered WF NM's look like a decent good deal in certain grades. I do see that the pile of non-WF stickered saints is sizable. So no doubt most have been cracked out from their original holders and left "non-pedigreed." Still, stickered WF saints with the pedigree are pretty scarce. I don't think I'd pass on a 66 I liked for the right price.

The 67's and 68's live in another time zone and I don't like the freight that they cost. Keep me within 2X-3X bullion price with the 65's and 66's."

 

Beautiful coin !! Where did you get it ?

John Albanese/CAC has a reputation of being tough on gold/Saints, including the WF NM's, so congrats !

 

I like AU Grades myself 53-58 Saints and liberties you get a nicer looking coin
unless you want to go 64 and up, the tweeners tend to be scratched up or have
allot of high contact marks, I look at a coins appearance not necessary the grade.

 

AU-55's and 58's are very nice-looking....sometimes the only way to afford a year or mint....and often better-looking than MS60-62's.

 

In my opinion, paying more for less, this is also true for currency to an extent
and maybe more so. the eye appeal of a 60-63 note is actually very bad uneven
boarders 64,s are generally allot better and 65,s are actually worse then the 64,s
67,s thru 69,s are very good ! and if what you collect can provide a perfect 70 !
my passion is military payment certificates so I am well versed...LOL

 

For currency, it's a bit different than with coins but point noted.

 

My first entry into the gold coin market/collection was about 2009. I had been referred to a dealer in a larger town. I didn't know beans about coin collecting (and probably don't know much more now.) I had gotten my father's collection and went through them, just to see what he had. This dealer showed me some coins he had, but I was set on getting some gold coins. Looking back, I should have done a lot more research, but I was set on what I wanted. He had just bought a $10 Eagle and a $20 Double Eagle. He told me they were a little rough and might not grade too well. I decided to buy them anyway. He told me he was going to a show and that he could have them graded for me. When he came back, he told me that they didn't grade too well, and he was willing to buy them back. The Eagle graded MS-61 and the Double Eagle came back Details. Anyway, I kept them. He sold me the MMIX (2009) Ultra High Relief that he just got back. It had graded MS-68 and I have had collectors tell me that they would sell it and try to get an MS-70.
As many of members of Coin Talk, I thank you for the many encouraging words to me and many other collectors that have looked to Coin Talk for help.

 

The 2009 UHR was the 1st "Double Eagle" I purchased, too. And it was because of that coin that I did research on the Saint-Gaudens series that I had clients name-drop over the decades but never inquired about.

Too my misfortune, as it turned out.

I have one in the OGP but with the premiums no longer in the stratoshper -- just elevated -- I might look to get one in a holder with the MS-70 or even MS-70PL designation. But only if I like the coins, not the labels.

 

I wonder how Doublesaran made out.

Hasn't been here in a while but if he bought in 2022 he got a great deal compared to where pricing is today.