1855 $3 Princess Gold... real or fake and grade?

I'm no expert on these coins, so opinions on this coin are sincerely appreciated:





If you think it is real, then what grade would assign it? Fake coins don't need to be graded.

 

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I am leaning fake. Mushy details. The grains at the top of the wreath are floating in space. The denticles are mushy. Before condemning the coin I would like to see it in hand. But based on the photos I do not feel comfortable with the coin.

 

My vote is genuine. I think it would grade XF Details Cleaned. Just my opinion.

 

The ribbon is very sketchy for me... The crown doeasnt look right, and the fact that it's a coin that starts at a value of about $800 and it's not slabbed?

The melt on it if it was in fact gold is sitting around $200. If you can get it for $200 go for it but i doubt you'll pick it up for melt.

I would avoid the coin if it were my money! As i like to say when in doubt stay away! Especially with a coin of such a jump in price for neumastatic value.

 

I'm not affiliated with these guys, but here's a link to a website that has a ton of them that are slabbed for picture comparisons:
https://www.texasgoldcoins.com/merchantmanager/index.php?cPath=106

 

Looks iffy. These are highly counterfieted and should only be purchased if authenticated. I would not buy based on what I see.

 

Gotta agree! The denticles look pretty bad on both sides in a couple of areas. I wouldn't bid on it, that's all I can say!!

 

This is definitely a problem coin. It looks like it may be polished to me. I would stay away unless it is authenticated by a TPG.

I do have to agree with previous statements, the denticles look a little strange. Also, there are scratches all over it. I cannot tell for sure whether or not it is genuine based on this picture quality, but all I'm getting are red flags.

 

I got those red flag feelings too. Here is an authentic 1855 $3 gold princess. Notice on your coin the ' D ' in united and the first 'S ' in states just to name a couple of points.
The ' A ' and the ' M ' in america look took too close. The dentils at six o'clock look like sloppy die pressing, in fact the whole obverse says " FAKE " to me. Please cfompare for yourself.

 

So the consensus is .... get it graded and find out!

 

Can you examine the coin in hand ? If so, check the edge reeding. Counterfeits are notorious for very poor edge reeding. Some are so bad the counterfeiters threw up their hands and eliminated the reeds altogether ! A plain edge would be a subtle hint the coin is phony.

If the coin is a cast fake, there should be evidence of a line around the perimeter where the two molds came together.

Also, check the denticles very carefully. Look for raised lines - these are tooling marks. As the counterfeiters prepared the dies, they often slipped up and left die scratches.

As for the grains at top of wreath floating in space - that also happens on real coins when the die is lapped after a die clash. It's more common on G$1s, since they have so many die clashes, but it happens on $3s (and FE 1c) as well.

 

I believe he is referring to the grain, as in...well I don't know what it is supposed to be, but the wreath contains grain, cotton, tobacco, etc. Whatever the agricultural product is at the top of the wreath.

 

It does not look genuine to me either.

 

As I suspected and as confirmed through a few key markers posted here, this coin is counterfeit.

The markers:
1) mushy details... under 10 x they seem like bad attempt to replicate die doubling
2) slight die gouges in the protected areas of the denticles
3) knot on the reverse bow is not as well defined as even XF examples of genuine coins

I am very confident that this is not a cast replica. It is certainly a coined replica... no surface bubbles to speak of and the reeded edge is not interrupted with a center line where casting molds would come together.

As far as in hand appearance, this coin would not fool an experienced dealer without a loupe. The mushy details are probably the biggest and easiest indicator of it being a counterfeit.

And to those that think that there are no authentic gold coins in raw state... your opinion could use some refinement. But to an inexperienced collector, the advice of buying slabbed is excellent.

 

This is also true with Trade Dollars. Everyone always says that 99% of raw T$ on eBay are fake but it's not true. If you look there are quite a few real ones on there too.

 

I can't tell crap from those photos.

 

There are several raw gold coins, but if therres any doubt in your mind then it's probably fake!

Did you buy the peice or was it at an auction or on ebay???