I am considering buying this seated half. What do you guys think it grades. note: it is listed as a proof. actually the grading is secondary, but do you see any problems? That is what I have the most interest in knowing about.
I would have a few problems... #1---a coin of that value would normal be slabbed....why isn't this one...is there a problem. #2---the auction is private #3---I've seen this seller sell many many high dollar coins...and all of them are either raw or in off brand grading Co. slabs...I think that he might run it himself. #4---not a good return. The toning looks ok....but could it be a PL and not a Proof? Maybe PF64/5 for a grade...unless I missed something. I would hold out on this coin....the value is pretty high....and when buying a coin of this value I would suggest getting it slabbed...even if your going to crack it out. The mintage is low--but not too hard to find...2 are on Heritage right now. It looks like PCGS and NGC has graded around 350 of these 1890 Pf Halves...not counting ANACS or PCI. I think it should be pretty easy to find one on down the road. Speedy
Well, a proof is less valuable than a similarly graded business strike, so there is little reason to call it a proof if it isn't. I agree with the 4 concerns that you listed, except for the myriad of third world slabs he uses, I'm not convinced that they are his own creation, but I was inpressed by the look of the coin. hmmm, maybe I will contact him and see if I can work out a deal to get him to have it slabbed if I win it.
If you can tell them apart....in Scott Travers one book it talks about how sometimes its hard to tell a PF and PL apart---one that is hard to tell apart is the Buff nickels... Yes the look of the coin has great eye appeal....I'm watching a coin that is just B-U-T-Full...but I think it will go for too much--but I'm still watching Great idea...make sure you get to pick where it is sent--Oh..BTW....he might be more willing to do it if you offer to pick up the tab for grading Speedy
That does look like a proof, although there are examples of this date that are prooflike. I would be most worried about overdipping and, in particular the bane of all proofs, hairlines. I would never buy a proof from this time period a) raw, and b) without a return privilege. FWIW, here is my example of the same date, it is a PR 64: Personally, and based upon the pics you've provided, I would run away from that auction...Mike p.s. ALWAYS be wary when someone pictures a proof at an angle, like this seller -- they are generally trying to hide problems (i.e. hairlines). I would wager $100 that this coin is dipped and retoned in an album and is full of hairlines.
I personally don't see any problem with the coin itself. If I were you, like speedy said, I would prefer to see this sort of purchase in a slab, if no slab, I would want a solid return policy. Still, the coin itself *looks* problem free, in my opinion.
There's a small rim ding on the reverse at 10 o'clock, but other than that I can't see any problems based on the pics. Yeah there's a couple small hits in the fields, but I don't consider those problems. If the coin really looked as good in hand as it does in the pics - it would go 65 easy. But then you have to consider what has been said about buyng a slabbed example, if it were me - I wouldn't do it any other way. I don't buy into the idea that if a coin like that isn't slabbed there must be a problem with it. But there are many who do. I guess I've just seen to many great coins that weren't slabbed - they are still out there. But I think Leadfoot provided the best reason to not buy a coin like this, raw and based on pics. Look at Leadfoot's pics - those are all the same coin. It just goes to show you what you can do with pics. And - maybe it was done in this case.
I would be EXTREMELY concerned that it's raw. Coins like that are normally never raw any more. It "looks" to be a 65-66+. Chances are it has been bodybagged in the past for one problem or the other. If you trust the seller due to past business, maybe you can take a chance if he has a great return policy.
Well, I let it go, and it ended up selling for PF64 money. 5 or 6 days ago I emailed the seller with this: I then received the following response: Here is my reply: Surprisingly, (or maybe not so surprisingly) I didn't receive a second response from him. I can only assume that he knows that he is inflating his grades and there is no way that the coin is as nice as his pictures. Oh well, at least I asked first and was able to avoid being burned. The final price is about what I'm interested in paying, I just think it's going to take some time to find one with nice eye appeal at that price. Oh well, here's too the search!
