Here are two PCGS graded MS64 Indian Gold coins It looks to me like the top one has a hole (not all the way through though) on the eagles tail. Am I seeing things? Do you all think this is really a hole in the coin? If it is, shouldn't it be graded Genuine? If it's not, what is it? Here is the 1st coin, with what appears to be a hole in the tail. It's interesting but it's right in the middle of the white (light) discoloration. Here is a 2nd coin, also PCGS graded MS64 (but with no hole) posted for comparative purposes. I have never seen anything like that on a coin with such a high grade.
I circled the area in red, below ... from the light/shadow signature, it looks like a deep, nearly-round divot. at least to my eye. I've seen coins with less damage slabbed genuine. Is it possible it's not a hole but a misleading looking black spot (does gold get black spots?)
You are assuming a "black area" is a hole. I don't agree. Artifact of photo or a piece of gunk is FAR more likely.
If it is a hole it looks like a natural as opposed to artificial hole to me. I'm thinking it's just tarnish, though.
It is not a hole. If you blow the picture up, you can see the feather lines through your "hole". I also do not think it is a piece of gunk. I would guess it is a planchet flaw, but I cannot prove it.
Not an expert when it comes to gold coins, but the discoloration in that specific area leads me to believe there is copper issue going on here and that very well might be a raised area (carbon spot) as opposed to incused. This could very well have happened after encapsulation.
