I won and paid for this coin here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320909102716 I based my bidding on VF value according to coin value website since that is about the grade I thought it was even though the seller listed it as XF since that is about what I got when trying to photograde. There is a small scratch on the reverse I noticed. Did I get a good deal or did I overpay? I asked because I am new to coin buying lately and don't know if I am getting a good deal. I should get the Whitman Redbook.
I think you paid a fair price. The coin looks cleaned to me, but has nice details. I am not sure you could find another example for that price, cleaned or not.
I am sure it has been dipped in acetone or something. I don't really care about coins being cleaned unless they used something to strip the toning off and this coin still has its brown toning. If they just did something to get the crap off like dipping it in acetone, than that is a good thing in my view. I think that this was a good price. According to Numismedia this coin is worth $23 in G04 condition but their prices seem high, maybe higher than what is being sold in my area. Yes though, I like that you can see the details on the coin, many being sold are worn down.
Yeah, it's cleaned, but it still isn't a bad type coin. I would say you got a fair deal or a little better. Mike
What do you think they did to it? The reason why I asked is because I have this cleaned coin below and it looked like someone tried to strip the toning off and make it white-faced but that coin I bought is brown. But as far as my $6 Barbers are concerned, this white-faced coins has the most "liberty" showing.
Its still a nice coin and a nice deal. I would keep the coin and learn how to grade it properly. I find that most collectors overpay on a coin not because of the seller. Its because they're not familiar with how the coin looks.
Yes the issue is when you buy coins for numismatic not intrinsic value. The cleaned Barber quarter and other Barber quarters I bought were close to melt so I didn't have to worry about that even though the cleaned one has much more of the liberty banner showing and the others had worn down liberties. The issue is when you want to purchase something with collector value. That is why I asked on this forum. I am going to have to get a Redbook. I did try the PCGS photograde on the coin and I was getting more like mid to higher VF and based bidding on that. I think the XFs looked like they had more toning and luster. The details are apparent and that is what I like. But I think you are right, some people do overpay and overbid. I usually compare bids to what I bought at a local coin shop for the condition I bought. I think if you go to a shop where prices are fair for coins with numismatic value, you can probably gauge from that when bidding. If you are buying just for the intrinsic value, bidding is easy.
http://www.collectons.com/ is selling the 2013 spiral bound Red Book for $3.73 + shipping. They charge a flat shipping rate of $6.99 for purchases up to 149.99. Above that, it's free shipping. They also have daily 1¢ deals on stuff. I usually get supplies and stuff all at the same time to take advantage of the flat rate. And no, I am not affiliated with them. They just have some pretty good deals sometimes. Their coins are priced at the high end though IMO.
Here it is up close. I don't know why this coin in the picture above is brown in the picture and white-faced in person. What do you think now?
The RedBook won't be accurate on prices for grades, it might give you a ballpark figure of value but it's better to look at other sales for the coin you're wanting to buy, other ended auctions (ha.com is a good resource), etc.
I still think you did real good. It has nice details and doesn't appear to have any damage. It is definitely cleaned, but that is more often the case with these old silver coins. Nice pickup.
Yes, I have been told before that this was cleaned on this forum and they were right. I do like it though but would rather if it was brown like it looks in the picture. But overall I would say I paid the right price because it was 50 cents more than someone else was going to pay.
Do you think that since it is already cleaned and the damage is done I can just drop this a little alcohol and a little distilled water?
I would not touch it. It will only make it worse in my opinion. I think you got a fair deal as mentioned - just not great. As to why someone harshly cleaned that barber it could be several reasons. Some don't know better, some think blast white will fool people into thinking it is a higher grade than it actually was, etc. One thing I have recommended before is to find a trusted dealer - go look at some graded coins and see what original surfaces look like. Goto coin shows also and look there also. You might even want to find some graded example to purchase. The older you get the more some coins have been cleaned.
I decided not to touch it. The seller didn't put it into anything, just wrapped it in newspaper. In another thread I talked about recent coin purchases at a coin dealer where I thought I overpaid and someone else besides the owner waited on me because he was busy. He showed me halves from the junk bin and tried to sell me them for $14 so I immediately didn't trust him. He said after I told him those were worth melt that "they are worth what I say they are worth". So I said "take them away then". I do get great deals from the owner though, got a 1898 VG barber quarter for $5 and $1 face of 1/2 roosies and 1/2 mercs not junk for $21. Anyhow, I bought a couple air-tights one for this quarter, and they turned out to be dime holders and the quarter dropped in a not to desirable part of the carpet. So much for the guy that "it is what I say it is". I just put it into a mylan flip and wiped that off good and stapled it shut for now. Is that alright to staple a mylan flip? It doesn't seem to move around now. I did see a little alcohol inside the flip but not anywhere near the coin. I did wish he packaged the coin properly though but do understand not everyone sells coins and he may just have this to get rid of it. I don't believe a white-face coin makes it look like it is worth more, maybe less. What makes it worth more is the details. Speaking of which what grade would you give the details on the coin above? I got VF somewhere in the middle but the seller said XF.
I would say VF15 based on PCGS Photograde chart, but cleaned. http://www.pcgs.com/Photograde/#/Seated25/Grades
Isn't 15 a fine grade? Says F15 and above that is VF20. I think you meant VF25 and that is what I got too. Doesn't the VF25 look a little cleaned too? It just reminds me of the parts of the coin that look scrubbed with something.
