Check out this auction listing and tell me how you think the buyer did... http://www.ebay.com/itm/1857-2-1-2-Liberty-Coronet-Head-GOLD-QUARTER-EAGLE-/300902426040?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item460f2ea5b8&nma=true&si=xFuhRieS7%252FpHUelmHAgjFU5dxXw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
I see an unmentioned mintmark. I can't grade gold well enough, especially from those photos, to see whether this coin falls into the range where it makes a big difference in value -- never mind whether the coin is (a) genuine and (b) problem-free.
Yes I see the mintmark. With the grade of the coin and the fact that it appears to have been cleaned I don't think it would be worth that much more than the Philadelphia. I take that back. It seems that prices have changed a fair amount and the S mint coin would be significantly more. Even cleaned it looks like the buyer got a good deal.
Seems like he may have lost a few bucks by not indicating the S mm. the fact that the reverse image is blurry on the bottom didn't help either.
Sorry guys, posted this and had to log off right away. I was amazed that the seller didn't recognize the S-mint. I've been looking for an 1857-S quarter eagle for about a year now. They are low-mintage and a good alternative to those ridiculous Charlotte and Dahlonega prices (although I'd love to own some Charlotte gold at some point in my life). This one was too iffy for me. I wanted to pull the trigger for up to $350 but I was concerned about it being uncertified and since I am not 100% on all the diagnostics, I, like Jeff hinted, was concerned about authenticity. I'm 99% sure it's real though and that buyer got a heck of a deal. Now, any ideas on grade?
