I have a question about an ebay auction. Is this a real 1916 $10 Indian? If it is, how much damage has been done to the coin? How easy or difficult would it be to remove the pendent? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=200061627462&rd=1&rd=1
A whole bunch. This coin has been made into jewelry in the most destructive way possible - by soldering an attachment. I had a similarly altered coin "restored" by an expert jeweler. Despite his excellent workmanship, close examination of the edge shows altered reeding and a slight discoloration from the solder and heat. I would estimate its value at 15-20% of what it would be if it were undamaged. The only reason I had the work done was that I had no real investment in the coin, which I got as part of a lot of about 20, purchased in order to get two of the other coins in it, which were worth what I paid for the whole lot.
"A whole bunch. This coin has been made into jewelry in the most destructive way possible - by soldering an attachment." Actually it is not soldered. The top, under the loop is a screw and can be easily removed
Well, I looked again, and the mark on the obverse sure looks like a soldering iron hit. In any event, if it's screwed in, then there is a hole in the edge for the screw, which may even be more damage than the result of soldering. However it was put together, even if I did collect US gold, I wouldn't buy it unless I desperately needed that date and I could get if for <10% of its undamaged value.
Roy: I don't see the soldering mark, where is it? Also, the screw going into the top (kinda barrel shaped thing) on the outside below the loop. It dosen't touch the coin, and screws out easily, but you need a tiny screwdrive, like for glasses. My wife's grandfather gave a Morgan Dollar with that type of holder, and a chain. I unscrewed it and the coin, aside from wear, was perfect. These holders (liike the one shown) can even be 14kt.
Soldering mark or not, a coin that is mounted as jewelry in a bezel is still mounted and it does leave tell tale traces which are considered to be damage. As such, any coin which has been mounted as jewelry in a bezel or any other way is considered ungradeable and therefore only worth a fraction of the value of a similar coin that has not been mounted.
I email her and asked her if the coin was genuine and if it was soldered in. THis is her reply Hi, thank you for your email. This is from my Grandparent's estate. I have sold a couple of other coins and they were genuine, I have no reason to believe that this one is not also genuine. The coin is soldered onto the pendant.
Look at the edge of the coin just to the right of 12:00 top dead center - directly above the 8th star counting from the left. That discoloration may have some other cause, but its definitely consistent with a soldering iron having touched there.
Even if the coin wasn't soldered into the pendant I don't see how it could have been mounted and escaped any sort of damage or tell-tale signs that it was once a piece of jewelry. It might still make for a nice pocket piece though, or an example that you could readily handle without decreasing its value. I keep a couple of well worn/circulated examples around for that reason- eliminates the chance of dinging up an uncirculated coin.
Even at the bid its at now, It's still below approximate melt of $300 though, assuming it is authentic. Not that I'd want to buy it for that, but there are plenty who would.
