Hello, I am newer to coins and have never posted a thread, but have been unable to find an answer to my question about these $5 Gold Indian Half coins. I attached 2 pictures of the areas that I have noticed differences in these coins. All coins that I purchase are either PCGS or NGC because of my inexperience. I have been trying to find a nice MS64 that I am comfortable with, but after reading the books by Charles Larson and Bill Fivaz I hesitate when I see what looks questionable to me. Ebay is a great place to see many pictures in one place. I have noticed that many of the lower grade coins all seem to have the full rounded convex olive branch, like what you would see on a tree with the right side showing where the inside of the branch is hollow (2nd picture). My first picture shows what I seem to be finding on most of the higher graded coins, a convex hollow branch with what looks like the top is cut off. The branch looks like a canoe. The third picture is of a coin that is also in a NGC holder, but has the "sunken cake" look. I would like to get the thoughts of collectors with more experience than myself. Thanks
Could you post an image of the full reverse of the first coin, it's hard to see what's going on with just a small detail of the reverse. The third image looks very strange to me, the color is way of and the strike looks about as weak as I've ever seen. Also, this is a 64?
Hello, Here is the link to the picture, double click to see the enlarged view http://www.ha.com/c/proxy-image.zx?ebay=0-0-2-300-285655001&type=ebayhnai.com
Thanks! This is a 1910MS64, but I did not purchase it because I didn't like the flat polished looking area in the arrow branch area. So, In other words, when buying, I need to try to get the nicest strike along with the grade? I just thought that the strike was part of the grade, but I can see from looking at many coins that this is not so. Thank you so much again
Coins with less than average strike can grade MS64, but should have other attributes which compensate for that shortfall, such as exceptionally nice luster, clean surfaces or attractive toning.
Thank you all so much again! I am having trouble with looking at coins in the lower grades that cost maybe $650 or so then jumping to $1800+ that seem to have issues like raised bubbles, breaks in patina, partially missing letters, etc that may not be seen if casually looked at. Since the price jumps so steeply, I have been looking much more closely. The lower grades to me are showing less of the issues. What I have been searching for is a coin that has sharp detail, flat surfaces where they are supposed to be flat, raised surfaces where they are supposed to be raised and a MS64 grade. I originally thought that maybe the olive branch being convex then concave may have been a different variety, but I was told that I was incorrect. It really looks to me like if you took a coin that has the olive branch convex and pressed it into a putty like they do with antiquities to better see ancient marks, you would get a copy of the coin but with the convex branch. Maybe a new die was made from that? Anyhow, since I know of instances where museums were incorrect in some of their purchases, and they have much more to authenticate than I do, I just want to be sure that if I pay $1800+ for a coin it is at least authentic and the grade that I am paying for. I have actually spent more for a coin and not had these concerns, but at this point I don't want to give up. I love and need the opinions. Thank you again
If your going to buy from Heritage why would you buy it from them off of ebay unless your getting your x times bonus bucks, but even at that the price increase from the HA site (or any other dealers website that does ebay) is usually larger than the bonus. With that said, sometimes one has to look at 100's if not 1000's of coins before the right one speaks to them. And when its the last coin to finish a set they all haunt you. I would also pass on the one you posted
