I got this today at a coin store, I thought it was a good price, looked BU. THen I got home and saw the red book price, ok I paid a few too many dollars, then I looked closer and I think I saw some wear. What do you think, did I mess up, or is it just me. I paid $15.
unless that is part of the flip sticking to jefferson, i do beleive there may be some wear there, but it may just be one of the more worn down dies from looking at the reverse. Hard to tell with those photos.
I would say the coin is AU. One thing you can do in the future is this - when looking at coins in a shop, ask to look at multiple examples of the same coin. This will almost always be possible as most dealers have many of everything. This will help you because you will have the coins to compare to one another instead of just looking at one and making a decision. As a result you will rarely end up with coins like this one.
Hi Ham, However you look at it, worst case, it's still an 8 or 9 dollar coin. We all get educated a little bit as we deal in this stuff. Education has always cost something. You've just paid a tiny bit for some of yours. It's a nice coin too ! Paul
It looks like an AU coin to me. Did you mess up?.....Nah. Did you pay a little bit too much for the coin?....Probably. It's still a nice coin that's probably worth about $10, and it's a key date coin you own. Most people in this hobby (myself included) have paid a little too much for a coin at some point or another.
The day that we don't make mistakes we will stop learning. Everyone (well, at least I do) makes mistakes, that is how we progress. Be thankful that it wasn't an expensive coin. I have seen dealers make a ton of mistakes.
i agree with Shortgapbob!!!! if you like the coin, and treasure it... so what if you paid a couple dollars more then some book says its worth ... the impiortant things, as was already posted, is that you learned something. i wouldnt all it a lesson, that would imply that you did somethign wrong. But I think you learned a new method of cherrypicking and deciding which coin you want, as mentioned by Doug. (i know i did)
If it's any consolation... I recently found my Jefferson Nickels Whitman Album (not folder!) which was the last item I needed to locate from my coin collection from more than 20 years ago. My first thought was, hey, I should finally get that 50-D. Much to my surprise, I not only already had it, but it looked like the coin you just pictured. Which means I probably paid too much for mine as well... although it would have been many years before! Keep in mind that guides are only that... guides... and although the market is much larger for coins than it might be for other collectibles, an item is still worth what you or someone else is willing to pay for it.
I meant to add that even at $15, you paid a lot less than a lot of people who purchased the 1950-D in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The 1950-D selling for over $25 back in those days, as people were hoarding the rare issue. But, because so many were saved, the survival rates were high for the coin and the prices fell back to an extent.
Just like the 1883 with cents. Also I looked at the coin some more, looks au59 (i've never even heard of one). The pictures are very bad BTW. Also I learned some things from this pruchase and 2 other with it. 1. Always bring your Red Book. I don't know most prices by heart and you can't trust what the dealer says. (he said the book value was $25) 2. Carfully examine coins fist. I didn't look very hard at it and the lighting was bad. I also paid $5 for a 1891 v nickel which was very very damaged (I don't know how I missed it) 3. Don't let the dealer sucker you in. If the dealer says something, assume the opposite. He misled me a bit saying how it was a BU coin and how rare it was. 4. Double and triple check the prices of the coins before buying. I paid $5 for a NZ cent proof. I don't know why, but I thought it was less. (BTW he does have an excellent selection of ferners and prices on them (well.. not anymore, I bought the good ones ))
i bought a whole 1938-1962 jefferson book full of all dates and mintmarks for $25. if i had a chace to buy one for $15, i would pass that up.
