Just pulled the trigger on a coin that I really couldn't resist

I swore I'd never buy another coin from this one seller who posts washed out deceptive photos of coins, but this one is already graded. 1886P MS65PL, NGC. I have about 8 MS, BU already of this year and mint, but this one completes the superfecta, will be my 4th 1886 MS with the variety VAM1-C, Hot 50, 3+2 clash. I have 1 in the safe already (MS67), two more raw ones with PCGS being graded, this makes #4. I will send it to PCGS to be crossed over so the label will be on the front of the slab. Being prooflike sealed the deal, I sniped high at the bell and got it for just under PCGS list price for an unattributed coin. I wouldn't have given it a second look but I immediately saw the pickup points including one not listed in the literature, the two small clashes on top of the olive wreath.
Thought about posting in new acquisitions but this one is special to me. Once I get them all back from grading I'll post all 4 in this thread. I'm tickled! Humor me.

 

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See above.

 

Lovely...

 

She’s a beauty!

 

Very nice Morgan I'll take 3, bill me.

 

Looks like a real beauty.. Hoping that you didn't buy it from "AuctionKings" as those SOBs doctor their photos something aweful (and most look exactly like the one you posted)

 

Hmmm. I didn't want to call them out by name on the forum, let's just say you are not wrong. I will consider buying from them but only when already graded.

 

Just a warning that the coins they sell in slabs also have doctored/juiced photos. They know how to make a coin that is at best semi-pl look ultra deep mirror. So, keep that in mind when bidding.

 

And another warning, although you may already be aware: the criteria for PL were less stringent in the era of those slabs. I had one Morgan (forget the date) in an NGC PL holder like that that I ran by a Morgan specialist, and he educated me. He said it was a nice coin, but there was no chance it would cross into a PL slab today.

I'll be eager to hear how this one turns out!

 

That's a good point too. While we have often heard about old holders being sources of undergraded coins (of course there are some but not as many as people tend to believe) they are also sources for pl/dmpl designations that would no longer hold based on the standards for those actually becoming stricter over the years.

 

I don't hesitate to call them out.. bought from them 3 times in as many years, like you mentioned after the 1st graded only. So while they didn't screw me a 2nd time, I was less then happy with the other two items I bought at later dates.. I now avoid that seller like the plague and take no hesitation warning others about them.

 

Yeah, my click finger's admin is aware of their deceptive photos. If I think it's not kosher, I'll return it. Won't be the first time. They also pay for returns shipping because they know their raw coins are mostly (but not all) junk and don't want negative reviews. When I get it I'll do a reflective distance test on it. It's harder to do in a slab but possible. I only got it because of the PL designation, the grade, and Hot 50 Vam. That being said, MS65's are common fodder for this year and mint, so back she'll go if it doesn't pass the sniff test.

 

This won't help you on this one and I may be playing captain obvious here but depending on how new the slab is, NGC started automatically photographing everything that goes through there at a certain point. I don't know the exact date but anything with the prong holders has a chance of being in their system and anything with the newer style prong/edgeview cores will be on their website. Its under Resources/Verification. You can enter in the slab number and grade and you'll get a halfway decent image of front and back. It's just their basic photos, not high quality that was paid for but can give you a more realistic idea of how coins look having a second photograph/lighting type. Also verifies it's what they had in their possession vs what's in the slab by verifying minor imperfections.

You may already know. I always use them as an extra online photo resource when i can.

 

I do the same with PCGS. For this particular coin, there are no NGC online photos and also an out of date value. Must be a really old slab.

 

I was curious so I looked it up. This style was used on slabs in the 1997-2000 time frame. In 2001 they stayed the same but they added "Numismatic Guaranty Corporation" on the bottom edge of the front label in white.

 

Well this coin came today. I'm no good at shooting coin photos, but I'm plenty happy. I can see my nose in the coin from 8 inches, both obverse and reverse..
Here's a close up up the VAM1-C pickup points from the coinscope.