Help Identifying dots/spots on coin.. Carbon Spots?

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here. An old coworker of mine got met started with gold coins when I was 18 after he needed some quick cash. I was never strategic about purchases in the past. I would just buy coins I'd never seen before, and admire them whether good looking or not from Ebay (big mistake). I kid you not, I can spend hours sometimes just looking at coins.

So, I went to a coin shop for the first time yesterday! I took all of my silver and general low value coins (most circulated Washington quarters, mercury dimes, some silver dollars, etc). All in all, I managed to get $400 for everything.

I explained to the gentleman that I wanted something that would perhaps appreciate over the long run as I plan on holding my coins. I picked up the following for $600 (see below). I didn't do much research but it seemed like a good deal (too good perhaps?).

Anyway, to the point; the coin looks great in the daylight. It also looks great under a lamp--until you move it around to certain angles (specifically, 180 degrees--upside down). There are these tiny dots. In the picture they don't look circular, but they are perfect circles as if something was sprinkled on the coin. I searched around and it appears that they can be carbon spots.

What do you think they are? Will they get worse over time? The grade on the coin is MS66. Do you think that it had the spots when graded? Anyone else have this problem?

Thank you. Moving forward, I want to be more strategic on the coins that I purchase.

 

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Who graded this coin? Does not look like ms66 to me!

 

SEGS -- I will say that the photo probably highlights the scratches and dents a bit more. Any suggestions on how to take the picture (perhaps in the daylight)?

The SEGS # is as follows: 21499905

I will upload grade, Cert # and daylight picture in the morning.

 

A lot depends on when the coin was graded. This site is fairly good for off-major grading. The SEGS coins I purchased years ago at a show were vastly overgraded, but the current company says they are better now. But no, I am sorry the 66 was extremely generous, INMO. But you have it in hand and we just see photos. Jim

 

If you search for the number on the SEGS website, it states that it was graded in 2003. http://www.segsgrading.com/Products/CoinLookup.aspx

Thanks for your feedback. Any idea on the spots seen in the third picture?

 

It is hard to tell from the photo as to size and especially how deep the spots are. Generally if very shallow, a standard COIN type silver dip could be used. If deeper, it might not be effective. Generally unless they are excessively large , they wouldn't affect the overall grade or attract a "environmental damage" on a slab. IMO, Jim

 

I would stick with the top 2 grading companies if you are going to spend $600 on a single coin. Honestly though, that coin is worth closer to $100 than $600. Idk what kind of return policy that shop has, but i would try and return it. The dealer who sold you that is a crook imo.

BTW, i know a dealer or 2 that use SEGS frequently and ive heard that they will slab a coin at whatever grade you request. Quite the scandal !!

 

Welcome to CT.
Well I see a coin that got coughed or sneezed over at some point. I call it a MS63 green bean. So I agree with Doug this coins spots are human caused. Ironicly they could have been done at the grading firm before encapsulation! If you added some finger marks you’d have some of the reasons I don’t slab