1899 coin help please

Hey guys I found this old coin in a box of my grandfather's stuff. I see some are worth a decent amount. I'm very new to coins. What the heck should I do with it? Any opinions of thoughts on the coin is greatly appreciated. There's some kind of weird error going on with the stars on one side. I can't tell what would cause it.

 

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Maybe something dipped on it and kind of ate through the coin lol

 

The coin was holed and then plugged. It's damaged. But, if authentic the coin is still valuable.

Unfortunately, there are more fakes than real ones. Someone will knowledge about Draped Bust coinage will come along. I don't know them well enough to tell a real one from a fake.

 

It weighs 26grams

 

Given a lifespan of better than 200 years most anything could have happened. I fully agree with the plugged hole. Was not unusual to hole coins back then. However, if authentic that is still a very special piece. You said you are new to this. Look in your Yellow pages.... Well, rather Google coin/stamp shops in your area. Try to get a hands on opinion from someone first hand. My gut tells me you have a piece of history in your hands. However I will defer to those with more expertise.

 

The image below is a Googled image of a copy. Again, I am not an expert and cannot pinpoint the individual characteristics that identify this as a copy. Just know it is a copy. In general, note the "toyish" overall appearance of the piece.... Again, I reiterate I am not an expert on 18th century coinage. I believe the damage and repaired hole in yours strengthens the argument for its authenticity. Speaking entirely from a value perspective, this isn't the pot at the end of the rainbow. However if it is verified as authentic you may have a $700.00 plus coin here.

 

Great thanks! Yeah it's wear and weight and uniqueness makes me think it's real but I am far from an expert.

 

Lets see the reverse.
If it's real too bad about the damage. Those 18th century coins are great.
Damage: the hole that has been plugged. The heavy chunk rim ding at 4 o'clock. The scratches across the portrait.
Someone most likely scrubbed this with something abrasive. It may have shined up, but it ruins the coin.
The hole makes me think this was on a chain at one point, but the location of the hole doesn't make sense. The hole would be at 12 o'clock if you wanted to orient the portrait correctly when wearing it.

 

Aside from the already-addressed repair and the fresher scratches, I see nothing that would make me question authenticity. Pretty cool imo, but the real "value" here is that it belonged to your grandfather. Coins can almost always be replaced, but a family connection, especially to the departed, can never be and is priceless.

As for what to do with it, and the above considered, I would suggest you cherish it. Perhaps consider making it (and/or the mentioned others) a family heirloom by someday passsing it on to your own children or niece/nephew.

 

There's a rev thumbnail in the OP.

At that time coins were often made into "jewelry" not for aesthetic reasons, but for more practical ones. This had mostly to do with the fact that women didn't hold the same inheritance rights as men.

 

Missed it. Thanks. It's so mangled, it seems real.
I agree that grand dad's coin has more value as a family heirloom than the
monetary value.

 

I think it's beautiful .. scratches and all.

 

Anyone have a clue what it's value might be?

 

She's been around the block but still looks pretty to me

 

Tough to say with the replugged hole and other damage, but a minimum would be $500. Probably a bit more. That would be once it's been verified as authentic. And it looks good to me.

 

that's *after* it's been verified ?

 

Cool thanks

 

Your title states 1899... It is actually 1799

 

~ Agree it's a very nice one to keep, especially as a family heirloom. Because it is not a rare variety (normal date, 13 stars with ~ 8000 surviving) it would not command a premium, as noted.
~ Just want to confirm for the OP that this is a silver dollar, as nobody has mentioned it. Of course this would be apparent via its size, but w/o the denomination there might have been less than 100% certainty to someone seeing this anew.

I'm far from expert but might shade that a tad lower. Even if it could be seen as VG08 if problem-free, wouldn't the relatively harsh details pull it toward the $600 range? Which would be another reason to hand it down for a hundred more years.