I Think I've lost some money on this coin !

Dear Sir/Maa'm,

5 months ago, I purchased a 1915 Panama Pacific on ebay . I realized now, I made a terrible mistake by buying raw coins, because I'm a beginner in coin collecting. Last month, I mailed it in to a Grading-Service, to find its true grade.

This Panama came back authentic,but the slab also has (Polished) :headbang:. I paid over $ 400. for this coin. Its a beautiful looking Perphical -Toned Panama, but being Polished, I'm not sure, just how much ($) I've lost ... Is there anyone out here, know what a 1915-S Pan-Pac AU-58 Polished coin is actually worth now ? :kewl: I would greatly appreciate anyone, with the knowledge determining its worth. Respectively, Chasindreams

 

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Ben

 

Hate to say it, but if it's been polished I highly doubt it's AU now.
Guy~

 

Unless it started out as a high MS? :goof:

If I ever meet the *-hole who ruined a Pan-Pac of any type... :hammer:

 

Well I do not know about these coins but a 1915-S 50C pan-pac AU58 went for 253. It was in a anacs holder graded AU58 cleaned. Prices varied, with the highest being around 373. I recommend joining heritage just so you can check out coins and look at the pictures for the grades. Still pictures would help others here determine something more accurate than my guesses.

 

Knowing which grading company was used would help as well

Richard

 

hi! ssad tale and sorry to hear it. many new collectors make mistakes. all new collectors want coins.
please do yourself a favor and buy some books like david bowers' experts guide to collecting and investing in rare coins. study and learn to grade, and if possible, get a mentor or learn from experts.
then take your time and buy coins. chalk it up as education and take your time to study and enjoy the hobby....my very best wishes,
steve

 

Sorry to hear about your experience. This is a hard lesson to learn. The Pan-Pac half is one of my favorite coins and I hate to hear of someone ruining one by polishing it. I hate it even more when this is done do deceive a beginner collector.

I am guessing it was graded by ANACS because none of the other Top 4 TPGs would slab a polished coin. Was the coin graded "AU-58" or "AU-58 Details". There is a big difference.

Without seeing the coin it is hard to make a judgement but I will stick my neck out and guess that an "AU-58 Polished" Pan-Pac half may bring around EF/XF money. Grey Sheet for an XF Pan-Pac half is $194/$215 (Bid/Ask). If the coin is "AU-58 Details Polished" then I would guess it would be worth less than that.

For future reference I would recommend that until you learn to grade coins that you only buy slabbed coins - especially those costing more than $150 or so.

I hope this doesn't turn you off on coin collecting. There is no one here that has not overpaid for a coin or that has not bought a coin that is a lower grade than advertised so don't kick yourself too much. Consider this a payment on your tuition.

By the way - welcome to CoinTalk.

 

Very well put Hobo!! He is correct on all points and certainly welcome to cointalk!

 

Sorry about your experience , please don't judge numismitists by one bad apple , most want to help you enjoy your new hobby , Hobo is giving you excellant advice . And welcome to CT.
rzage

 

hello rzage ? yes, I've learned my lesson , from now on, I'm sticking with the top 3 grading services . thanks for getting back to me,,,,I was tryin' to send a couple pictures of this coin to you,,,but can't,,,it wants only the Url,,,,I got 3 images, but can't seem to get it working ,,,,other'wise, I'd of sent them to ya',,,but anyways, I do appreciate your reply,,,,have a great day, my friend ! Jim/chasindreams

 

If you still want all the money, break open the slab and sell it w/o saying that it's polished, But unfortunately that is the totally wrong and immoral thing to do.

 

Hi Mark ? Thanks so much , for replyin' to my message . an' yes, it was graded by Anacs,,,( AU-58-Details) . It is such a beautiful coin, I'll prob' just keep it ! I've learned my lesson ! yes, from now on, I'm sticking with the top 3 grading services,I was tryin' to send a couple pictures of this coin to you,,,but can't,,,it wants only the Url,,,,I got 2 images, but can't seem to get it working ,,,,other'wise, I'd of sent them to ya',,,but anyways, I do appreciate your reply,,,,have a great day, my friend ! Jim/chasindreams

 

hi greg,,,,,an 'thanks for gettin' back to me,,,,well,,,,I really couldn't do that, because , I wouldn't want another person who buys this, go thru the same thing I did ! it's truly a beautiful coin, greg ? I'll prob' just hang on it ,,,,,thanks again ! Jim/chasindreams

 

hi greg,,,thanks for getting back to me,,but I really couldn't let someone else feel bad ,,,,,I'll prob/ just hang on to it ,,,,thanks again for writing me,,,, Jim/chasindreams

 

Thanks so much , for replyin' to my message . an' yes, it was graded by Anacs,,,( AU-58-Details) . It is such a beautiful coin, I'll prob' just keep it ! I've learned my lesson ! yes, from now on, I'm sticking with the top 3 grading services,I was tryin' to send a couple pictures of this coin to you,,,but can't,,,it wants only the Url,,,,I got 2 images, but can't seem to get it working ,,,,other'wise, I'd of sent them to ya',,,but anyways, I do appreciate your reply,,,,have a great day, my friend ! Jim/chasindreams

 

hi Hobo ,,,,,thanks for your reply,,,,I really appreciated your response on all of this ! an yes,,,I've learned my lesson now,,,,my wallet alot lighter' ? lol',,,,,have a great day ! Jim/chasindreams

 

for whatever its worth please dont look beyond ngc and pcgs if you like you coins in a slab

 

hi again! not to beat a dead horse, but , please , please please.....learn about grading and compare examples on sites like heritage and other auction and retail firms!!!
grading is so subjective as you can tell by various grading threads. take your time and please....do not buy a slab just because a given firm says what it is...learn to distinguish. the coin itself is what you are buying...look at the same grade and type of coin from the same and different grading services.
each is individual and can be deemed the same grade...take youor time and buy the best coin for your money.
only my very humble opinion and advice.
best wishes....steve

 

I am a beginner at this, and I am starting with Morgans and Peace Dollars, as they are large, and (I have heard) good for beginners to learn grading on. I am restricting myself to the least expensive common dates while learning. Any mistakes will be less costly! (I also like these coins.)

Besides the ANA grading book and the Redbook, I bought some books on these particular coins. This may be a good way for you to start.

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