I've Decided

In a similar thread, which caused much controversy, I was asking what someone would recommend as a nice coin for around 200-225 dollars. With much confusion and contradiction in the thread, I took it about myself to pick a very nice coin. Please grade and how much you would pay for this:

1903 Quarter Eagle

 

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It looks fake, so I'd pay nothing for it.

If you want a nice gold coin for around $200, try a French Rooster or a Swiss 20 Franc Helvetia both are .1867 gold and the size of a nickel.

 

What makes you think its fake?

 

I would say EF although it is hard to tell. You have a nice photo but I think to evaluate from photos you should see them from 45 degrees at N S E W as well as head on. You can get a better view of wear. As far as price I am no help but I would think under $220 myself but I ain't buying. Good luck.

 

I pulled out a coin that I own, got out a loop and compared the 2. Yours looks "puffy" like it just came out of a mold instead of being struck with a die. The letters and numbers on the back look nothing like mine. Again to puffy looking.

The face has no detail in the nose and the lips. It's not wear it just look puffy. The Liberty seem a little crisp to go with the "wear" on the face. Personally, I'd walk away from that one.

 

The puffiness is really mostly on the obverse (bust) and I think is just smooth wear. I'll see what anyone else says...

 

Looks cleaned. (Lines all over, they look more than contact marks to me, and also there are several places of gunk on the coin and some places don't have any gunk, makes me believe that somebody tried to clean it) Also the numbers look kinda out of place.
I don't want to say it is fake, as I am not an expert on this particular series, but I will say this. Why didn't you get one certified, ensuring that the coin was real and not cleaned? (Yes I know that grading companies sometimes make a mistake but I think you get the gist of what I'm saying)

 

The surfaces and devices look "soft".
A coin in that grade ought to have more details, but everything looks rounded.
IMO, it's either:
- not real, or
- been totally worked over (cleaned in some manner akin to buffing).

Since you are taking your time and getting opinions, I'm guessing that the amount of money you're proposing spending is significant to you.
And you are thinking of buying a raw coin!!!
Find a coin that appeals to you AND is slabbed.
You can crack it out later if you wish BUT you would be starting out confident that the coin you purchased is real and uncleaned.

 

I don't think it's fake, but it has been cleaned. I'd say XF on grade because of some wear on the lower part of the bust on obverse.
Guy~

 

I agree that this coin looks heavily polished to me, so I wouldn't bet on any chance of it being graded by PCGS unfortunately.

If you want a very old gold coin graded you may be able to find a gold dollar like this one down in your price range that is a safer bet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1853-Liberty-On...mQQptZCoins_US_Individual?hash=item1c0c9f0aed

 

This is one of those questions which is why

This is one of those questions which is why the first time you got frustrated, that there is no answer to unless we somehow agree.

This coin has something wrong with it - in scientific terms "it don't look right" - I would need to see it in hand to tell you more - with that in mind I would be reluctant to pay buillion value for it.
But you see you already set yourself up with, " I took it about myself to pick a very nice coin" so if we dissagree or challenge you you may get your back up.

Why don't you go back to square 1 and say, "I like Lincoln Cents in grades AU or below (or whatever) and would like to spend xxx$$$" - "the ones I need are ///// and I what do you all think my money would buy within those parameters"?
When you say "nice coin" and "reccomend" that just leaves out an awfully lot of info - your just not very likley to get the anwer your looking for until you ask a more precise question. In fact when asking a question you should not have an answer in mind at all.

 

It's burnished / polished - worse than a mere cleaning.

You can get better coins than this. Pass.

 

First - I do not think the other thread caused a controversy. I think everyone just wanted to guide you to a problem free nice coin. When give a price range of about $200 you will get a ton of different suggestions. One of the reasons I kept asking what you want to do with your collection. Once we understand that we(or others) can make much better recommendations.

As to the coin you posted - I believe it is real, but I am not an expert either. I also agree with others that the coin has been polished. If you can return it I would; BUT if you are happy with the coin then that is what is important. Just my humble opinion.

 

I can't tell if it's real or fake-- could be either-- but I don't find it attractive at all. I strongly recommend sticking with one graded by a top tier tpg, your best protection against a forgery, and decent protection against it being a doctored coin. jmho.

 

See I said EF but I couldn't tell it was polished or cleaned never go off my grading I am just trying to learn. I would love to know how you could tell from the two pictures it was cleaned or burnished or polished. I am still having a hard time if I can't hold it and turn it in the light.

 

Well did you actually buy it yet? I don't know what's wrong with the coin but one thing for sure is it looks like it has been cleaned. With that said, alot of counterfeits appear that way at first until the buyer does further research. good luck

 

Hang in there all you got to do is,,,

Hang in there all you got to do is,,, look at thousands, then tens of thousands of coins and you will know. Read books, buy books, study graded coin examples, study raw ones, go to shows and shops, be politie and in 10 or 20 years you will know "what we know".

In a way I'm being very serious regarding your question, "I would love to know how you could tell from the two pictures it was cleaned or burnished or polished." There are no shortcuts in life or coins - if it were easy everybody would be doing it. If you bought this coin it could turn out to be one of your most valuble items, not because of it's numismatic worth alone but because of it's possibility to stear you towards gaining long lasting knowledge and enjoyment.

 

I had bought it, I got a full refund and bought an 1884 CC Morgan Proof Like ANACS MS63 VAM 2.

 

Better...Better....
Post pics once you get it in, we'd love to see