I'm looking into buying an AU/BU 1907 Indian Head $ Gold Eagle coin. I know they are fairly common as gold Indian $10 pieces are and I want one that doesn't, necessarily, have to be slabbed. There's the hitch. I'm not proficient in gold grading and I am an AU/BU type guy, where I'd rather have a nice example of an AU coin than a beat up MS60 BU coin. I think I've mentioned that before, as I've been known to post my AU coins that I bought after trying the BU stuff that was misrepresented, all too often. So, as it stands right now, I'm going to do some homework and plan to buy THE coin at the San Francisco US Mint Coin Show, in early November. If anybody has any suggestions or good advice I'd love to hear it. Including what you think it'll cost me and any resources available I might learn from. Thanks in advance, Bruce
Only buy certified by NGC PCGS or ANACS. preferibly only NGC and PCGS Unless you can authenticate them yourself...but its best to only buy slabbed. I study authentication and whenever I buy US gold I still buy slabbed. Few reasons why, if its in an PCGS or NGC holder odds are it is genuine, and unless in a genuine holder a non-problem coin, makes things alot easier to sell too because the grade is on the slab. I would also say go with AU, especially on these coins can be quite expensive in MS. Using Numismedia looks like an AU58 borderline UNC will cost you around $910. here's a good resource on learning more about these: http://www.ngccoin.com/CoinDetail.aspx?ContentID=46 http://www.ngccoin.com/coin-grading-guide/Grading-Indian-Head-10.aspx
Thanks, That is always good advice when the authenticity of a coin is in question. I wouldn't buy a 1909 svdb Linc. or a 1916 D Merc. unless it was graded and authenticated. I have no problems with the slabbed coins except for their extra cost. With an old gold coin I think going with a graded coin is the right way to go. Bruce
For my type set I have a 1908-D in NGC AU-58. For your reference it cost me $850 a couple years ago. I think it was the last coin I bought for my type set (hard to find) except for my 1790-something coins. If you want to see the pics, ask, and I'll post them.
Bruce in the time you've got it might be best if you can find somebody else who might be going to the show to look at the coins with you. Even the slabbed ones. Ask Mark if he's going to be there.
If you're considering raw coins, buy Bill Fivaz' book about detecting counterfeit US Gold. Cheap book, expensive mistake.
Yes, ask him if he's going. If he's not, he may know someone else who is going. You might even ask The_Cave_Troll.
Their sculpted fields (say compared to a $10 liberty) make them harder to spot too....sometimes you can tell by color.
