Would You Buy This?

Let's play a hypothetical: Assume for a minute that you were in the market for one of these. You stumble upon this listing on Ebay - a 1955 NGC MS-65 FBL Franklin Half. Assume further that the picture below was all you could see of the coin. Would you buy it? How much would you pay for it?

 

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From what I can see on the reverse of that coin, it doesn't look like FBL's to me. I'm not crazy about the toning either. I'd pass.....

 

Probably better ones out there, with clearer pictures... Like Green18, I'd pass

 

I cant turn down a MS 65 FBL regardless graded by NGC or PCGS for $20

 

The point of this thread is being able to evaluate sellers pictures, and using a little knowledge to purchase a coin. I'll disclose what the coin really looks like tomorrow morning - anyone else have an opinion of the coin based solely on the seller's pics first?

 

I can't tell anything from these pictures

 

The pictures indicate a need to have NGC confirm the legitimacy of the slab!

 

What are you seeing that would cause you to question the slab? There is no question in my mind from these pictures that it is genuine.

 

The slab looks like it is genuine based on all I have seen. I think NGC stands behind the grade so if you get it and it isn't FBL send it to them to check it out. I would gie $20 for it as well it is probably worth a lot than that I don't buy that high grade so I don't check them too often, but I figure it is a $100 if it is right.

 

The coin.

 

I hoard.. And buy maybe more then I should.. Still a bit new.. But I would and have purchased several Franklin Halves graded the same.. around 20..would pass if it was over 23.00 total.. 65 FBL.. Not bad..

 

OK, based on the sellers pictures I wouldn't buy that coin. I don't care what's printed on the slab.....

 

The only thing is your buying the slab if it is ngc or pcgs so why not pay for the slab. If the coin were a raw i would give 8 but slabbed by ngc MS65 FBL is certainly worth $12

 

Old saying grasshopper......"buy the coin, not the slab".

 

yes but thats what your buying is the slab.

 

Indeed, but is the coin contained within the slab appealing and to your liking? Case in point. I was in the market for a '21 Peace Dollar. I went to a recent coin show and saw numerous "slabbed" examples in my price range but they just didn't appeal to me. "Eye" appeal was what I was after. I wound up purchasing an AU coin which was raw. I feel that this coin ran rings around the slabbed ones.

 

Well first thing I would do is run a heritage search and see what the last 5 sold for - and when they sold.
I would then lower that price by a good % in case something was wrong with the coin and bid.

I don't have time to check out the price, so I'm not going to say what I would pay, but yes, I would buy the coin.

Speedy

 

I'd give $65 for it, and I'm not buying the slab per se, but NGC's expertise in assessing FBL, especially since they have tougher standards for that designation than PCGS.

 

Well, I paid $85 for it - even with the sellers crappy pics.

The 1955 usually has an average strike, nothing special, nothing bad. When it is toned, it is usually very dark. Finding a 1955 with attractive, multicolored, rainbow toning, especially with reds or greens, is very difficult. As you can see, the strike on this coin is good, and the color is quite attractive. The only detriment is an ill-placed mark on his cheek, but otherwise flawless surfaces make up for it. For $85, I felt this was a great deal.

The toning is subtle and was hard to capture in pictures - I am not happy with these. In hand, pink transitions to blue, greens, yellows, and finally red at the edge.

My purpose in this thread was to show that being able to interpret pictures properly, and knowing strike and toning characteristics for the date, will give you a leg up. Even with obviously inferior pictures, I was able to buy an attractive and appealing coin.

 

I typically won't buy a coin online without excellent pictures...unless I have dealt with the seller in the past and have faith in them. That said, if the price was right...and I needed this coin...and I liked the toning, I would be willing to take a risk on this coin because I do have faith in NGC's grading ability. If it were raw, I wouldn't even consider it.