1805 quarter eagle

Went to my LCS today and got to hold this rarity. Mintage of 1,781.
When the guy said that, I said that just means there's no way I could afford it. The dealer laughingly said he wasn't sure he could afford it either. Can't wait to see how it grades at PCGS.

 

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I would think EF "Details" what's the mark under the left wing?

 

Certainly a very special coin. But why has such a piece not yet been graded? Probably there's an issue... obv 5 o'clock - what's that?

 

It's called a "ribbon end."

 

It came from an old school collector who started collecting 70+ years ago and had no slabbed coins. I have no stake in it but I'm sure the dealer is confident in its authenticity.

 

There is a slight diagonal (dark) scrape or scratch but not deep. Dirt around stars. Coin should be conserved first. XF is my personal grade but I'll bet it gets graded AU. The reverse is nice but the Obverse is not.

There is also a slim chance that the obverse fields have been repaired. Look at the "tiny round (man-made) pock-marks" in the left field at 10 o'clock perhaps hiding graffiti or scratch removal.

 

It's authentic.

 

That's pretty sweet. It's always amazed me how cheap these are (relatively speaking). I would think that the dealer can get it in the $5000-$5500 range. It's a 7,000ish coin.

 

If the mark in the lower left obverse field doesn't preclude it from straight-grading, I think it'll go at least an AU-50. There's nothing out of the ordinary, under the left wing. That's the banner/ribbon end coming out from behind the wing. Very nice looking example.

Here's my HE to go with it...


'dude

 

And that coin SHOULD NOT be conserved... leave it as is. Beautiful as such.

'dude

 

Dude,

The 1805 is nicer than the OP. It is ALSO BADLY in need of conservation to get rid of the ugly discoloration. Beauty is in the "Cracked-eye" of the beholder.

 

Dude! that some sweet gold Dude.

 

If the OP wants to ruin the character and originality of that coin, then go ahead and conserve. That's a good way to turn an old gold coin with skin and character into a lifeless piece of dreck. Too much old gold have been "conserved"... for the sake of "enhancing" its look... Those are the pieces that usually end up sitting in someone's inventory, week after week, until they're finally auctioned off at a steep discount.

'dude

 

Hey dude,

When someone who KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING instead of gets that coin to conserve, its "skin" will still be complete, the dirt will be gone, the original luster will pop, and the coin MAY actually get graded AU-50. Thank you very much - dude.

Your suggestion is a good one for the average collector because too many coins of any type and composition have been RUINED by ignorant collectors/dealers. IMHO, I'm not one of them. The professionals working at NCS are not either. BOTH these $5 could use a good bath and I'd like to get a hold of them for fifteen minutes. A coin molester.

PS The coin doctors (and many numismatists) know how to put "skin" back on to gold they have dipped. Ever see one of those "hazy blue" gold coins in the top TPGS's slabs? They were dipped, re-skinned, submitted, and slabbed BEFORE the TPGS's detected the alteration years later! Today, the TPGS's are more careful about altered surfaces. The "doctors" have improved too.

 

Hey Insider,

Even those who "know what they're doing" can mess a perfectly good coin up. Dirt is good for old gold... those who are knowledgeable, savvy collectors know that. As I stated earlier - as is, and if the mark in the lower right obverse field isn't an issue, that coin will easily grade AU-50 without stripping its natural color and little bit of dirt from it.

'dude

 

No way on earth would I attempt to conserve that coin. Nothing at all wrong with the coloration in my opinion. In my mind, it's fine if a 200 year old gold coin looks like it has 200 years of oxidation on it.

 

I would do nothing to that coin except submit it for grading.

 

You don't conserve circulated coins. Verdigris and PVC only, or you keep your hands off them. If you conserve, you have to re-wear them into a place where you'll want to conserve it again. Ancients and dug coins excepted, of course.

Are those adjustment marks on the cheek?

 

I like it. And id leave it alone. A soak in acetone is as far as I'd go. And most likely I'd just leave it and send it. Xf 45 is my call. And a upper end one. I just see a touch to much wear and circulation marks to go 50. But it could

 

Thanks, as I wasn't sure