I just got back a 1856d $2.50 gold coin from NGC xf details cleaned. I know what all this means, I've dealt in coins for over 50 years. I'm just glad it came back real because they are such an ugly strike, they look fake!. There are only approx. 50 of these known to exist so the coin is valuable. I need more opinions about this............coin is hard to grade and can look cleaned even when not (PCGS article). The coin exhibits some hair lines especially on obverse, no harsh cleaning. Auction (as quoted by national auction house last week) estimates have this coin at $10,000 - $12,000.00 in it's current state. If it were not graded as cleaned, the last coin sold at auction in xf brought $37,000.00, 2 years ago. I'm not for artificial toning but does anyone think I should break coin out and let it tone natural for a couple years and resubmit? Could be a $20,000.00 gain. What would be best, leave it outside for awhile, store in old yellow paper flip, etc.? Thanks all, BBG
I cannot find any record of an XF 1856-D QE selling for $37k. If one did, that would surely have been a superior, unadulterated specimen, unlike anything you can get yours to look like. Yes, you might be able to moderate the cleaned look of your coin if things go right, but you could just as easily compound your problems by making it cleaned and toned instead of just cleaned. Gold does tone, but it takes much longer than copper and silver, as it is a much more noble metal than they are. Short of using an obviously unnatural process, you are unlikely to tone a gold coin in anything less than several decades.
You are correct, one sold for $31,000.00 7/6/14 xf 45 pcgs Great Collections. Do you think a couple years of just putting it on a shelf, exposed, would at least make it look btr. to the buyer even if it comes back details after 2 years? I'm not keeping the coin because of net grade and don't need the $$ right now. THANKS
I'd be surprised if you saw much change in 100 years. Edit: I'd be happy its authentic. Sounds like somebody's getting greedy. I wonder what you purchased it for....
