Featured 1914-D sad staple scratch

That's exactly how I feel. I won't buy a coin I don't like...and for the most part refuse to alter one. I think that if I had a nice coin that had toned poorly...a trip to NCS might be in order but other than yet, I fully agree. However, I don't like the attitude that we need to "protect" future purchasers because if we do something with our coin...a seller down the road might be able to cheat someone with it. We won't cheat someone...but the next owner might. I have always felt that it is the responsibility of the buyer to know what they are buying. I think part of this feeling has to do with the fact that I have been around and dealt with classic cars. There are so many ways you can be ripped off when purchasing a classic car unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing. I feel that many coin collectors don't want to take that responsibility and at the end of the day...that's their prerogative.

 

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That was the problem my carelessness caused the scratch in the Barber dime :headbang:A beatiful MS coin , my wife brought some coins home from our deposit box at the bank and put them all in a bag , 1st I should of got them myself or at least told her to be careful , also I didn't crimp the ends of the staples down , I remember paying $183 for it back around 1975 , every time I look at it I still feel terrible .
rzage:headbang:

 

Eventually someone will take the coin out and sell it as undamaged , just look at all the crooks on fleabay .
rzage:whistle:

Soory didnt read all the posts Doug already said this .

 

That's the responsibility of the buyer to recognize that. Don't let these "what ifs" change what you do with your coin.

 

True , but as more knowledgable people we should at least do what we can to help the newbies and less exsperienced not make the same mistakes as some of us made . JMO
rzage

 

I have no problem answering any questions someone might have about a coin or lending advice. Education is the key to this hobby. But, I refuse to buy into this: "I have a damaged coin that someone like NCS could repair and slab, it would look nicer that way. I want to do it. But, I'm afraid that if I do...and later decide to sell it, the next owner will crack it out and sell it as a problem free coin. So, therefore, I won't do it." That fear that prevents me from doing what I want with my coin because someone else might get ripped off down the road is not something I worry about. I won't rip that person off. But, it's true...someone might.

Don't collect by fear.

 

I can see both sides I dipped a few of my coins and have no qualms about that , once you buy it there your coins , but for how long , I guess I'm still on the fence about this fixing the damage question .
rzage:thumb:

 

Even with the scratch, nice coin. I'll take it.

 

AU Details net EF40

ANACS opinion was AU Details net EF40.

Hind sight is always 20-20. If left in the Dansco album, the scratch may have toned down over time. Now the scratch should remain bright & unchanged preserved in the slab.

Very best regards,
collect89

 

It's true that folks can do whatever the want to with their own coins. However, in my personal opinion, repairing damage to a coin is likely to pollute the numismatic pool downstream, (agreeing with Doug here), so I'm against it. There are numerous people who purchase coins in 'problem slabs,' remove them, and peddle them as something they are not. In the online market, they are often doctored... or their images are. I personally believe that collectors have a responsibility not to add to this problem by having damaged coins repaired. There are repair specialists who can make damage practically invisible, just as there are coin doctors who can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. This is different from conservation to remove pvc or glue residue. It is making something into something it is not. I have been observing couple of eBay power sellers who make a habit of cracking out coins with 'issues' and selling them as p.q. They make a lot of money from the unsuspecting.

 

While I understand where you're coming from...I simply disagree. It's true, there are sellers out there who do unethical things...but if you're going to spend "a lot of money" on something you better know about it. I have very little sympathy for someone who is among the "unsuspecting." People don't want to take the time to learn about it so they don't get taken advantage of. It's not our responsibility to alter how we collect coins to protect them. I would personally never buy a coin with a scratch like this...but what if this was my coin and I accidentally scratched it. Would I send it to NCS to see what they could do? Maybe. Should I feel guilty if I sell the coin in it's "damaged" NCS slab, absolutely and completely not.

 

As relitive newbie to coin collecting, I will not buy a raw coin from ebay. I simply do not know enough about the grades and counterfits to make a really informed decission.
As far as a coin being in a "damaged" NCS slab, I know it is damaged as it is documented and thus I feel it is my choice whether I want to buy it or not. At the same time I can see the point of if you were to sell it to someone and they break open the case and sell it as non-damaged then yes I feel that gives a bad name to the hobby. But then again that is just one new guys opion.

Dave

 

That does give a bad name to the hobby. But, the truth is...there are dealers out there who will do this. Collector's can't alter the way they collect coins because they are afraid of what will happen with their coin after they sell it.

Being that you're new to this hobby Dave, let me ask you a question. Let's say you are a big Lincoln cent collector and you want to add a key coin to your set. You set your sights on a 1909-S VDB These coins can run several hundred dollars in a low grade. Would you willingly drop down several hundred dollars on a raw example of the coin without doing any research...in person or online? I would hope your answer would be no. Because, coins like this have an inherent risk. As the price of the coin goes up, the risk becomes greater and the responsibility lies with the purchaser to educate themselves to make sure they aren't ripped off. Is the coin authentic? Is the coin problem free? Can you tell? There are so many great sources out there for information...it's important that we use them. I don't know a lot about 1909-S VDB Lincolns. But, when I decide to buy (and I do want to down the road) I will certainly research the coin before I do.

 

CamaroDMD
You are right, the answer to that question is a definate no! Thus my comment "I will not buy a raw coin from ebay. I simply do not know enough about the grades and counterfits to make a really informed decission."

Dave

 

I didn't know that. I have no idea what NCS is willing to do. Will they plug an older coin?

 

I think that what they will do is conservation work only, I have heard that they will rescue coins encased in lucite, remove surface contamination and foreign objects attached to the surface (Coin was in a fire and part of the holder melted to the surface of it).

Plugs, whizzing, etc, that's the realm of coin doctors.

Doug, good point on what would happen to the Lincoln in the future, I saw another thread on a similar subject, where someone validated your point.

Personally I would never buy a raw coin of value on eBay, but I know that many people will.

 

reminds me of my 3legger. Sad, really and I believe most of you had seen it or at least heard the story, but I bought it as an AU and didn't see the scratch right across Black Diamond's back.

Key Date coins, lost forever as damaged. I at least have to credit collect899, he spotted it BEFORE he bought the coin.

 

Let me make sure that I point out that I'm not in support of doctoring a coin. Not at all, I'm totally against it. But, this same argument can be made about any "damaged" slab. Anyone could take an ANACS or NCS slab, crack the coin out, and claim it is a nice MS coin. Does that mean that ANACS and NCS (and now PCGS) shouldn't slab these coins. I don't think it's a problem. I don't think we should allow our fear of these "what ifs" affect how we collect.

There are so many great tools out there to educate collectors. We have tons of books, great internet resources, and knowledgeable collectors who are willing to help educate each other. I have very little sympathy for collectors who don't use these resources and get taken advantage of. I understand that there are newbie collectors who aren't aware of the resources and it happens to, and I feel bad for them. But, a dealer could crack that 1914-D out of that ANACS slab and put it in a 2x2 and sell it as AU. If someone is willing to plop down AU money for that coin (which is a lot of money) without doing any research into that coin or what AU is for Lincolns, then it's solely their fault.