A temptation at the pawn shop today...

That's what I was thinking, too - but then I also realized that if I bought a slabbed MS65 online for a couple of hundred less, I'd be a couple of hundred ahead, regardless of what happens to the spot price.

But then I didn't buy one online, either. At least, not yet.

 

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I still remember the 2 that were listed here in the classified section @ $1400 ea

 

The high price of gold bullion has sucked all the premiums out of less than Gem Uncirculated (MS-65) $20 gold coins. They sell for about melt now, and that’s especially true for an uncertified piece. For $4,500 you should be getting a slabbed piece, and slabbing should have been done by at least a second tier company, like ANACS or ICG, not “Uncle Elmer’s Fly By Night” grading service.

 

I believe that the Omaga counterfeits were all copies of the 1907 High Relief $20 gold. He also made a particular date of the $3 gold although I can’t recall the exact date at the moment. I think it was in the 1880s.

 

Right, the $3 omega date is 1882:
https://coinweek.com/counterfeit-coin-detection-1882-3-us-gold-coin/

 

Was the coin graded and holdered ? I can't tell from the pic.

To me, unless you're buying dozens or hundreds and it adds up, I think paying a small (<10%) premium for an MS-65 is worth it to make sure you have an authentic coin as well as the ease of handling/showing the coins. Maybe going to MS-64 the premium is then close to nil.

But that might just be me.

 

Nope, in a stapled-shut plastic flip. Which is better than the last one I did buy there, where the guy scooted it across the counter a couple of times while ringing it up. On the obverse; they'd stuck the price sticker directly onto the coin's reverse. I was getting it for less than melt under a promotion, so all I did was scowl and ask him to STOP DOING THAT.

 

I bought an Englehard silver bar from a pawn shop with a price sticker on the back.
The front was nicely toned and I asked for the best they could do price... getting a couple of bucks off @ $17.
When I got it home and removed the price sticker someone had acid tested it.
The pawn shop conveniently placed a sticker over that spot
I went back later to look for something else, I asked about the acid tested silver bar and they said they acid test everything because they don't know any better

 

DAMN!! I get pissed off when they sticker a slab. I would have probably not bought that one.

 

I'll put up with a lot to get gold under melt.