I think I got swindled

Well I am usually pretty good at this, but the other day I was looking around Ebay for early proofs of course and I came across this one. It was in one of those basement slabbers holders graded PR-66. Of course I was never expecting to get a true PR-66, but at the price, if I did any better than PR-62, I would be getting a pretty good deal. Well I received it today and I'm not sure if it is even a proof. Unfortunately, it is in the slab so I can't examine the edges without giving up my return privilege. It looks like a proof, but with some incomplete stars, I'm just not sure. What do you think, did I make a rookie mistake after thirty five years of collecting?



If nothing else, the golden color is pretty nice and it matches my others from the eighties.

 

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Wow, did I stump CT? That's almost like stumping Google.

 

Maybe the seller meant MS62?

 

but seller said 66

This poster should know the proofs better than me.

 

We need leadfoot.......

 

If in doubt send it back.

 

It looks like a business strike coin. Some of the details are soft "looking".

 

It's probably worth more as an MS than it would be as a proof. I can't tell if it's proof or not.

 

Some people just can't resist "living on the edge" once in a while.

Chris

 

I usually follow the "buy the coin not the slab" rule and was bidding around PR-62 money for it. So if it were a proof at all, I would be getting a pretty good deal. Really, even if it is a business strike coin, it price was in order.

I sent the seller a message:

I received the coin today and I'm just not sure it is a proof. I was not expecting a PR-65, but the coin is without mirrors and has incomplete stars. These are two things that I would expect a proof to have. I have been a proof collector for nearly thirty years, and would love to keep the coin, but I want a proof.

Would you allow me to remove the coin from the holder to examine the edges? If it is a proof I will keep it and give you positive feedback and if it is not a proof, I return it and pay you to put it in a new slab. Maybe $25 for the slab and restocking.

Thank you,
Kirk

I'll wait a few days and see what he says, otherwise I'm going to return it. I don't think that I would ever be happy with it anyway, but for the price I paid, it would be a good coin for an upgrade trade.

 

I would do the same with a return. The doubt will never completely go away. You will spend more time wrestling with that thought, than the coin is worth.

 

It will be interesting to see what they say. Good luck!

 

If I could examine the edges, I would know with absolute certainty if it is a proof or not. But like I said, I don't think that I would keep it anyway, just use it for a trade up coin.

 

ok, all

this is not my field of expertise in the least, but I do have "A Guide Book of Shield and Liberty Head Nickels" written by Bill Favaz and Q. David Bowers and it says the following:

1884 Proof Strikes - characteristics and appearance: Deeply mirrored fields are the rule. Most proofs are well struck, but check the hair details on the obverse and the ear of corn to the left of the ribbon bow on the reverse.

One die has the 1 dramatically double punched, most evident on the base; the top of the 1 pierces the neck truncation of Miss Liberty. At least two other obverse dies are used as well.

The certified populations suggest that most proofs grade within the PF 63-66 range and that proofs are generally attractive and well struck.

This is all of the info given on 1884 proofs. I hope that it helps.

 

judging by the ear of corn on the reverse, the lack of detail in the stars, and the lack of mirrored fields I would say that this is likely a circulation strike, but as I have stated, I don't know this series

 

I think you made the right decision in contacting the seller. Lets see what he says...hopefully he will allow you to crack it open.

Another thought (if he says no)...if you are sure the coin is MS grade (if its a business strike), you might just want to crack it anyway and examine it. You could probably reclaim most of your money (if not all) selling it online as an MS business strike...if that is what it ends up being.

 

My gut is telling me that it is a business strike. Since I am having a hard time seeing if the weaknesses are from strike or wear in the holder, I am inclined to return it and wait for a proof to come around.

I only needed two more coins to complete the set, the 1884 and 1911. I am ready to move on to my next set, this one is three years in the making already and I'm getting a little bored of it.

Thanks for the help guys.