Hey cointalk, I have a 1909 Plain( No VDB) Cent, and I purchased it for $20 at BU. But I have concerns now, And I am thinking that it may be a high AU. What are your opinions?
I think you paid too much. Return it if you can, and look for a nicer and less expensive example. The spots are distracting.
no forget $20... I checked my purchasing record and I payed $15 for it actually. $20 was for the Columbian Half I bought the same day.
At its very best that is a 63RB - probably less. I would return it and keep looking. It's a coin with a lot available in the eye-appealing affordable category.
Too bad now that the coin shop I bought it from is literally on the other side of the Earth..(from Seoul, S. Korea to Rockville, MD)
...because my parents do not have an Ebay account to buy coins online, and I would have to search quite a bit in Korea where a gem wouldn't be sold as the same price as sold in the US...every US coin here carrys some premium.
It looks BU to me. Yes, there are spots, but overall the coin is still attractive. Looks like it has good luster. I wouldn't sweat over $15. We learn every time we buy a coin. Yes, you can get an example with no spots but you're likely to pay more too. One thing I have learned is that coins with great eye appeal sell for more than the price guides.
