Tips for Hunting $20 Saints

physics-fan3.14, posted: "I don't know about that. I'm a great deal younger than you are. "

Well, I don't know about the close to a thousand (or a little over) gold spot removals I did at NCS but I do know about two of my personal RAW gold coins that were done over thirty years ago...no spots have returned. Additionally, all of these conserved coins get put into slabs right away so they are even more protected from the environment.

Now, I do have a gem 1913 Buffalo nickel that looks like a proof strike with a recurring darn SINGLE small spot that I've had to remove at least four times over the same thirty years.

 

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What is this "short ray" some of you are referencing ? You just mean the shorter rays on the reverse ? Are they more vulnerable than the longer ones for some reason ?

 

Some have shorter rays on the obverse.

 

I look for the folds in the right leg in the thigh area.

There are 3 "V-shaped" folds on the right side of the right leg...they appear HIGHER than the surrounding gown...then below them moving LEFT across the same leg there are 2 pitted "holes" recessed in the gown.

It is my belief -- Saint vets, feel free to correct me -- that these folds are difficult for most contemporary counterfeiters to duplicate.

I also see a few other less definable swirls as you move across the LEFT leg....and I also look for column details in the Capitol in the lower left at 7 o'clock.

 

There is a TON of information on Short and Long Ray Saints in Roger Burdette's new book.

Separate sections for each of the early-1900's Saints.