"1874 $3 Gold - Looks horrible!" question

I listed this item and thought the heading described it perfectly - the
coin is beat up, gouged and worn so I was expecting to maybe get the
gold value for it. Instead, it got bid up to $150.

Why would that happen? I know some of these in perfect condition go for
thousands, but this coin really "looks horrible" to me.

You can see photos on eBay at http://tinyurl.com/3xnq7

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 14:33:37 -0000, ^ is alleged to have
written:

I listed this item and thought the heading described it perfectly - the
coin is beat up, gouged and worn so I was expecting to maybe get the
gold value for it. Instead, it got bid up to $150.

Why would that happen? I know some of these in perfect condition go for
thousands, but this coin really "looks horrible" to me.

You can see photos on eBay at http://tinyurl.com/3xnq7

Well, even if you net grade that coin down to VG, it's still a $300-400 coin.
3$G's are rare.

Bruce

Well, even if you net grade that coin down to VG, it's still a $300-
400 coin. 3$G's are rare.

I wouldn't have thought it was even a VG, given the dings (which you can
see in the pictures http://tinyurl.com/3xnq7 ).

Obviously I don't know squat about coins :-).

"^" wrote in message
...
I listed this item and thought the heading described it perfectly - the
coin is beat up, gouged and worn so I was expecting to maybe get the
gold value for it. Instead, it got bid up to $150.

Why would that happen? I know some of these in perfect condition go for
thousands, but this coin really "looks horrible" to me.

You can see photos on eBay at http://tinyurl.com/3xnq7

Mintage at 41,820 not rare for the series but a nice type gold. The
cheapest one in the series TRENDS for $600 in Fine. I guess you
get..uhh.....$237!

IMHO
--
Michael R
ANA #173222
Ebay and Yahoo ID ~ mrae7

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 14:56:09 -0000, ^ is alleged to have
written:

Well, even if you net grade that coin down to VG, it's still a $300-
400 coin. 3$G's are rare.

I wouldn't have thought it was even a VG, given the dings (which you can
see in the pictures http://tinyurl.com/3xnq7 ).

Obviously I don't know squat about coins :-).


Oh, I wouldn't have a problem calling that coin net VG or so. But it's clearly a
coin who's value will be decided by the marketplace rather than the price
guides. Right now, the marketplace says it's worth at least $150 plus shipping.
We'll see where it is five days from now.

I'll bet you're glad you didn't just melt it down. :-)

Bruce

16 Jun 2004 08:38 AM Bruce Hickmott wrote:
I'll bet you're glad you didn't just melt it down. :-)

THAT's a fact!

In article , Bruce Hickmott
writes:


Well, even if you net grade that coin down to VG, it's still a $300-400 coin.
3$G's are rare.

Bruce

I'd have more problems with authenticity than grade. It does have couple of
gouges
in the reverse, but I'd want to know it was "real" first. The detail sure
looks mushy
to me--just like a jewelry piece.

Dondi3



DONDI enterprises. BUY, SELL, TRADE. RARE COINS & PRECIOUS METALS
Member COINNET, CSNS, ANA, INA, MOON, ILNA.

"DONDI3" wrote in message
...
In article , Bruce Hickmott
writes:


Well, even if you net grade that coin down to VG, it's still a $300-400
coin.
3$G's are rare.

Bruce

I'd have more problems with authenticity than grade. It does have couple
of
gouges
in the reverse, but I'd want to know it was "real" first. The detail sure
looks mushy
to me--just like a jewelry piece.

Dondi3


I was thinking the same thing, it just didn't look quite right, but you
can't really tell from photos.


--
Michael R
ANA #173222
Ebay and Yahoo ID ~ mrae7

16 Jun 2004 10:02 AM DONDI3 wrote:
I'd have more problems with authenticity than grade. It does have
couple of gouges in the reverse, but I'd want to know it was "real"
first. The detail sure looks mushy to me--just like a jewelry piece.

It was sold to me in a local auction as authentic, but I haven't had
anyone else look at it.

I took another look with a 7x magnifier. There's a lot of wear, but the
lettering is much crisper than in the photo, as is the outline of the
head and the unworn parts of the shrubbery in the wreath.

Looking at the other 1874 $3 coins on eBay, mine looks crisper, but
obviously a lot of that is photography vs. reality.

^ wrote:
16 Jun 2004 10:02 AM DONDI3 wrote:
I'd have more problems with authenticity than grade. It does have
couple of gouges in the reverse, but I'd want to know it was "real"
first. The detail sure looks mushy to me--just like a jewelry piece.

It was sold to me in a local auction as authentic, but I haven't had
anyone else look at it.

That's the way it is with gold, tho' -- there's so many fakes out there
many (including myself) would never buy a raw piece. You'd realize more
money from it if you got ANACS to slab it first, damage and all.

--
Bob