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My foolish eBay $12 toilet-flush gamble of the day - RESULTS in post #30
seanq
Posts: 8,587 ✭✭✭✭✭
What can I say, I had a little money in my PayPal account and took a few minutes at lunch to find a creative way to spend it. This is the auction, and the seller's picture is below:
I have a hunch that the coin highlighted below is the DDO, based on some subtle pick-up points I've learned over the years:
I'll update this thread with the results of what I find after the roll arrives, whether it turns out I'm a genius or a fool.
Sean Reynolds
EDITED TO ADD results in the 30th post
I have a hunch that the coin highlighted below is the DDO, based on some subtle pick-up points I've learned over the years:
I'll update this thread with the results of what I find after the roll arrives, whether it turns out I'm a genius or a fool.
Sean Reynolds
EDITED TO ADD results in the 30th post
Incomplete planchets wanted, especially Lincoln Cents & type coins.
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
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If you do not find a 1917 DDO and you want one in your collection I know the owner of one of the two PCGS MS67 examples of the coin. If you have an interest in that coin let me know.
And if so, what are the odds of that coin being in a random lot of wheats, and then showing up, facing up in the picture!?
<< <i>Wow, if that is the DDO, nice job!
And if so, what are the odds of that coin being in a random lot of wheats, and then showing up, facing up in the picture!? >>
The auction is for a circ roll of 1917 cents, which is what I decided to look for with my PayPal funds burning a hole in my pocket. I didn't expect to find a DDO in the auction photos, I just wanted a reasonably priced roll without any culls. This one in particular I was ready to pass by completely until I looked carefully at the photo.
I've cherrypicked several auctions where the coin on the end of an "unsearched" roll is an unattributed variety, so it's not unheard of. I've also seen a seller use a stock photo of an unattributed 1936 DDO on a listing for a circ roll; only when pressed did he admit the coin in the photo was not included. So I suppose it's possible the photo was seeded with that coin, but honestly if that was the intention the seller did a terrible job of it; the auction was almost a month old when I hit the BIN.
@cmerlo, thanks for chiming in, someday we should compare notes and see if we're really seeing the same things we think we're seeing
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
I see something on that resembling some pickup points, good luck. Maybe one of the 50 will be.....or more!
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
Am I on track or is my mind just playing tricks on me?
WS
Good luck!
The 9 and the 7 in the date in Sean's coin look just like the 9 and the 7 in the MS67 RD coin. So also does the E in WE, the D in GOD and the TR in TRUST look the same in both pictures.
Comparing the two pictures give one a good sense of what PUP's to look for when you are searching 1917 cents.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I was wrong.It was a stock photo.
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<< <i>What are the subtle pick up points? >>
Funny you should ask.... I just dug out some photos I took years ago of a damaged VG example, a corroded AG example, and a normal 1917 with strike doubling. I used these to sell the center coin (the corroded AG) on eBay, it was my way of convincing bidders the coin was properly attributed.
On the image above, look at the crossbar of the 7, which is twice as thick as the tail. Look also at the 9, because of the direction of the doubling, the 9 has a thicker "hump" and the end of the curl is thicker too, but the tail and the upper left part of the curve are thin. There is also faint notching at the bottom right corner of both 1s in the date, tough to see in very low grades.
This isn't the best photo to illustrate it, but the word TRUST is the easiest place for me to see this variety. The upper crossbar of the T will be normal thickness, but the lower vertical bar will be twice as thick and not centered under the crossbar. Even in a terrible photo, the left side of the crossbar looks twice as long as the right, again this is because of the direction and nature of the doubling (this is pivoted hub doubling, not rotated hub, they look quite different). It's hard to see because of the damage but the two curls of the S will be thicker than the center, top and bottom - almost as if it was written with a caligraphy pen.
In this picture you can better see what I'm talking about with the crossbar of the T. The R is also thicker on the right side only, while the U is thicker on the upright parts of the letter but not at the bottom. It is not pictured but WE has similar quirks, the horizontal lines of the E will look longer on the DDO and the W slightly thicker.
As I said, these are very subtle pick-up points, but with an example in hand as a reference (or good photos in the grade range you're searching) and a LOT of practice, they will jump right out at you. On the coin in the OP, I first noticed the thickness of the 9 and 7 in the date, and after squinting at my monitor for a while I could see some of the traits in TRUST as well (or at least, I convinced myself that I did).
I've been trying to cherrypick one of these off eBay for years, I've found them in rolls before but never sniffed one out from an auction photo. I want to be right not because of any financial windfall, but because I want to cross finding this variety off my bucket list.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
I won't spoil the results except to say that I went through the other 49 coins in the roll and what a motley bunch, more than half of them culls and none grading better than VG.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
<< <i>That is quite a catch... spotting that in the photo was great work... congratulations. Cheers, RickO >>
Hold off on those accolades for now, I haven't said if the coin was actually the DDO or not.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
I'm fairly certain this coin is the one in the photo, based on the dark spot behind Lincoln's shoulder and the discoloration at the rim at K-3:
The attribution should be a bit easier with the large photo, but in case it is still not clear, here are some close-ups:
So yes it is the DDO, but unfortunately the coin has lots of recent deep scratches on both sides (the reverse is shown below). I'd say overall the coin has Good-6 details but I'd net-grade it down to AG. I'm at least happy the rims are full on both sides, unlike most of the other coins in the roll, and that the diagnostics for the variety are still intact and easily identifiable. (EDIT: Forgot the reverse pic )
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
<< <i>If you didn't get the DDO, I'd like to see you re-list the roll on eBay with an Uber-honest description, like "Roll of pathetically worn 1917 cents. More than half ugly culls." Then send a link to the previous seller just for fun, and see how much it goes for. Might as well have some fun with it! >>
This is exactly what I was thinking about doing, except I'd also mention that bidders shouldn't expect to find any doubled dies in there because I'd already pulled them all out.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
<< <i>Little back ground on the 1917 DDO, how rare? how valuable? Please >>
This one is just scarce in low grades, it gets rare in grades about VF. A problem free Good example is probably worth $50 to $75, this coin maybe a bit less due to the damage. A couple of years ago I sold one in PCGS VG10 for about $175.
So it's not a grand financial score, rather I'm excited to share it because of the personal achievement. I've found a few examples searching rolls or bags, but despite years of looking, before this coin I've never cherrypicked one.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
My Collection of Old Holders
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Very Interesting story and photos, My work is done today I have learned something about coins again today (1917 DDO Lincolns)
Thank You, Now I will have to check my stash of 1917 cents.
Bob
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Sean
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
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Do you suppose the seller knew that this particular coin was a damaged DDO and put it intentionally in plain sight?
The name is LEE!
Hoard the keys.
WS
Rob
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