NEWPS 1909 VDB
CalifornianKing
Posts: 1,259 ✭✭✭✭
Looked better in sellers pics. Still a nice type set coin. Looks like it had been cleaned. I knew I was overpaying for it, just thought it was a problem free example. Should I return it as under item not as in pictures? It looked RD there. It looks RB here.
My pics. 
Sellers pics
1
Comments
FWIW, your pictures look more red to me than the seller's pictures.
Always a fun coin to own. So much history right there in the palm of your hand.
Congratulations on an inspiring coin to own.
Sellers pics were a bit optimistic. I think it’s simple, though. If you aren’t happy then return it. If you’re looking for a problem free raw example that’s inexpensive, I’d say get an old ANACS slab copy and crack it open.
I’ll keep it. It’s a nice coin. Doubt it will ever be slabbed though. And I don’t have any sample slabs to put it in
You can buy some Coin World slabs. They have some that can stack with PCGS type slabs.
You continue to invite feedback AFTER you have made your purchases.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Fingerprint on reverse?
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Yep, didn’t notice it.
So I should ask for feedback before a auction?
If you’re looking for feedback/opinions, a better time to ask is before you make the purchase. If you wait until afterwards, the chances of it helping are greatly reduced.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I don't like the fingerprint, which is pretty darn obvious in both sets of images, on the reverse, but I also don't see any obvious signs of it being cleaned. The color of a coin (unless blazing white silver or typical gold) can be very tough to capture in any image, so I don't think that the seller misrepresented the coin based upon the two sets of images we have seen. Therefore, based on that little bit of data, I don't think this would qualify as an honest SNAD.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Why would you overpay for a very common Lincoln with an obvious fingerprint?
Thank you.
Because I’m retarded.
My first thought is that your photos make the coin look cleaned based on the color, but the lighting in the two shots is so different that I have no idea what the coin really looks like. Considering it’s a raw coin and unless something’s really being hidden, I think SNADs are kind of unfair to the seller, I think you should eat it, or return it at your expense. The fingerprint is obvious and unappealing.
As @MFeld noted, you asked about the coin after getting it. Yet again, this is a common coin easily acquired in any grade. Why not wait for a really nice example?
Yea its not fair to the seller. I'll keep it.
@CalifornianKing "I knew I was overpaying for it"
Sounds like you may have lost more on this one than you ever will on your Morgan.
I thought I overplayed like $10.
I don't see any signs of cleaning by looking at the photos.
Just a suggestion but if you had said in your original post you only payed $10 that may have been helpful
Reading that post leads me to think he was saying he might have overpaid by $10, not paid $10.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Not enough information from what your goal was. Did you want it for value, such as for resale? To place in an album? Just because you liked it? With intentions of having it graded? Regardless, of your goal, I would not have purchased from the sellers pics. Perhaps for an album with your pics(even with the fingerprint, which I feel is nearly invisible). As previously stated, there are too many nice coins out there for a reasonable price, many already slabbed. Intent is everything in coin collecting. Without deciding your goals for the coin previous to purchase, it will always be hard to decide what to do.
Good luck. I understand that one may not wish to show a coin previous to purchase as it may alert competition which may drive the price even higher, but that is the chance you must take in order to get the forum's advice about a coin before you make the buy.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Maybe something the OP would be interested in is a video posted to the Northeast Numismatic website. Tom opened a mint sealed roll of 1909 VDB cents. All 50 coins are at PCGS getting graded. Maybe one of those would be of interest. It was fun to watch an actual mint roll from that era be opened.
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
I do not care for fingerprints on coins.... just a personal dislike for me - some people do not mind them. Looks RD in your pictures. Cheers, RickO
I payed $75 shipped. I over payed $10
Yep......ya overpaid by about $50
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Uncirculated-Red-1909-VDB-Philadelphia-Mint-Copper-Lincoln-Wheat-Cent-/233880080283?hash=item367456cf9b:g:ZnIAAOSwVqJgF35U&nma=true&si=o1RhNvg3%2Fg1%2F1AGVx0TucY3pEZ0%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
That was a cool video to watch. Thanks
Sorry, for those that don't want to search and need a link, here it is. The first blog is about a $10 note. The VDB one is just below that. NEN has been a go to place for me for well over 10 years. Chris is great to work with.
https://www.northeastcoin.com/blog.jsp
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
You could also get some advice using the PM function before committing. There are certain specialists here that I'd consult before making a purchase (if I was uncertain). I doubt for that level of coin you'd have to worry about competition.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
I'm going to be doing that from now on. I hope to be bidding on some higher quality coins in the coming months.
I would suggest you keep learning first and if you do have to buy something make sure it is either slabbed (top tier) or the difference in price between grades is small.
Here's some free advice. Raw coins on Ebay, especially for the inexperienced are a minefield. Lighting in photos can hide cleanings or other damage. My suggestion to you is to buy some inexpensive top tiered slabbed coins. Study them, try to determine what caused them to grade the way they did.
Also, coinfacts is your friend. Lots of great info there to help you benchmark comparable condition and price.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
That fingerprint kills it for me
That is a coin I would not be willing to overpay for.
@CalifornianKing One thing that really, really helped me when I was first getting serious about coins around 2002 was the ANA Grading Video. They don’t have that anymore I think. It was on VHS.
The even better thing was taking the ANA grading seminar led by professional graders. It didn’t make me a pro but it really helped.
With COVID, the ANA made their seminars virtual and available on YouTube. I think looking at this 2 hour video will pay off for you and everyone else. I even need a refresher now and then as I can’t personally see coins as often as I need to in order to remain proficient.
Many years ago, on two different occasions, I was one of the advanced grading class instructors. And (while I’m not taking credit for it, as I taught with two other very capable dealer-friends), I can say that most of the students improved their skills significantly. And all of us had a heck of a good time, too.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I never cared for finger prints on my coins.
The color looks original going by the photos. The fingerprint is a distraction, and it could get worse over time.
The 1909-VDB cent was saved in roll quantities. There is nothing scarce about it, even in Red Mint State. Finding another one should be no problem.
This is one coin that I would prefer to own in a certification holder if you buy a Red Unc. You don’t want to be handling it, and it might not do well in a cardboard based album.
Would you be stating this if there wasn't a fingerprint and it turns out to be a proof?!
No, I don't think so.
What does your hypothetical have to do with the subject coin? It's not a Proof.
You can always ask "What if it turns out that such and such?" But unless there appears to be more than an extremely unlikely possibility of such and such, it doesn't matter.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
The 1909 VDB cent is very common and comes very well struck. If someone wants to get the "proof" premium the coin would already have to be authenticated and graded by a major TPG. It costs money to get a coin slabbed and the owners of this coin, both current and past, haven't spent the money to have the slabbing done. In my mind the coin currently should be valued as an MS-60 mint state example. That fingerprint isn't going to go away.
I'm glad we can all agree (my post was dumb).