Since when has Immigration slabbed coins?

shirohniichan

I saw a coin overgraded by the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service).

Check out this auction.

Since they are so bad at grading, shouldn't they go back to trying to protect our borders?

its4real

My book says the mintage was around 16,000 - not 1200 or so. And if that coins is for real - it's worth around $500.

braddick

Conder101? INS?
Also, isn't that tooling in the right field, obverse?

shirohniichan

The field to the right of Liberty and the lack of toning on the high points makes it look messed-with. I'd set my sights much lower than $500.

littlewicher

I think Conder has one of the slabs. I'm not quite sure, though.

Rampage

its4real.....the mintage you saw might be for the Carson City coin. This coin in proof did have a mintage of 1,260 and is valued at $1,100 in blue book.

shirohniichan

I wonder what the price would be for one that's been cleaned and retoned. If that's PR-64, there must be a lot of PR-68+ coins in PR-63 slabs right now.

Placid

Thats a really bad strike for a proof. Look at the two stars left of the head.
Must have been number 1260

itsnotjustme

The seller seams to have solid feedback with a history of selling coins (many bullion, others slabbed by PCGS/NGC/ACG).

stujoe

I believe it is "International Numismatic Society" Authentication Bureau. I believe it was founded and started grading coins in 1976. Not sure when or if it went out of business.

beartracks42

Maybe it is just me, but the rims of this coin look like it has been in a bezel or a jewelry mounting??? Sure seems to be several nicked up places that co-inside with both the obverse and reverse??

Conder101

Looks like a mishandled proof, if it is a proof.

Stujoe is right about when INS started, they started using slabs in 1989. They moved from Washington DC to Philadelphia in 1992 and I thought they went out of business shortly thereafter. However, this past weekend I found a new INS variety from Anston PA, and from 1997! I'm going to have to write to this new address. INS MAY still be in operation!

shirohniichan

It doesn't look proof to me, judging solely by the strike. Does anyone have the diagnostics to distinguish a proof from a business strike?

Beartracks, the plastic extensions in the slab to hold the coin in place may be what look like three nicks on the reverse rim.

dorkkarl

didnt INS used to have those great big humongous, ugly slabs? like you could only stuff about three coins in your suitcase?

K S

dorkkarl

oooppss, just saw the seller is "american rarities". bought from them before, won't do it again.

K S

wallstreetman

I have an INS 1885 O Morgan. I rather like the thing. They place a nice photo along side the coin inside the slab. This is what makes it large.