Anyone ever paid good money for an "eyesore?"

coachleonard

I don't mean some rash purchase you made when you first started collecting-- I'm just wondering
what beat-up, worn-out, hole-drilled coin/coin types peope here have paid good money for, simply
because that particular "eyesore" coin was too rare, too desirable to pass up?

I know the term "good money" is vague, but I guess I mean in the sense that you actively pursued this
coin, competed with others for it on ebay, whatever. Not something you saw in a junk box and paid
the dealer a buck for. F'rinstance, I'm still happy with my cut-in-half silver penny of England, struck 1042-66. that I paid $39 for.

MacCoin

I have a set of SBA does that count.

dakra

Any money I spend is good money!
I have two 'eyesores' in my Peace Dollar collection just so I could fill two spots but just upgraded one of them.

My Jefferson/Lincoln collections are full of 'eyesores'... but hope over time I will upgrade those as well.

Otherwise I did buy a 1893 CC Morgan for $40 which is probably in Good condition.

-Dave

Lakesammman

Here's a eye sore about to be auctioned....but, it is rare. Over $4K already.

TextLink

MrEureka

I bought a nice original slider 1795 half from Bob Rose in 1990 or so. Nice, that is, except for the large, crude hole some cretin drilled - no, punched - through the coin. I paid way too much for it and lost money, but at least it was a pretty cool conversation piece.

Monstavet

First of all, I will ask a stupid question, as I know very little about Flying Eagles....how is that a proof 61? It looks like most of the design is missing? I was thinking G-VG!!

My big embarassing purchase:
A little over a month ago I paid about 40 grand for a spotty, faintly frosted lincon cent...I just had to have it! And the plastic holdre says it is something really special.

Lakesammman

Well, the idea is that it was a weak design to begin with. The die was then used on a 25% nickel planchet, making it that much weaker. Don't ask me how you can tell if it's circulated or not! At this rarity level, it doesn't really matter anyway.

Monstavet

Thanks for the explanation. A very interesting piece.

Lakesammman

Some people collect the 1856 by die pair. There are 10 different varieties for 1856, this the S4 pair (strong 1 in the date, remainder of date weak, probably a line at the base of the U, low leaf reverse). If you are into getting all 10, this would make for a budget S4 purchase.

This is a type coin of sorts. Some collectors just want an example of the high leaf and low leaf reverse w/o collecting all ten. This puts further "pressure" on the S4 (relatively speaking, that is). That plus this being a unusual metal composition explains the price.