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PCGS Fans: Tooled Coin in an NGC Slab

At Long Beach another dealer and I were going to buy a 1796 Half in an NGC-20 Slab. Upon closer examination we noticed that all the Radial Lines in the stars had been re-cut. We passed on the coin and told the owner he should return it to NGC and get his money out of the coin. What a shame, pretty nice coin too.

To keep things fair, I have also seen an 1823 Large Cent in a PCGS holder which had had the hair re-engraved. I think this is quite common for these Classic Heads and something you should always keep in mind when looking to buy one. Especially the 21, 23 & 24's, since they bring more money in the higher grades.

The grading services are not infalable. Just because it is in a holder you still have to examine it closely. For those of you buying on line, relying on photo's and the grading services opinion, you are taking a risk. If it's a coin from an auction have a friend or a trusted dealer take a look at it in person. Even if you have to pay the dealer a small fee to do it, you will be money ahead.

One other example: A friend of mine was considering bidding on an early Bust Half. An 1801 in a PCGS-40 Holder. He showed up at the auction to bid on the coin without examining it. He told me he was going to buy it. I asked if he had looked at the coin and he said, No. I told him how someone had taken a pin, needle, knife or some sharp object and made a deep gouge, tracing the inside of the 0 in the date. Needless to say he didn't bid on the coin and thanked me for the heads up.
Please visit my website prehistoricamerica.com www.visitiowa.org/pinecreekcabins

Comments

  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,139 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I wouldn't call this a score for PCGS fans. There are plenty of cleaned/tooled coins of this era in PCGS holders as well... the services simply let minor (not humongo) damage slip by for rare pieces.
    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • dorkkarldorkkarl Posts: 12,691 ✭✭✭


    << <i>At Long Beach another dealer and I were going to buy a 1796 Half in an NGC-20 Slab. Upon closer examination we noticed that all the Radial Lines in the stars had been re-cut. We passed on the coin and told the owner he should return it to NGC and get his money out of the coin. What a shame, pretty nice coin too. >>

    you have GOT TO BE KIDDING?!?!?! your complaining that, ohmygosh, a 1796 HALF DOLLAR had been tooled???

    dude, what are you smoking???

    IT'S A 1796 HALF!!! WHO CARES if the stars have been re-cut??? WHO CARES if it was holed & pluged? WHO CARES if it's been bent & cleaned??? WHO CARES WHO CARES WHO CARES???

    like, are there just SO MANY of these around that you can always find a nicer 1?

    IT'S NOT A BLAST-WHITE OR MONSTER TONED OR DMPL MORGAN DOLLAR!!!

    the stupidity would be if pcgs REFUSED to slab a coin like that.



    << <i>A friend of mine was considering ... An 1801 in a PCGS-40 Holder. ... I told him how someone had taken a pin, needle, knife or some sharp object and made a deep gouge, tracing the inside of the 0 in the date. Needless to say he didn't bid on the coin and thanked me >>



    he should have kicked your A55! same thing - are you saying that there are just SO MANY 1801 halves in Xf that there were dozens to choose from??? where does this mentality come from??? if it were any of a billion average common morgan dollars, i'd be worried, but a 1801 bust half???

    something's wrong w/ this picture!!!

    K S
  • dork

    I would care if a coin I owned no matter what it was had been altered. you might think it is OK but it is not OK to me, no matter what coin it is.
  • dorkkarldorkkarl Posts: 12,691 ✭✭✭
    hey jbsteven, i'm glad! for me, i'll take every screwed up d.b. small eagle bust half you can gimme. i don't care what it looks like.

    K S
  • image
  • PCGS knowingly slabs rare altered coins and net grades them without notation on the label. They've done this for years.
    I was under the impression that NGC did not do this. Maybe their policy has changed. IMHO, as the sea of raw classics dries up, the big 2 will do near anything to turn a buck.
  • Hey Karl, here is one of my favorites! It is holed for a reason. Some poor guy without a purse or pockets had to tie this around his neck or elsewear! imageimage
    HEAD TUCKED AND ROLLING ALONG ENJOYING THE VIEW! [Most people I know!]

    NEVER LET HIPPO MOUTH OVERLOAD HUMMINGBIRD BUTT!!!

    WORK HARDER!!!!
    Millions on WELFARE depend on you!
  • dorkkarldorkkarl Posts: 12,691 ✭✭✭
    hey jeffnpcb, that's not quite on par w/ the rarity of a 1797 half! image

    i'll pay you 5% over silver spot for it! image

    K S
  • I ran across a bettter one while reading the Nov issue of Penny-Wise (EAC publication). In a census of proof half cents with the small berry reverse they list an 1845 that was in a 1999 McLaghlin & Robinson fixed price list in an NGC Pr-62 holder. When the coin was cracked out it turned out to be an electrotype with the seam visible on the edge. (Which of couse was not visible in the holder, and since it wasn't discovered until it was cracked out naturally the guarantee was void. I don't know who wound up eating the loss.)
  • elwoodelwood Posts: 2,414
    dorkkarl

    Whoa DUDE.......CHILL



    << <i>dude...what are you smoking???? >>

    Obviously it's not as good as what you are. Thank God!!!



    << <i>he should have kicked your a$$ >>

    I think it's you that needs your a$$ kicked.

    It's clear that you no nothing about early coinage.



    << <i>WHO CARES, WHO CARES, WHO CARES >>

    I CARE and 99% of the collectors I know CARE.



    << <i>like, are there just so many of these around that you can always find a nicer 1 >>

    Actually in the last 6 months I've seen 4 better and at least another 5 of lesser quality.

    DID YOU EVEN THINK TO ASK WHAT THE SELLING PRICE WAS? NO!!!!! Would you pay $50,000 for a tooled VF-20 (actually F-12-15, with a very weak reverse) Offer me $55,000.00 and I'll see if he still has it. I'm sure you would buy it sight unseen. It is a 1796 Half afterall.

    PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!!!!



    << <i>are you saying that there are just SO MANY 1801 halves in EF that there were dozens to choose from??? where does this mentality come from??? >>



    It comes from attending all the major shows and auctions. Hitting dozens of small shows all over the country.

    Do you know anything about 1801 halves??? They are not rare or didn't you know that??? Tough, yes but not rare. They're only an R-3. I've seen at least 6 in EF or better in the last 4 months. Four of which are for sale right now. I have 3 VF's in inventory.

    Would you pay $11,000+ for an 1801 in EF with graffiti. If you want it I know who owns it????



    << <i>somethings wrong with this picture >>



    What's wrong is: The next time you choose to reply to a thread show a little more respect and it wouldn't hurt to show that you have at least some understanding of the topic you are replying to.

    What a dork!!! Just skip the karl!!
    Please visit my website prehistoricamerica.com www.visitiowa.org/pinecreekcabins
  • <<enable flame shield>>

  • elwoodelwood Posts: 2,414
    image
    Please visit my website prehistoricamerica.com www.visitiowa.org/pinecreekcabins
  • dorkkarldorkkarl Posts: 12,691 ✭✭✭


    << <i>It's clear that you no nothing about early coinage. >>

    yeah, but i know a couple things...



    << <i>I CARE and 99% of the collectors I know CARE. >>

    then your hanging out w/ the wrong collectors, & you obviously have idiots for customers (which kinda makes sense...). you wanna deal in REAL coins, like draped-bust halves, you better start getting real customers, cuz whoever told you you can pick up a VF DRAPED BUST SMALL EAGLE HALF any time you want is obviously victim of a failed triple-bypass lobotomy.



    << <i><< like, are there just so many of these around that you can always find a nicer 1 >> Actually in the last 6 months I've seen 4 better and at least another 5 of lesser quality. >>

    exactly how many of 'em did you buy???



    << <i>DID YOU EVEN THINK TO ASK WHAT THE SELLING PRICE WAS? NO!!!!! Would you pay $50,000 for a tooled VF-20 (actually F-12-15, with a very weak reverse) Offer me $55,000.00 and I'll see if he still has it. I'm sure you would buy it sight unseen. It is a 1796 Half afterall. >>

    DUUUuuuh, that's right, you didn't even mention price, now did you? you just automatically assumed that since it had "re-cut stars", gee it must be a piece of crap! and what are you babbling w/ this "sight unseen" b.s??? you trying to say that some of your customers are so stupid they would buy a 55000 coin SIGHT UNSEEN, & YOU WOULD LET THEM???



    << <i>Do you know anything about 1801 halves??? They are not rare or didn't you know that??? Tough, yes but not rare. They're only an R-3. >>

    duh yeah, that would be r3 ... IN ALL GRADES!!! ooohhhh, i get it, according to you, they are not rare, but just "tough" in xf, right??? now, who's doesn't know anything about 1801 halves???



    << <i> I've seen at least 6 in EF or better in the last 4 months >>

    big deal, i can see that many at any bhnc meeting. difference is, they're not for sale.



    << <i>Would you pay $11,000+ for an 1801 in EF with graffiti. If you want it I know who owns it???? >>

    $900 take it or leave it.

    you totally miss the point, which is, your playing "coin dealer" & doing your "friend" a disservice by telling him that a "problem" 1796 coin isn't worth even bothering with - AS IF THERE'S A MILLION MORE OUT THERE. are you really a dealer?

    or a wannabe?

    K S
  • dorkkarldorkkarl Posts: 12,691 ✭✭✭
    & another thing....















    if you just wanna call me dork, that's fine too.













    image

    K S
  • EVillageProwlerEVillageProwler Posts: 5,856 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Steve,

    Don't mind DorkKarl. He's just one of those board members who's prone to wigging out when expressing his point of view.

    EVP

    How does one get a hater to stop hating?

    I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com

  • Thats what the guarantee is for!
    You can fool man but you can't fool God! He knows why you do what you do!
  • Alot of people will buy problem early coins. Auction a problem 1795 flowing hair dollar or chain cent and watch the bids fly. As long as problems are disclosed you'll get tons of bids, won't be as much as a no problem (pretty close lots of times) but alot of excitment none the less. I personnally would buy an early problem coin as long as I know it so I can adjust my bid and the coin still has a nice appearance.
  • tjkilliantjkillian Posts: 5,578 ✭✭✭
    What I think both folks are missing is knowing what each other cares about. If someone wants to pay strong money for a draped bust, small eagle half, they should look at it first and then decide what to pay. PCGS holder is just one part of buying this type of coin. It is also important to realize that there are not a lot to go around, so that problem coins does not equal uncollectable coins. Just because a coin is whizzed, cleaned, holed, tooled, bent, etc, but genuine, does not mean many folks would not love to have it, at a price. A low-end 1881-S Morgan in PCGS MS-64 could be had very easily, so be choosy. A 1796 half is not any near as common, like duhhhh.

    Still, I'd love to have a PCGS G-4 1797 half, if I could afford it.

    Tom
    Tom

  • dorkkarldorkkarl Posts: 12,691 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Don't mind DorkKarl. He's just one of those board members who's prone to wigging out when expressing his point of view. >>



    hey!!!

    actually, i'll tell you what really got me riled up, which is that i happen to be the VERY PROUD owner of a "problem" d.b. small eagle. it is bent, straightened, holed, plugged, cleaned, tooled & retoned. but guess what, it has vf details, too. i absolutely LOVE the coin, & there is no way in he11 i could ever have afforded this much detail for what i paid for it. AND, i have turned down DOUBLE the $$$ for it (of course some time ago).

    the point is, there are certain coins where there is no way you can lose $, where "grade" really is no issue, & "problems" are totally irrelevant. this coin is 1 of them. others would be a 1794 dollar, 1802 half-dime, 1823/2 quarter. to me, it doesn't matter in the slightest what kind of so-called "problems" such coins have, it is idiotic, absurd if pcgs & ngc won't slab them. again, it's not like there's a whole lot of 'em to go around.

    K S

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