St. Gaudens question.... Teletrade auction tonight

bgrice

I'm just learning about the $20 double eagles. What kept the grade of this 1908 at MS63? Is it the dull surfaces.... weak strike? I looked at probably 20-30 different saints on the auction graded 63 & higher and this was the only one that appeared to have no evidence of contact/hit marks. Like I said I am just learning. It was at $525 until the last hour and I quit following it after it got to $625.

1908 No Motto

Instead I bought the cheaper $5 gold bullion Eagle version for $80. I might have overpayed, but I wanted one.

2002W $5 gold proof Eagle

TommyType

It's not one of Teletrade's better pictures, but I think your first guess might be it: Dull surfaces.

Plus, the obverse picture seems blurry to me, so there may be some hits in the field that you can't see.

Strike looks pretty good to me.

......For what it's worth. But I'm not exactly an expert in the series.

Tom

roadrunner

AS an MS63 it certainly must have plenty of contact marks even if the photo doesn't show them. For a 1908 looks ok as a 63. Teletrade probably owns most of the $20 Saints it "auctions."
$625-650 would be a typical price for a 63 in the current market.
I paid $675 for a killer 63 today but it was basically a solid 64 coin with a 65 look.

roadrunner

bgrice

I probably went back and looked at that coin 10 times trying to see what I was missing. I figured there had to be a scuff... rim damage... or something... I still don't see it. In hand it might be a completely coin, but then again someone might have found a decent bargain. Thanks for the answers.