Finally took a chance on eBay and had it go my way
seanq
Posts: 8,717 ✭✭✭✭✭
Over the last month or so I haven't had the best run of luck... or, to be fair, judgement... when searching eBay for the elusive score. I received a coin today, though, that gives me hope that I'm back on the winning track.
I took a small chance on this coin, which from the pictures I thought had a great chance to be a legitimate Mint error. Apparently I was the only one to think so, as the auction closed without any other bids. Here's how it looked today:
As I thought, the coin is a genuine clip. My picture shows the nice metal flow at the rim into the clip, very apparent on the obverse and slightly on the reverse as well. The edge of the coin inside the clip also shows no signs of cutting or damage.
In general, you reeeeeeeally need to be careful when attributing straight clips on 19th (and early 20th) century coins. There are bushels of damaged or altered coins in the market which to a novice look like mint errors. Even after eight years of specializing in clips, I can count on one hand the number of genuine straight clipped 19th century coins in my collection. Just remember, a straight clip will show all of the same diagnostics as a curved clip. Often design elements near the rim will be even weaker because many straight clips also exhibit tapered planchets, as the planchet strip tends to thin out near the edges.
Sean Reynolds
(edited because my kid got yogurt on the 'k' key...
)
I took a small chance on this coin, which from the pictures I thought had a great chance to be a legitimate Mint error. Apparently I was the only one to think so, as the auction closed without any other bids. Here's how it looked today:
As I thought, the coin is a genuine clip. My picture shows the nice metal flow at the rim into the clip, very apparent on the obverse and slightly on the reverse as well. The edge of the coin inside the clip also shows no signs of cutting or damage.
In general, you reeeeeeeally need to be careful when attributing straight clips on 19th (and early 20th) century coins. There are bushels of damaged or altered coins in the market which to a novice look like mint errors. Even after eight years of specializing in clips, I can count on one hand the number of genuine straight clipped 19th century coins in my collection. Just remember, a straight clip will show all of the same diagnostics as a curved clip. Often design elements near the rim will be even weaker because many straight clips also exhibit tapered planchets, as the planchet strip tends to thin out near the edges.
Sean Reynolds
(edited because my kid got yogurt on the 'k' key...
) Incomplete planchets wanted, especially Lincoln Cents & type coins.
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
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Comments
really did take a gamble. cool coin.