1897 $5 Gold Coin! Better Photos?

StopMotion

I picked up this Gold coin at the the Gun/Knife show today.
What do you think the grade is? I think I'm going to send it to be slabed, also?
It has very Nice Luster, just can't see it real well in the photo.
Thanks,
SM

fc

I have a 97-S. but not the 1897. what about it ;-)

well they minted about 850,000 of them in Philly. it is considered
a common date liberty half eagle with motto.

yours seem to be at best AU. Notice the rub on liberty's hair.

People buy them on ebay all the time for a solid 150 dollars.
A solid AU58 slabbed by PCGS will fetch 220 or so on a good day.
Melt is what now? 110 easy?

I will get one some day also. But prob a MS example for 300.

StopMotion

Late night Posters.
SM

XpipedreamR

From the picture, it looks totally polished or fake.

KlectorKid

<< <i>From the picture, it looks totally polished or fake. >>

coinguy1

My first guess would be that the coin is a counterfeit. My second guess would be that it's genuine, but cleaned. Either way, it looks like it would be a waste of money to try to get it graded.

If it's cleaned, I'd suggest a request for a return/ refund, and if counterfeit, Id demand it. A quick look by a local dealer should hopefully confirm its authenticity or lack thereof.

BlindedByEgo

I'm with Mark, et al. The coin looks "wrong". Wrong color especially. Maybe try some photos with more indirect lighting, outside of the mylar 2X2.

What did you pay?

dcarr

Genuine, AU-50 details, horribly polished.

291fifth

Based on the photo, it looks to be a cast fake. Why are you buying raw gold?

PerryHall

<< <i>Genuine, AU-50 details, horribly polished. >>

StopMotion

My Camrea must be Crap for shooting coins. This coin looks nothing like in the photo.
It has great luster, etc. I have no idea whay it looks like crap.
If I can get a better photo, I post it.
Thanks,
SM

StopMotion

Better Photos!!!!




Any more hope?
Thanks,
SM

darktone

It has no luster- it has a shine from the polishing it went through. Luster is caused by the metal flow lines from being struck in the coin press when it was made. It's clearly evident that it was polished and the luster has been lost. Try an experiment with a couple of new coins from change- polish one and compare the look of the coin to one that has not been touched- rotate both coins in the light. This should give you an idea of what luster is or at least a good start at figuring it out.