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When buying a raw coin - how often to you examine the edge?

relayerrelayer Posts: 10,570 ✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

Do you always take the time to view the edge before you buy?
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Comments

  • CoindexterCoindexter Posts: 1,074
    I wouldn't buy anything without looking at the edge first. Too many times I've seen rim dings and so forth. I learned my lesson on a 1928 Oregon Commem that had an uneven rim. It turned out to be minted that way, but it held it to MS64 in PCGS plastic, and I paid MS65 money for the coin.
  • gyocomgdgyocomgd Posts: 2,582 ✭✭✭
    Every...single....time. To quote our man BuffaloIronTail, "It's the third side of the coin."
    image
  • LongacreLongacre Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
    I forget to a lot of times. image
    Always took candy from strangers
    Didn't wanna get me no trade
    Never want to be like papa
    Working for the boss every night and day
    --"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
  • OKbustchaserOKbustchaser Posts: 5,498 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Of course. That's why I prefer to buy raw. On many of my busties the edge is the most interesting part.
    Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.
  • p8ntp8nt Posts: 2,947 ✭✭✭
    I have never looked at the edge. Sounds like I should be... image
  • morgannut2morgannut2 Posts: 4,293 ✭
    When I collected busties, the edge was often the most problematic area. And on circulated CC Morgans, it's surprising how often the rims will be filed--CAREFULimage
    morgannut2
  • LouisLouis Posts: 3,687
    Only once. image
    image

    image
  • NysotoNysoto Posts: 3,818 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Sometimes the edge comes with a surprise...
    image
    Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty - biography of US Mint's first chief engraver
  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭
    100% of the time if the coin is worth more than a few dollars.
    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • WoodwindWoodwind Posts: 486 ✭


    << <i>Sometimes the edge comes with a surprise...
    image >>



    Nysoto, is that yours? If so, great find. The edge on one of the two Bust Halves I own says "FIFTY CENTS ORLF A DOLLAR".

    Oh, and to answer the question, other than bust halves I don't examine the edge as much as I should, so this thread is a nice reminder.
    Lurking proudly on internet forums since 2001
  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,198 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It depends on what the coin is--if it's not something usually tampered with, I'd probably forget... if it's counterfeited, often damaged, I'd be more likely to look. Then again, much of what I buy is slabbed (simply more to choose from for what I collect, though raw is always cool image ), so I leave it to the gods image
    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • gyocomgdgyocomgd Posts: 2,582 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I forget to a lot of times. image >>



    I'd think that on a gold coin especially, rim damage would be fairly obvious. I check them to guard against embossed mint marks.
    image
  • NysotoNysoto Posts: 3,818 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Nysoto, is that yours? If so, great find. The edge on one of the two Bust Halves I own says "FIFTY CENTS ORLF A DOLLAR". >>


    Woodwind - I bought the coin from the 11/02 Russ Logan auction at B&M. Russ had a very large collection of edge errors. Double edge lettering is rare, this is the only example I have out of 200 or so bust halves that I have owned.
    Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty - biography of US Mint's first chief engraver
  • ccrccr Posts: 2,446


    << <i>I have never looked at the edge. Sounds like I should be... image >>



    People really should though I get lazy sometimes and don`t. image I know I should pay more attention.
  • michaelmichael Posts: 9,524 ✭✭
    oh yes

    yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes........................
    especially so with pre 1807 gold coinage as usually the edges are filed or solder removed or some kind of edge disturbances
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,329 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Its especially critical with small size gold since many were used in jewelry and have evidence of solder on the edge. Also, examination of the edge is critical in authentication of gold coins, especially Saints and Indian tens where counterfeiters have problems with reproducing the edge.


    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • JRoccoJRocco Posts: 14,277 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I actually bought this bust half only because of this rim error. So yes--I do look.
    image
    Some coins are just plain "Interesting"
  • ChangeInHistoryChangeInHistory Posts: 3,057 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Not as often as I should.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,329 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Never. I only buy coins slabbed by top tier TPGS's. You can't see the edge of a coin in a slab. I do however examine the rim which shouldn't be confused with the edge.



    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • eyoung429eyoung429 Posts: 6,374 ✭
    No matter what position I sit, stand, lie down or turn the dang monitor.....I just can't see the edge on most of my purchases......
    This is a very dumb ass thread. - Laura Sperber - Tuesday January 09, 2007 11:16 AM image

    Hell, I don't need to exercise.....I get enough just pushing my luck.
  • TorinoCobra71TorinoCobra71 Posts: 8,054 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Do you always take the time to view the edge before you buy? >>



    If I am going to get it slabbed! Dont want a BodyBag for a Rim Nick!

    TC71

    image
  • fcloudfcloud Posts: 12,133 ✭✭✭✭
    Always. You can find out a lot about a coin by the edge. (obviously not on slabs--you can't see the edge, however, if there is a problem it should have been bb.

    1) jewelery mount
    2) drilled and filled to add a mint mark from the inside of the coin by pushing metal out.
    3) damage and repair
    4) counterfeit?
    5) rim damage

    Probably some I missed.

    President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,329 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I've slabbed many coins with rim nicks without any problem. They may affect the grade but rim nicks won't keep a coin out of a top tier slab unless they are serious.



    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • constructconstruct Posts: 932
    I generally only look at the edge if it's supposed to be lettered or if I suspect it might be counfeit or altered. I always look at the edges of trade dollars for example.
    The strangest things seem suddenly routine.
  • CladiatorCladiator Posts: 18,059 ✭✭✭✭✭
    100% of the time
  • notlogicalnotlogical Posts: 2,235 ✭
    My dad says, "if your not living on the edge your taking up too much room." what ever that means. image
    What Mr. Spock would say about numismatics...
    image... "Fascinating, but not logical"

    "Live long and prosper"

    My "How I Started" columns

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