Please check out these Bavaria thalers, I have some questions!

clarkbar04

I really like the look of this particular issue, and these appear to be decent examples. My first question is, are these in fact real, and which one would you pick? Also if anybody has ever done business with this particular seller, let me know how it went.

This first one is higher grade, and appears to be original, but I'm not so sure about the blue spots on the obverse, in the field around 8 o'clock. Is this silver cancer or would it come off? Sorry abou the small pics.

Ebay link #1

This one looks fine with no distractions, but has more wear.

Ebay link #2

farthing

I would likely pass on each - and not because the seller is ernie. (Search on ernie sometime on the lightside, many wildly different views of this seller, personally I've always gotten nice coins from him).

The first looks to have some active spots as you pointed out. The second appears overly cleaned.

Ernie uses a scanner for his auctions which requires different skills to "read" than photographed coins. Scans really kill lustre and can over-emphasize marks or coloring on a coin.

lordmarcovan

Ernie is often optimistic in his grading and pricing, but otherwise I suppose he is all right. I have bought several nice coins from him but they were all holed pieces for my Holey Coin Vest and Holey Gold Hat.

clarkbar04

Thank you for your input. I will do as suggested and pass on those 2, but will keep my eye out for another nice example.

worldcoinguy

I would agree on both counts. The obverse of the 1st looks decent, but I do not care for the reverse spots. However, how often do you see "original dirt still adhering"? We are talking about original dirt....not modern dirt or fake dirt.

Give it another few weeks and see what turns up.