Which 1850 $20 is more valuable?
RYK
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For reasons that I shall not go into here, I have developed an extremely keen interest in the 1850 $20. They are not particularly scarce and always offered in Heritage sales, and I always study the Heritage offerings.
Given the Heritage photos below, which 1850 $20 is more valuable? Why and how much more valuable?
PCGS AU-50
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PCGS AU-55
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For the purposes of discussion, assume that both coins are reasonably represented by the photograph. I have seen the first coin in person and the "scratch" on the lower reverse is a die crack that is commonly seen on this date.
Given the Heritage photos below, which 1850 $20 is more valuable? Why and how much more valuable?
PCGS AU-50
PCGS AU-55
For the purposes of discussion, assume that both coins are reasonably represented by the photograph. I have seen the first coin in person and the "scratch" on the lower reverse is a die crack that is commonly seen on this date.
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Comments
That being said, The top one certainly should have sold for more.
-Paul
Edited because I changed my mind. lol
<< <i>For reasons that I shall not go into here, I have developed an extremely keen interest in the 1850 $20. >>
Why? Why why why why why? Wwwwhhhhyyyy?
Why? Why? Why? Why?
I would take the eye appeal of the top coin over the bottom coin any day. Numeric grade does not concern me. Heck, numeric mis-grades do not concern me. They both seem to have their share of die cracks.
My final answer would only happen after seeing both coins in hand. These sort of photos can be ever so deceptive.
But if coin number 2 really has those dark rubs visible in hand, I say "gah".
The lower coin seems to have a slightly better strike. Could be the photos too.
The mottled look of the 55 will always make me think that the coin was put into a bag and 'sweated'. Shaken up violently with other coins in order to strip off some gold.
(I would rather have the top coin in my collection, I think it is much more appealing, based on the photos).
<< <i>I think that conjecturing such things off of Heritage images is somewhat akin to beating my head against a brick wall and wondering why it hurts.
Yep. This comment hits the nail on the head. Pounded into the wall with my head.
different. Is this typical of the date/series. Obviously I have no idea and don't collect
gold, just a stab.
If they are both real, coin two should sell for more as the strike is much better when
comparing wing tips.
No idea on value.
bob
if the top one were a middle aged woman, she'd have been raised middle class, had periodic facials and dermabration funded by her loving but somewhat abrasive husband, and had her frown lines Botoxed and her laugh lines Restylaned.
The bottom one lived on the streets and gained the experience and character of a well-spent life, and while she's a little scruffy, she has her own attractiveness, dressed in faded jeans and maybe a fleetwood mac concert tee
both are nice ladies but generally appeal to different types of men
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
My guess is that the top coin has been messed with in some way and now appears fairly lifeless in hand.
The bottom coin does look more original, but also looks quite a bit more scruffy.
In the end, I think the bottom coin is more valuable because it is a higher numeric grade and it does look more original.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
The bottom coin (AU-55) definitely has more detail, but based on the image only, also shows the euro-look, with darkening of the high points and an overall scruffy appearance. I may try to purchase this one, if the price is right.
One of the problems with the 1850 $20 is that there is a premium for it being the first date in the series despite that it is really not significantly more scarce than the "common" dates of 1851, 1852, 1854, etc. In the higher grades (above 50), the premium really takes off.
The finest I have ever seen was an MS-62 that was gorgeous and sold for in the neighborhood of the high $20k's.
Baley, great anthropomorphisms of the 1850 $20's!
I would think the plastic would make the AU55 more valuable by at least $1000. The Heritage image of the AU50 tends to hide the surface abrasions, which are more evident in the AU55, which has a few deep cuts. The AU55 appears more original, and appears to have more underlying luster.
I too, have been following some of the 1850's coming to market. At the two previous Bowers and Merena auctions, there were couple that caught my eye. The first was a PCGS 58 CAC. I think that it sold for about 8K+. The other was a PCGS 61 that sold for a strong price. Did you see these two coins? I really liked the 58.
earlyAurum