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Original, problem-free circulated 19th century US gold really is tough to find

RYKRYK Posts: 35,772 ✭✭✭✭✭
This week, I spent a total of five hours or so on a bourse with 180 dealer tables and did not find a single 19th century US gold coin to buy for my collection. I peeked in every case on the floor. I would have purchased almost anything from quarter eagle through double eagle and did not find a single coin. I was so desperate, I ended up buying a pair of dirty XF 1866 Aussie Sovs, the only 19th century original circulated gold coins I could find. Having the experience reinforces my belief that dirty, original circulated US gold coins are indeed worth collecting.

I am also reminded of a conversation I had with one of my favorite coin dealers last year in Baltimore. He is not a gold coin specialist, but he often carries nice, unmolested gold coins, and I purchase them from him regularly. I was showing him a box of my coins and pulled out this coin:

image


Me: If you ever see a gold coin that looks like this, please keep me in mind.

Dealer: I never see any gold that looks like that.

Comments

  • JamesMJamesM Posts: 757
    I believe you to be correct, sadly this may be do to due to market conditions.

    Simply put, clean gold sells for more and in some cases grades higher.
    --- Mayer Numismatics --- Collectors Corner --- (888) 822 - COIN ---
  • joebb21joebb21 Posts: 4,732 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I believe you to be correct, sadly this may be do to due to market conditions.

    Simply put, clean gold sells for more and in some cases grades higher. >>



    and yet according to RYK it is still not around.

    The market has little to do with what is out there (in this case) or not.
    Fact is most old gold has been dipped or played with and is no longer "dirty" as the OP enjoys
    may the fonz be with you...always...
  • astroratastrorat Posts: 9,221 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That's a really nice Double Eagle!
    Numismatist Ordinaire
    See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces

  • I like it Dirty as well...

    It's out there but you got to look at a lot of Frogs, Dogs and Hogs...

    Here's one of my new favorites...

    Thanks to JamesM...image

    image

    image

    image

    My Ebay Auctions

    Currently Listed: Nothing

    Take Care, Dave
  • crypto79crypto79 Posts: 8,623
    After liquidating my gold type set this is my last non-bullion gold coin, it is nicely original and a better date too. I like how the white pronged holder makes it pop like an artifact and although 45 may be a bit a generous I paid 45 money (at the time) as I thought it all there and it's the crude die pair I wanted. The reason I say 45 is a bit generous is because as you know better than most I assume, the "Dirt" in dirty gold really mutes the luster and has invited dealers to employee a light to not-so-light bath for generations. Which bring us full circle to wide spread disappointment.
    image
  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 23,892 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Why collect something that's easy to find?
    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • JamesMJamesM Posts: 757


    << <i>I like it Dirty as well...

    It's out there but you got to look at a lot of Frogs, Dogs and Hogs...

    Here's one of my new favorites...

    Thanks to JamesM...image

    image

    image

    image >>




    Ah yes I really like that coin, what more could you ask for, OGH and unmolested gold.
    --- Mayer Numismatics --- Collectors Corner --- (888) 822 - COIN ---
  • PQueuePQueue Posts: 901 ✭✭✭
    You were not surprised by the bourse floor inventory, were you?
  • MoldnutMoldnut Posts: 3,082 ✭✭✭✭
    Agree, along with many early 19th century coins.
    Derek

    EAC 6024
  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭


    << <i>Why collect something that's easy to find? >>



    If it's so easy to find, why can't I find the coins that Larsen is looking for... ? image

    imageimage
    WANTED: Cincinnati Reds TEAM Cards
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,772 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Why collect something that's easy to find? >>


    I agree. I believe that you (and others) have made this point in the past. A good example would be Indian quarter eagles. Even at the much-maligned (by Wei image ) St. Louis show, I could have easily assembled a dozen sets--raw, slabbed, AU, BU, choice unc, cleaned, holed, ... whatever. If all you need is a wad of money to collect something, the challenge becomes assembling the finances, not assembling the collection. (Hey, that's a pretty good sigline quote!)

    You were not surprised by the bourse floor inventory, were you?

    Of course, not. I did not just fall of the turnip truck. Disappointed, yes. Surprised, no.
  • 09sVDB09sVDB Posts: 2,420 ✭✭✭
    Market conditions say it all. If you couldn't find them it tells me they just weren't there.
  • ranshdowranshdow Posts: 1,431 ✭✭✭✭
    I like that '39 half-eagle, regardless of the plastic.
  • ColonialCoinUnionColonialCoinUnion Posts: 10,087 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Market conditions say it all. >>



    I'm not following this.
  • The $20 seem to be the most dipped, still some 2 1/2 & 5's that hold there original skin...

    image

    image

    image
    My Ebay Auctions

    Currently Listed: Nothing

    Take Care, Dave
  • claychaserclaychaser Posts: 4,405 ✭✭✭✭
    This one look original and dirty to me. The edge marks are the prongs from a rattler holder:

    image

    image


    ==Looking for pre WW2 Commems in PCGS Rattler holders, 1851-O Three Cent Silvers in all grades



    Successful, problem free and pleasant transactions with: illini420, coinguy1, weather11am,wayneherndon,wondercoin,Topdollarpaid,Julian, bishdigg,seateddime, peicesofme,ajia,CoinRaritiesOnline,savoyspecial,Boom, TorinoCobra71, ModernCoinMart, WTCG, slinc, Patches, Gerard, pocketpiececommems, BigJohnD, RickMilauskas, mirabella, Smittys, LeeG, TomB, DeusExMachina, tydye
  • crypto79crypto79 Posts: 8,623


    << <i>This one look original and dirty to me. The edge marks are the prongs from a rattler holder:

    image

    image >>



    IMO, the discoloration is from a reaction caused by an aging darkening/chemical agent to different areas on the coin that had different properties/textures. I suspect it does not look like it did when it went to PCGS 20+ years ago. The skin is not original to my eye even forgetting the color as there isn't any layers of age for lack of a better term to describe a life time of build up. I suspect it was dipped into something and then thumbed and has since oxidized/turned
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,772 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I agree with crypto79. The discoloration around the devices does not look natural to me.
  • crypto79crypto79 Posts: 8,623
    Not to say that the coin doesn't have value. On ebay with those pictures and the way gold is right now esp Old sothern gold in a rattler holder. I suspect there would be strong bidding on the coin never the less
  • relicsncoinsrelicsncoins Posts: 7,833 ✭✭✭✭✭
    This piece is pretty original and circulated.

    imageimage
    Need a Barber Half with ANACS photo certificate. If you have one for sale please PM me. Current Ebay auctions
  • fishteethfishteeth Posts: 2,236 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have several old 20's that are nice and dirty. Here is one. also have an 1873 and an 1869-S with similar skin
    looks better in hand, more dirt

    imageimage
    image

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