Cleaned coin Conundrum ...

jayPem

So, I've been doggedly searching for the final die marriage to complete a set I've been working on for quite some time, its an R4 that's seemingly many times tougher than the other R4 marriages in the set.

Recently I BIN'd a raw VF on eBay that looked promising, when it arrived I could see that it had an old wipe and dipping but also was closer to XF and rather more appealing than the pics...problem is that under magnification the old wiped area is pretty hairy...I don't think it'd grade.

Here's the conundrum, it's a perfectly fine coin for popping in the album. But I feel like I paid a little too much ($75 +/-) for a cleaned coin...
I can return it now, and continue my search for one that will make the set, or like I said, pop it in the album and keep looking with a little of the pressure off now that I at least have a decent example in hand ?

The amount paid is fairly trivial, but I know I'd most likely have to sell it for less when the time comes, and I know that I will still be looking for a better example...what to do ?

DaveWcoins

It is always going to bug you when you look at that coin. Hairlines don't heal.

Return it while you still can.

I always tell customers that -- if the first emotion you feel is not joy when you open a package with a coin that you ordered in it, then return it. Joy & pleasure are what this hobby is all about.

Barndog

yes, send it back. Don't settle on the last coin.

Maybe post a "wanted" to the BST? Could get what you are looking for!

telephoto1

If you have to struggle with these questions, then you already know the answer. Return it imo and wait for an example for which you need to make no excuses. There is one out there.

jayPem

Three very swift and high quality responses ! Thanks guys...

The reason that I have not posted pics or more detailed info on the coin or even the series ( take a wild guess ) is that I have been planning to send it back...problem is that when I get ready to do so, I look again and think "dang, that's actually a pretty nice looking coin !"

Kind of the opposite of the feeling you describe Dave...I know I should give it back but it does bring a teeny amount of joy to look at

A little more info, even if this one was problem free, I would still be looking for a true knock out for this particular die marriage...I already have the other tough (supposedly tougher) coin in this set and it's in the top five cc for the variety.

The set I'm putting together has other VF coins in it, but I would love to find this marriage in AU eventually to match the other...

It's not that big of a conundrum in reality.

It's not " the keeper" obviously, but it may actually be a keeper in the sense that even with it's issues it's still a tough coin on the cheap...

CoinZip

I would probably hold on to it until I could find a nicer replacement..... but that's just me.

maibockaddict

<< <i>Three very swift and high quality responses ! Thanks guys...

The reason that I have not posted pics or more detailed info on the coin or even the series ( take a wild guess ) is that I have been planning to send it back...problem is that when I get ready to do so, I look again and think "dang, that's actually a pretty nice looking coin !"

Kind of the opposite of the feeling you describe Dave...I know I should give it back but it does bring a teeny amount of joy to look at

A little more info, even if this one was problem free, I would still be looking for a true knock out for this particular die marriage...I already have the other tough (supposedly tougher) coin in this set and it's in the top five cc for the variety.

The set I'm putting together has other VF coins in it, but I would love to find this marriage in AU eventually to match the other...

It's not that big of a conundrum in reality.

It's not " the keeper" obviously, but it may actually be a keeper in the sense that even with it's issues it's still a tough coin on the cheap... >>



The question comes back to how often does the target quality coin that you are looking for trade or appear? Remember that there may be heavy competition if only one or two examples or less appear every year and 10 people are all looking for one.

jayPem

Dave, not very often it looks like...
I will say, you do have a nice VF yourself and an AU55 example would land in the census .

I've decided to go ahead and keep.
It takes magnification to see the hairlines, and she may act as a good luck charm in my hunt to find a nice one !

jayPem

<< <i>I would probably hold on to it until I could find a nicer replacement..... but that's just me. >>



It's not just you...I think that is a rather common strategy among those with the Fever...

lkeigwin

I would probably keep it too. $75 for an R4 bust half is not exactly highway robbery.

I would put it in an old kraft envelope (I have a stash) and sit it on a sill for several months, hoping a little toning might minimize the effects of the wipe and dip.
Lance.

jayPem

That's so funny Lance, I happen to be doing just that right now !

I actually paid closer to $200...the $75 is my ballpark number on what I'd likely lose if I threw it up on eBay.
It's a tougher marriage, but there aren't a ton of folks bidding up 1813 dm's as far as I can tell...

messydesk

Since you aren't crazy about the coin now and admit you'll be trying to buy a better specimen later while "renting" this one, send it back. DaveW's comments are spot on.