Pawn Stars - 1861 C Half Eagle

Raufus · September 6, 2016 2:32PM

Hi Guys and Gals-

I was walking by the TV, wife had left Pawn Stars on, I heard half eagle and I had to watch.

I wanted to post this knowing full well that I could likely find out this info w/some research. That said, I'm exhausted, looking at 4 hours sleep and I know that I'll never post this if not now.

I've always been curious how the sellers do w/these guys w/real coins. This of course assumes that the show features real deals.

Anyway... I caught the second segment of this sale. Guys has a sometimes pocket piece that he brings in. 1861 C half eagle. Pawn guys call in an "expert". "Expert" says it's real and "on a good day worth $15K in this condition". Guy asks for $12K. Pawn guy notes that he has to "send it in" and it could come back w/problems such as cleaned, etc and he's taking that risk. Guy sells for $8K.

Assuming that this is a real deal did the guy do O.K. or get hosed? I primarily mess w/moderns so I don't know this series.

That said, I've long wondered why sellers w/good stuff don't do a littler research and have some of the nicer coins graded themselves and sell on Ebay, at a major show or via an auction house.

Anyway, just wanted to post this to see what you all who know this series think.

Thanks

northcoin · September 6, 2016 2:44PM

Don't know the specifics for this particular transaction, but with some coin purchases in the past it has been evident that part of the "research" being done is to locate a likely buyer whether it be the "expert" or someone who has done business with Pawn Stars before. This seems to allow them to offer a much more generous offer than what one would normally get from a Pawn Shop. Here I suspect someone is interested in taking the coin as is for a thousand or two more than the seller is being offered. If "cleaning" is really a concern they likely already know one way or the other on that score as well from their own experience, if not from the "expert."

Definitely an interesting show when it comes to coin purchases as Rick really knows his stuff when it comes to metallic discs. It is no coincidence that the name of their shop has "Gold and Silver" in it.

Would be interesting to hear Ricko's take.

coinhack · September 6, 2016 3:03PM

Being curious myself after reading your narrative, I looked it up (PCGS Price Guide):

1861-C $5 gold -

VF30- $5,000
XF40 - $9,000
AU55 - $17,500

These prices are, of course, for PCGS graded coins without problems. For a sometime pocket piece, the coin must have been pretty nice to wholesale for $8,000.

CDN Greysheet values the coin at $7,500 in XF40 and $10,000 in AU50.

Kove · September 6, 2016 3:35PM

If the "expert" said the coin is worth $15,000 "in this condition" I would assume that "in this condition" already takes visible issues into account. If the pawn shop offers half of what the expert says, when the expert already took the condition into account, I'd say the shop is double-counting potential condition issues, and is paying pretty low as a general rule.

lordmarcovan · September 6, 2016 3:41PM

Originally posted by: Raufus

This of course assumes that the show features real deals.

I've often had my doubts on that score, but I suppose it's possible.

jdimmick · September 6, 2016 9:26PM

I owned an PCGS xf sold it for 7500 a couple years back

ricko · September 6, 2016 10:02PM

I have never watched the show and have no idea what the coin looks like.. the quoted listing figures are accurate. Pawn shops discount items heavily when buying... If it were mine, I would not take it to a pawn shop... Cheers, RickO

logger7 · September 6, 2016 11:46PM

The original owner should have done his research. If he had posted pictures here and then put it up at retail taking offers, he would have been a lot happier. No excuse for laziness, maybe the 15 minutes of fame thing?

bestday · September 7, 2016 12:20AM

Originally posted by: logger7
The original owner should have done his research. If he had posted pictures here and then put it up at retail taking offers, he would have been a lot happier. No excuse for laziness, maybe the 15 minutes of fame thing?

Staged show... seller said he carried coin to Pawn shop in his pocket ..LOL.. No doubt Rick researched coin before show

Boosibri · September 7, 2016 12:35AM

I owned a EF45 CAC and sold for $10k I think

zas107 · September 7, 2016 12:41AM

I think Pawn Stars got hosed paying 8 grand for it. The coin appeared to have a problem obverse for sure.

youtube link Pause it around 1:12.

logger7 · September 7, 2016 1:51AM

The pawn star guys get tens of thousands of dollars an episode so the break even, gains or small losses on coins are incidental.

zas107 · September 7, 2016 2:37AM

Originally posted by: logger7
The pawn star guys get tens of thousands of dollars an episode so the break even, gains or small losses on coins are incidental.

I would't be surprised if the history channel foots the bill for their on air purchases either.

steveben · September 7, 2016 4:04AM

Originally posted by: zas107

I think Pawn Stars got hosed paying 8 grand for it. The coin appeared to have a problem obverse for sure.

youtube link Pause it around 1:12.

they are probably not hosed...cause they sell all their stuff at high prices.

this coin has issues, but is still a rare coin that commands quite a premium...but not like the 61-D, however.

i would say this coin looks like it might have been buried for a while and then improperly or harshly cleaned.

jclovescoins · September 7, 2016 4:12AM

No way that they actually paid that. The coin is AU details - cleaned. Heritage search results reveal AU details - cleaned 1861-C $5 pieces bring $3,000 to $6,000. And how does the "expert" come up with the 15K figure? The coin is clearly improperly cleaned and the obverse is not original.

logger7 · September 7, 2016 5:54AM

Who was their expert anyway? Any regular on these boards would have done a better job of critical and pricing analysis, and there is no shortage of knowledgeable people in Vegas or nearby cities. Why don't they call in Allan of Northern Nevada or someone like him, you would not pull the wool over his eyes.

WillieBoyd2 · September 7, 2016 6:23AM

The episode was broadcast in 2014.

Raufus · September 7, 2016 12:11PM

Thanks for the great info.

I'm glad that some of your folks saw that segment.

I only watched the second half so I didn't catch the expert's intro.

I did see an episode some time ago where they had a PCGS Currency Expert on. I don't think that this guy was PCGS to be sure.

I'm sure that there are many other factors involved w/on air sales on this show but I was curious as to how the deal was on it's face.

CharlotteDude · September 7, 2016 12:26PM

Here's mine, and one would have to offer a little better than $12K to convince me to cut her loose..

'dude

Outhaul · September 8, 2016 1:38AM

Totally rehearsed show. Deals are agreed upon ahead of time. Research is done prior to the deal in order to make the pawn stars bunch appear much smarter than they really are.

Typical UN-reality show garbage.

Cheers

Bob

steveben · September 8, 2016 2:23AM

Originally posted by: CharlotteDude

Here's mine, and one would have to offer a little better than $12K to convince me to cut her loose..

'dude

nice one 'dude! beautiful example.

jesbroken · September 8, 2016 2:28AM

Didn't Charmy appear on that show and participate in their pre walkin rehearsal.

I think so. Most all of the "REALITY" shows are rehearsed and scripted beyond belief

and still called reality. Just imagine how much business they dreamed up by making

coin owners think they could get a premium for their coins.

Jim

steveben · September 8, 2016 2:29AM

Originally posted by: Outhaul

Totally rehearsed show. Deals are agreed upon ahead of time. Research is done prior to the deal in order to make the pawn stars bunch appear much smarter than they really are.

Typical UN-reality show garbage.

Cheers

Bob

this comes up in every pawn stars thread. you do realize that *every* show on television is rehearsed, edited, planned, un-reality, right?

even the "news" is rehearsed and scripted.

johnny9434 · September 9, 2016 5:12AM

i missed that one. will see it on the reruns im sure.

GoldCoin98 · September 10, 2016 12:22PM

Originally posted by: Outhaul
Totally rehearsed show. Deals are agreed upon ahead of time. Research is done prior to the deal in order to make the pawn stars bunch appear much smarter than they really are.

Typical UN-reality show garbage.

Cheers

Bob

Exactly.

MrEureka · September 10, 2016 4:25PM

I've often wondered how often viewers will call the shop trying to buy whatever it is they just saw come into the shop on TV.

Pawn Stars - 1861 C Half Eagle

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