I'm far from a gold expert but that coin looks high AU to me, and the color not quite right. I don't know if $600+ is a lot for an AU for that date/MM, but more than I would spend.
Well, you can't grade a coin from a photograph, but I always think that any intelligent seller would put such a coin into a PCGS or NGC slab if he could.
Therefore, you can be pretty sure the coin isn't an MS-64. It might be an AU-58, but more likely, it has some problem that prevents it going into a major TPG slab.
I would recommend that, if you're buying on eBay, that you stick to PCGS/NGC/non-net graded ANACS slabs.
What I don't understand is that the coin is worth $900 - $1,100 in a PGCS slab, assuming it makes MS63. The ad claims the seller has 22 year of experience (though it's not clear how much in depth). Given this, why wouldn't he crack & re-slab?
"The greatest productive force is human selfishness." Robert A. Heinlein
NTC has the reputation for overgrading coins, though it does not necessarily mean that coins in NTC holders should always be avoided. That said, I have never purchased one. If a seller has an occasional NTC coin, I can handle that--perhaps a good client had to dump one or the coin was nice (albeit overgraded). This seller sells a lot of NTC material. It is the type of seller that I would avoid, especially in the ebay and non-"sight-seen" environment.
Comments
Chris
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Russ, NCNE
Therefore, you can be pretty sure the coin isn't an MS-64. It might be an AU-58, but more likely, it has some problem that prevents it going into a major TPG slab.
I would recommend that, if you're buying on eBay, that you stick to PCGS/NGC/non-net graded ANACS slabs.
Check out the Southern Gold Society
Robert A. Heinlein