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What sad day, another gem Seated Quarter is ruined for greed

partagaspartagas Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭
This coin an 1866 Seated Quarter hammered at Goldbergs $5,000 plus 20% juice. A very nice coin, with a good appeal to it. I bid and didn't win it. What makes this coin so nice, is the fully struck reverse shield. The sheild on most 1866 quarters is weakly struck on the top left corner portion.

This gem, with original eye appeal was dipped and washed out. Now just an unnatural widget with a bigger price tag. No thanks.

When you blow them up, the die polish lines match. I am almost 100% certain this is the same coin. image

Goldberg original sale
David Lawrence Widget
If I say something in the woods, and my wife isn't around. Am I still wrong?
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Comments

  • TrinkettsTrinketts Posts: 1,699
    Wow that is just sad image
    Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about. -Benjamin Franklin-
  • Are you sure those are die polish lines????? They look for all the world like hairlines! That DLRC coin is a barker! image
  • partagaspartagas Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭
    They are polish lines, all the unc 1866 quarters have them.
    If I say something in the woods, and my wife isn't around. Am I still wrong?
  • ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭
    I can't believe anyone would pay 66 money for that DLRC coin. Yuck!
  • 66Tbird66Tbird Posts: 2,858 ✭✭✭
    Yep, same coin. I'd would of had to of seen the coin before dipping 'in hand' to give an opinion on eye appeal loss or gain.
    Need something designed and 3D printed?
  • DD Posts: 1,997 ✭✭✭
    Wow...That DLRC coin looks absolutely horrible.

    If it's the same coin the owner made a huge mistake, and now the die polish lines are so obvious in that picture they detract from the overall look of the coin.

    That's just bad.

    -Daniel
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  • CIVITASCIVITAS Posts: 2,256 ✭✭✭
    The F in "OF" on the reverse of the Goldberg specimen is fully struck.

    The F on the reverse of the DLRC specimen is not fully struck.

    I believe they are different coins.

    Die polish, since it is a die characteristic, will likely be the same on multiple coins.
    image
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  • TheRavenTheRaven Posts: 4,149 ✭✭✭✭
    If they are the same that is terrible.....

    That second coin is simply terrible and as time goes by I hate coins that look like that more and more.....
    Collection under construction: VG Barber Quarters & Halves
  • ToneloverTonelover Posts: 1,554
    NCS Rules! image
  • MadMartyMadMarty Posts: 16,697 ✭✭✭


    << <i>NCS Rules! image >>




    How do you know it was NCS? DLC might have just dipped it and sent it off!
    It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving!!!



  • << <i>The F in "OF" on the reverse of the Goldberg specimen is fully struck.

    The F on the reverse of the DLRC specimen is not fully struck.

    I believe they are different coins.

    Die polish, since it is a die characteristic, will likely be the same on multiple coins.



    >>

    image
    Fishing is not a matter of life and death.......It's much more important than that........
  • curlycurly Posts: 2,880
    I think they are different. I think I see a ding below Liberty's eye on DLRC.

    Thats my take on it anyway
    Every man is a self made man.
  • MICHAELDIXONMICHAELDIXON Posts: 6,716 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Those two coins do not appear to be the same coin. Besides the F in OF being different, there is a mark on the face of the DLRC coin and the obverse rim is different.
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  • CladiatorCladiator Posts: 18,333 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>The F in "OF" on the reverse of the Goldberg specimen is fully struck.

    The F on the reverse of the DLRC specimen is not fully struck.

    I believe they are different coins.

    Die polish, since it is a die characteristic, will likely be the same on multiple coins. >>

    Josh, I think you are 100% correct.
  • tmot99tmot99 Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭
    Not the same coins, IMO. I was looking at the die crack from the talon to the "U" on the reverse in the DLRC photo. Makes the talon look like a finger. The Goldberg image does not have that, but the image is much smaller.

    First thought is that die polish lines SHOULD match up if from the same die. It is the same as a letter matching up.
  • Might be, might not be--The point is super nice original unmolected coins like the Golberg Cameo Gem continue to appreciate as more and more coins are ruined through inexpert dipping. Even an overlooked series like this one has big potential--
    morgannut2
  • partagaspartagas Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭
    RE the same coin.

    We are talking a pop five coin here, not some widget with 100 pop. There just aren't too many others around. The mark on the face, when you explode the Goldberg coin, it appears there is a mark. Camera angles can hide these marks very well, as account for the rim differences. I don't buy for a minute that the F isn't fully struck. I bet it is all in the angle of the coin being shot.

    Coincidental

    The first star is weakly struck, then the same right half stars are weakly struck. The bold polish line off of libertys left arm is too similiar.

    Most all of these coins are weakly struck on the reverse. This example isn't. Just look at the 65 available from David Hall, weak reverse. This fully struck shield isn't readily available. Then you have an old holdered 65 come to market and bam! This new 66 shows up on the seen.
    If I say something in the woods, and my wife isn't around. Am I still wrong?
  • CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,650 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Be careful, this may be a proof. Look very closely at the date position against a known unc (I usually copy the image into PowerPoint and blow it up). I think I've seen at least one proof in an unc holder. The unc coin is far more scarce.

    Also, not all 1866 uncs have die polish lines, tho I do recall the gem coin Laura had in inventory about 18m ago which definitely had them.

    Briggs indicates he has seen a couple uncs without the die wear in the shield. It is a very rare beast, if you can find a true unc.
  • partagaspartagas Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭
    The problem with it being a proof is it isn't fully struck on the stars. I have yet to see a proof without the stars being razor sharp.
    And yes the fully struck reverse is a very rare coin.
    If I say something in the woods, and my wife isn't around. Am I still wrong?
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 44,950 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I wouldn't say it was ruined- it's still a lovely coin.

    However, I agree that it would've been better left alone.

    Edit: that's IF it is the same coin- I now see some folks pointing out that it isn't.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,580 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Looks like the same coin to me.
  • gripgrip Posts: 9,962 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Not sure.But the second A in America dont look the same.
  • pontiacinfpontiacinf Posts: 8,915 ✭✭
    if those are the same coins, thats just outright sad
    image

    Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
  • mnmcoinmnmcoin Posts: 2,165
    I too believe they are different...the right arm of Liberty looks completely different.

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  • << <i>Looks like the same coin to me. >>





    ---NOT ANYMORE!!--image
    morgannut2
  • itsnotjustmeitsnotjustme Posts: 8,786 ✭✭✭
    I think they are different coins. The last A in AMERICA has a tick in the DLRC coin that I don't see on the toned one.
    Give Blood (Red Bags) & Platelets (Yellow Bags)!
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,654 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Here's an even worse example:

    BEFORE - nice and orginal ... "The old dull crusty version"

    image

    After whizzed and shiny ... "The new 'improved' version"

    image

    And the person who ruined this coin got his reward. It went from an NCG AU-50 to a PCGS AU-58.

    Those who have more money than brains enjoy "the new and improved" version.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,687 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I vote same coin based on two obverse diagnostics.

    1) Minute scratch not in the same direction as the die polishing lines on Liberty's face from the upper lip to the earlobe.
    2) Minute tic in field in front of the middle of Liberty's left shin about 1/5 the way to the bottom-most right star.

    They show up differently in the two photographs due to the lighting. Fie on DLRC for this, IMHO.
  • tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,580 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That 'tick' on the A looks to me like it's on the holder.

    Look at the shape of the cruddy toning along the rim from the dot after DOL to the C in AMERICA. Then look at the white coin. Same exact shape in the haze along the rim. Either it was something on the die transferred to multiple coins or it's the same coin.
  • TomBTomB Posts: 22,886 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I was about to say they were two different coins until I noticed that the pair of nicks between the mid-point of Ms. Liberty's left shin and the first star match up exactly. If this were from a die defect then I would think they are different coins, but if this is not a die defect then these are the same.
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    image
  • rainbowroosierainbowroosie Posts: 4,875 ✭✭✭✭
    1. I hate the brilliant coin, do not know if it is the same.
    2. That gold piece is a crime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The first photo shows a classic beauty!!!!image
    "You keep your 1804 dollar and 1822 half eagle -- give me rainbow roosies in MS68."
    rainbowroosie April 1, 2003
  • partagaspartagas Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭
    Yes the tics to the left of the shin do confirm the crime. What a crying shame. Good observation TomB, I didn't notice them at first. But new it was the same coin, because there aren't more than a handful of these gems left. Now of course there is one less gem.

    Bill, yes they destroyed that coin as well. I am wondering if there will be original coins left in this world in 10 years. Perhaps that will be the down fall of coin collecting. All the trash and not enough interesting material to spread around and keep collectors happy.

    What a sad sad day.
    If I say something in the woods, and my wife isn't around. Am I still wrong?
  • CoxeCoxe Posts: 11,139
    The date doesn't look the same at all to me. And I am thinking the DLRC coin might very well be a proof strike despite the NGC tag.
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  • 19Lyds19Lyds Posts: 26,497 ✭✭✭✭
    Different coins folks! Check out the stars to the left and right of liberty's head.
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  • partagaspartagas Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭
    Then explain Tradedollars observation on the reverse? His observation, also nails it down as the same coin.

    It isn't a proof, the proof are fully struck as they are struck multiple times. They would never have incomplete stars.

    The difference in stars you see is because of the angle. It is the same coin.

    What is the likely hood of 2 rare fully struck reverse coins, in similiar condition being available at the same time. Which coincidently have several identifiable markers. The pop for 65 and 66 is 15 total coins. I don't think so.
    If I say something in the woods, and my wife isn't around. Am I still wrong?
  • NicNic Posts: 3,437 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Not all unc.'s have die polish lines. Sad, though not unexpected, if the same coin. K
  • roadrunnerroadrunner Posts: 28,369 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Many proofs of this era come with incomplete or flat stars. I recall seeing an 1868 proof half once that looked EF on some figure detail.
    The amount of die polish on that DLRC coin doesn't seem to indicate a proof striking.

    For every toned silver coin that upgrades on the conservation process, I'll bet 2 others come back lower.

    roadrunner
    Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold
  • CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,650 ✭✭✭✭✭
    This coin appeared in Goldberg 2/05:1126, also Goldberg 9/04:708. It drew my attention at the time because it was an ostensible unc with no (shield) die wear. I assumed it didn't sell the first time because the specialists looked at in person and figured it was a proof.

    The date placement here is to the left of the unc version. Compare the example in Heritage 5/05:6866, an obvious unc. Draw a straight line along the right side of the "1" in the date down to the dentil. This coin aligns over the center of a dentil and the unc over a gap in the dentils. So, I'm fairly certain this coin comes from the proof dies. But what's wierd is that Briggs says the proofs are all well struck, and we have with this coin the weak stars, not to mention the die polish. I'm going to hypothesize that the proof die was used for proofs, severely polished for whatever reason (accounting for weak stars and die polish lines), then used to strike off some uncs.

    Also, I think I see clash marks in the right obverse field of the white coin That supports the unc argument. We'd have to see the coin in person to say for sure on the clash marks. Also, I do believe this coin is the same as the Goldberg coin.

    Where is lathmach, he can take one glance at this and immediately tell you what it is image


  • << <i> Bill, yes they destroyed that coin as well. I am wondering if there will be original coins left in this world in 10 years. Perhaps that will be the down fall of coin collecting. All the trash and not enough interesting material to spread around and keep collectors happy. >>



    I used to feel this way and then eventually I realized there is nothing you can really do about controlling the greed. There are parasites in all aspects of nature and unfortunately coin collecting is not immune. On the bright side, collections that contain numismatically pleasing and original coins will only increase in value over time as more and more coins continue to be lost to commercialization.
  • tjkilliantjkillian Posts: 5,578 ✭✭✭
    I think that they are different coins. The "F" in OF is clearly different on the two coins. With such a low mintage, both coins could have been struck right after each other, making them appear to be more similar.

    Still, dipping such a rare coin in the search of the almighty dollar is a shame.

    Tom
    Tom

  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The F in OF are definitely different. The one at DLRC looks messed with. Where's the serif? Doesn't look like the same coin to me. Anybody that would do that to a beautiful coin like the first pic should be shot.

    GET A ROPE !!!!!!!


    Jon
  • MyqqyMyqqy Posts: 9,777
    I think that tpg's HAVE to stop rewarding the losers who dip n' strip beautiful classics- if there were automatic point reductions and holder notations, then you might see some progress made......
    My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable !
  • Same coin.... Sad but true

  • This was a tricky one. The biggest problem in comparing the images is that they were shot with very different methods. The lighting and shadowing can play tricks with your eyes.

    However........after tedious image forensics, I can tell you that these ARE the same coin. The only difference is that the blast white coin has had it's beautiful, original patina stripped and washed down a sink in some coin doctor's filthy kitchen. All in the name of profit. There was absolutely no reason to ruin that coin, other than greed and avarice. The patina was actually protecting the coin and was an integral part of the coin's history. Now it is gone forever, preserved only by an image in Goldberg's auction catalog.

    I would love to hear someone defend this particular case of coin doctoring. Pathetic!

    PS - where's the coin doctor posse now?
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  • oh....and in addition to the evidence provided by others, check out the black dot towards the inboard point of star 5. They missed that one. But man, that coin was severely stripped to remove the toning to that extent. It would take undiluted acid to achieve that level of stripping.
    www.jaderarecoin.com - Updated 6/8/06. Many new coins added!

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  • --I don't blame the greedy slime-ball crackout scum. There are some in every business. BUT PCGS gets the same money for an original coin as a dipped POS. I blame PCGS & NGC entirely for the upgrade and dip. Instead, any 19th century coin that's not supposed to be white, should downgrade 1 point automatically. If they just can't control themselves on upgrades----at least it could say dipped on the holder insert--See how long this stuff continues then!!image
    morgannut2
  • fcfc Posts: 12,804 ✭✭✭
    i think it is the dipper's fault for ruining the coin, no one else.

    but then again, that coin may have been blast white a few
    times before, hm?

    maybe the toning on it previously was AT? before that white,
    before that NT, before that...

    can someone follow the coin back in time 100 years for provinence?

    would be funny to have someone come on and say that coin
    was owned by me and blast white 15 years ago.

    how would i feel then? bamboozled maybe?

    edited to add: just random thoughts, this thread was very
    informative.
  • IrishMikeIrishMike Posts: 7,737 ✭✭✭
    Who really is to blame for this if it is indeed the same coin, that is the question I have been asking myself. One thing that cannot be ignored is the current desire to own coins that either have cotton candy rainbow toning on them and pay mulitples for the them. Toning that is light blue, pinkish, orange or other neon like colors get the "wow" description, while original toning that might have splotches or is darker gets criticized and the market prices suffer accordingly. Sometimes the what it is factor and rarity factor fall prey to the wow factor. History fell prey to greed.
  • LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,753 ✭✭✭✭✭
    <<Who really is to blame for this if it is indeed the same coin,>>

    I don't know if it's fair to place this blame, but I assign it to TPGs that will give an obviously cleaned coin a bump in grade.

    I have heard it some many times it seems like a mantra, "old silver won't be pristine white".

    When they see something like that come through, they should either BB it or netgrade (a stealth netgrade) it by bumping it down 2 to 3 notches from what it's technical grade would be.
  • Different coins. On the DLRC coin, the left serif foot on the I in UNITED, it has a ding whereas on the other coin's I, it's not there.
    image

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