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Mislabeled 1915 $20? UPDATED INFO.


UPDATE: PCGS turnaround time was only 5 days for this mislabeled $20. Now it is appropriately labeled and makes a nice addition to my collection.

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In my first post on this forum I would like to pass along warm greetings to all members and say thanks for all of the very informative posts that I have read over the years. I have been a CC member during those times, and I have quietly absorbed a tremendous amount of knowledge from the members of this forum as I observed in the background.

I have been a coin collector for over 50 years now, and I remember getting in change many of the coins that I would have to pay large sums of money to get today. I can remember when I saw my first Franklin half in 1948, buying a BU roll of 1921 Peace dollars for $80, and putting together a nearly complete Morgan dollar set from rolls of dollars that I got from the bank at face value. Of course, Mercury dimes, Buffalo nickels, and Indian Head cents could be found in your pocket change.

I have owned some major keys in all of the US coin series over the years, and at one time I had over 200 DMPL Morgan dollars, along with some key gold coins, which I lost due to the robbery of my home. I learned my lesson and now I keep the high dollar stuff in a bank security box.

One of the reasons for this post is that I would like to pass along a story that hopefully will be encouraging, and at the same time get your opinion on the subject.

About two weeks ago I was looking at some scans of PCGS graded $20 Saint Gaudens by a specific company, and was focusing on the 1915-S coins. As I reviewed the MS64-65 coins I noticed that one of the MS64s that was supposed to be a S mint according to the PCGS holder did not seem to have a MM. The scans from this company are not the best, but I thought that I would order the coin and see if a mistake had been made in the label. The coin arrived a few days ago, and sure enough, at least by my eyes with 20X magnification, it seems that the coin in the holder labeled as a 1915-S is in reality a 1915. Check the scans below. Sorry, not very good images, but the best I can do for now.

I know that a MS64, 1915 is hard to come by, and this one is a good MS64, not a low end one. It seems to have original surfaces, has never been cleaned IMO, no rim dings, no major marks, and good strike and luster.

Since I already own a 1915 should I send it back to PCGS for re-labeling, or keep it as an example that even the best of the TPG can make a mistake?


image

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UPDATE: Corrected label from PCGS.

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Comments

  • lasvegasteddylasvegasteddy Posts: 10,432 ✭✭✭
    quite a lil spike without the "s"

    i'd send it in under a mechanical error label...you bet
    everything in life is but merely on loan to us by our appreciation....lose your appreciation and see


  • GrumpyEdGrumpyEd Posts: 4,749 ✭✭✭
    I see the S in the pic?

    Below the date and easy to see.

    cert lookup is also an S
    Ed
  • BearBear Posts: 18,953 ✭✭✭
    200 DMPLs, Oh Mama. That would be a sight to behold.
    There once was a place called
    Camelotimage


  • << <i>I see the S in the pic?

    Below the date and easy to see.

    cert lookup is also an S >>




    The MM on these coins is ABOVE the date. All coins carry the "s" below the date.
  • GrumpyEdGrumpyEd Posts: 4,749 ✭✭✭
    Thanks gecko image

    Well maybe the graders saw the other S! LOL

    I was looking for a pic and found one, sure looks funny with the S below and smaller S above.

    15-s on ebay with both S
    Ed
  • lasvegasteddylasvegasteddy Posts: 10,432 ✭✭✭
    1915-p....ms64...$6.3k
    1915-s....ms64....$1.7k

    did you pay 1915-s price?
    everything in life is but merely on loan to us by our appreciation....lose your appreciation and see


  • Steve27Steve27 Posts: 13,275 ✭✭✭
    "Since I already own a 1915 should I send it back to PCGS for re-labeling, or keep it as an example that even the best of the TPG can make a mistake?"

    Send it back.
    "It's far easier to fight for principles, than to live up to them." Adlai Stevenson
  • Yes, I paid 1915-S price ($1,140.00 which included insurance and postage). This was one of the times that I came out on the top end. There have been a number of times that I did not get good product for the price, and some were even from this company. I guess that in the long run it all equals out.


  • << <i>Yes, I paid 1915-S price ($1,140.00 which included insurance and postage). This was one of the times that I came out on the top end. There have been a number of times that I did not get good product for the price, and some were even from this company. I guess that in the long run it all equals out. >>




    So you got a 5-6k coin for $1,100? Here is your official very first YOU SUCK award!image
  • GrumpyEdGrumpyEd Posts: 4,749 ✭✭✭
    WOW looks like you just made up for a few bad ones image
    Ed
  • lasvegasteddylasvegasteddy Posts: 10,432 ✭✭✭
    <<<Yes, I paid 1915-S price ($1,140.00 which included insurance and postage)>>>

    sweetness
    everything in life is but merely on loan to us by our appreciation....lose your appreciation and see


  • pennyanniepennyannie Posts: 3,929 ✭✭✭
    Way to go, i am sure a bunch will chime in and say you should send it bad to the dealer you bought it from. They would not be able to live with them selves and it is the right thing to do.I say Hell No in this case. If a dealer is just to plain lazy to even look at the coin and find the BLAZING error he should eat it. The original seller to the dealer must not have been paid much so the dealer is not screwed in this case. A good dealer would realize that he had good money in this coin if he did, and not make the mistake. The dealer Ripped the original seller and you got a rip on the dealer.
    Mark
    NGC registry V-Nickel proof #6!!!!
    working on proof shield nickels # 8 with a bullet!!!!

    RIP "BEAR"
  • For those of you who thought the "S" looking thing below the date is an "S" that's always there or the MM, it's actually the designer initials. If you've ever owned one, or can look at one up close, it's pretty neat. It's actually and "ASG".... for Augustus St. Gaudens. And people complained about a Little VDB?

    Keep it, and get it corrected.
  • Nice score, and image
    "College men from LSU- went in dumb, come out dumb too..."
    -Randy Newmanimage
  • I totally agree with pennyannie. The dealer did not buy a $6K+ coin to sell for $1K. If anyone is on the short end of the deal it is the original owner, and who knows who was the original owner? Maybe the original owner only paid $60-70 for the coin back in the early 60's and sold it for $900 today? I have done that and thought I got a good deal.

    If the real story is known it could be that everyone was happy with their part of the transaction. It is sort of like Collector A coming into a show with a coin they had $100 into and sells the coin to Dealer A for $1000, and both parties are happy. Dealer A then sells to Dealer B for $2000, and both parties are happy with the transaction. Dealer B then sells to Collector B for $3000, and both parties are happy. Things like that do happen.

    One thing I am happy about is that I have won an award on my first post? Was that a first?

    Taking some of your advice I guess that the coin goes back to PCGS to be reholdered.
  • ChrisRxChrisRx Posts: 5,619 ✭✭✭✭
    YOU SUCK
    image
  • GrumpyEdGrumpyEd Posts: 4,749 ✭✭✭
    Must be the first award from a first post?
    Very nice to see good news these days image
    Ed
  • guitarwesguitarwes Posts: 9,290 ✭✭✭
    quite a pick! Awesome first post. Keep it up.

    Welcome.

    -wes
    @ Elite CNC Routing & Woodworks on Facebook. Check out my work.
    Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
  • StaircoinsStaircoins Posts: 2,577 ✭✭✭
    First of all, Welcome!

    Now then, not because of your pick, but because you got a 'YOU SUCK' on your very first post...

    YOU SUCK!

    Now you have two! image
  • BlindedByEgoBlindedByEgo Posts: 10,754 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Are there any other die markers on the coin that would indicate that this apparent Philly Mint coin actually came out of San Fran?

    There are issues where the mint marks on gold coins ("S" mint mark $5 Indians, weak D $21/2 Indians) are virtually invisibe, so I ask the question.

    Other than that - nice score! Resubmit, unless you want to have your heirs (potentially) make the same mistake image

  • Are there any other die markers on the coin that would indicate that this apparent Philly Mint coin actually came out of San Fran?

    There are issues where the mint marks on gold coins ("S" mint mark $5 Indians, weak D $21/2 Indians) are virtually invisibe, so I ask the question.


    That is an excellent question and I was wondering if anyone else had input before I send it to PCGS. I have gone over the coin with a 20X magnification at least 10 times, and I have comparied it to the other 1915 that I have in my collection, and to my eye it just seems to be a "Mechanical Error" on the behalf of PCGS. If any of the members have anything that I should be looking for to ensure that it really is a 1915-P I most certainly would appreciate the comments. I would hate to waste money on postage and insurance because of my own stupidity. I have been down that road enough in my lifetime.


  • fcfc Posts: 12,793 ✭✭✭
    once again nice rip! knowledge is power.

    now which dealer was it so we can laugh at how they buy the holder
    and not the coin?
  • gonzergonzer Posts: 3,053 ✭✭✭✭✭
    A "You Suck" on the very first post???
    We need instant replay on that!
    BTW.....image
  • jhdflajhdfla Posts: 3,030 ✭✭✭
    Outstanding, congrats.
    and a belated welcome.

    john

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