I've stayed true to my collection goals... until now

IloiloKano · January 18, 2010 1:13PM

Being on a tight budget and having tightly defined category & condition goals, it's been quite difficult to find quality coins on which to bid, let alone actually winning an auction with my strict goal of NOT overpaying.

I've been patient but have been getting itchy, so I recently picked up the following, even though I already have one in a PCGS AU55 slab. The price paid is fair market only if I can get another AU55/58 grade, which I believe is likely.

However, I must consider cost of getting it into a slab, so I probably overpaid a tad. Still, I like the coin and it might actually garner a 58, which is my favorite grade when MS63 values are above $250 (in this instance, more like $300), since a nice AU58 can often outshine some MS63BN's.

How are others doing? Got a new purchase you just had to buy in order to simply buy SOMETHING, but which actually breaks your own preset goals?

Seller's Pics

1jester · January 18, 2010 8:04PM

Very nice coin; are you going to have it conserved due to the apparent verdigris between the letters and near the rim? If so, I bet you'll get a 58.

Sapyx · January 18, 2010 8:49PM

<< Got a new purchase you just had to buy in order to simply buy SOMETHING, but which actually breaks your own preset goals? >>

This is one of the advantages of having "stretch goals" for my collection. Everytime I buy something, it automatically becomes part of my "goals".

IloiloKano · January 18, 2010 11:36PM

Edited to correct what I said about how the seller advertised this item. He was not the one I was thinking of that advertised an AU coin as UNC. This one gave an accurate description. Regardless, I make my bid or pay a price based upon what I believe it is, not what the seller says, and in this case, the seller provided good clear images.

<< Very nice coin; are you going to have it conserved due to the apparent verdigris between the letters and near the rim? If so, I bet you'll get a 58. >>

I am hopeful that a very short soak in extra virgin olive oil, along with careful probing with a sharp bamboo spear, will do the trick. In any case, I plan to post pictures of the result before sending off to PCGS. And though I believe it should garner a 58 from PCGS, they have been extremely tough on grading as of late.

For comparison, here are images of my current PCGS AU55 photographed through the slab, so you should be able to see why I am hopeful for a 58. The seller advertised his coin as AU, and I believe that was an honest accurate description. I usually don't fault a seller for over-grading when he supplies excellent photographs though.

satootoko · January 19, 2010 12:02AM

When your goal is a type-set of world coinage, you can't possibly stray.

canadacolornut · January 19, 2010 12:20AM

Gee why didn't I think of that?!!

Add world medals, tokens, reamers, comic books and match book covers and I'm solid!

IloiloKano · January 20, 2010 10:48AM

Got the Centavo in today's mail and immediately opened the package to find it stored in a PVC flip.

That prompted me to take a close look under a 3X glass, and instead of vertigris, I found it was PVC residue. So instead of olive oil, I brought out the acetone and all of it came off with no damage that I could detect. In fact, the surface is now silky like some of my MS64BN Centavos, and where I previously thought I saw the very slightest wear, it now looks pristine!

This may actually get an MS grade now, but I will still be happy with an AU58, and I am now certain that would be the absolute minimum.

Woo Hoo!

I won't be able to find time to properly photograph it until this weekend, but when I do, I'll post the images to this thread so you can see why I am so excited.

FilamCoins · January 20, 2010 2:36PM

I'm not sure I see any wear. Check the leg feathers on the eagle to be sure. The stars look a bit flat, but that could be strike. If the luster is full, could go 63+ I would think.

1jester · January 20, 2010 10:36PM

<< Got the Centavo in today's mail and immediately opened the package to find it stored in a PVC flip.

That prompted me to take a close look under a 3X glass, and instead of vertigris, I found it was PVC residue. So instead of olive oil, I brought out the acetone and all of it came off with no damage that I could detect. In fact, the surface is now silky like some of my MS64BN Centavos, and where I previously thought I saw the very slightest wear, it now looks pristine!

This may actually get an MS grade now, but I will still be happy with an AU58, and I am now certain that would be the absolute minimum.

Woo Hoo!

I won't be able to find time to properly photograph it until this weekend, but when I do, I'll post the images to this thread so you can see why I am so excited. >>

Excellent news!!!

IloiloKano · January 21, 2010 5:01AM

<< I'm not sure I see any wear. >>

Tip of shield under eagles right wing and the lack of detail in eagle breast feathers is what originally caused me to think there was some wear, but both may be due to a weak strike or worn die.

Still, this one is from the San Francisco mint vice the Manila mint, so I am still unsure.

I usually see the level of detail I need to make a pretty good judgment after I image the coin in macro mode. I'm not ready to say it is uncirculated until then, since my eyes are now 51 years old and don't work like they did when I was in my twenties.

I agree that if it is indeed uncirculated, then MS63 would likely be my minimum estimation, and I would lean towards MS64. Satiny appearance of all surfaces appear to indicate that not only is all mint luster present, the luster is quite heavy.

FilamCoins · January 24, 2010 2:12AM

Your 20-S centavo is a semi-key date.

Here's a tough date from the 5c series.

IloiloKano · January 24, 2010 5:41AM

<< Here's a tough date from the 5c series. >>

So I'll give you my PCGS VF35 1916s Five Centavo plus (how much?) for your MS60.

IloiloKano · January 26, 2010 11:16AM

I finally found time to take pictures after the acetone treatment and have posted comparison pictures here.

I've stayed true to my collection goals... until now

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