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Original, problem-free circulated 19th century US gold really is tough to find
RYK
Posts: 35,791 ✭✭✭✭✭
This week, I spent a total of five hours or so on a bourse with 180 dealer tables and did not find a single 19th century US gold coin to buy for my collection. I peeked in every case on the floor. I would have purchased almost anything from quarter eagle through double eagle and did not find a single coin. I was so desperate, I ended up buying a pair of dirty XF 1866 Aussie Sovs, the only 19th century original circulated gold coins I could find. Having the experience reinforces my belief that dirty, original circulated US gold coins are indeed worth collecting.
I am also reminded of a conversation I had with one of my favorite coin dealers last year in Baltimore. He is not a gold coin specialist, but he often carries nice, unmolested gold coins, and I purchase them from him regularly. I was showing him a box of my coins and pulled out this coin:
Me: If you ever see a gold coin that looks like this, please keep me in mind.
Dealer: I never see any gold that looks like that.
I am also reminded of a conversation I had with one of my favorite coin dealers last year in Baltimore. He is not a gold coin specialist, but he often carries nice, unmolested gold coins, and I purchase them from him regularly. I was showing him a box of my coins and pulled out this coin:
Me: If you ever see a gold coin that looks like this, please keep me in mind.
Dealer: I never see any gold that looks like that.
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Comments
Simply put, clean gold sells for more and in some cases grades higher.
<< <i>I believe you to be correct, sadly this may be do to due to market conditions.
Simply put, clean gold sells for more and in some cases grades higher. >>
and yet according to RYK it is still not around.
The market has little to do with what is out there (in this case) or not.
Fact is most old gold has been dipped or played with and is no longer "dirty" as the OP enjoys
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
I like it Dirty as well...
It's out there but you got to look at a lot of Frogs, Dogs and Hogs...
Here's one of my new favorites...
Thanks to JamesM...
Currently Listed: Nothing
Take Care, Dave
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
<< <i>I like it Dirty as well...
It's out there but you got to look at a lot of Frogs, Dogs and Hogs...
Here's one of my new favorites...
Thanks to JamesM...
>>
Ah yes I really like that coin, what more could you ask for, OGH and unmolested gold.
EAC 6024
<< <i>Why collect something that's easy to find? >>
If it's so easy to find, why can't I find the coins that Larsen is looking for... ?
<< <i>Why collect something that's easy to find? >>
I agree. I believe that you (and others) have made this point in the past. A good example would be Indian quarter eagles. Even at the much-maligned (by Wei ) St. Louis show, I could have easily assembled a dozen sets--raw, slabbed, AU, BU, choice unc, cleaned, holed, ... whatever. If all you need is a wad of money to collect something, the challenge becomes assembling the finances, not assembling the collection. (Hey, that's a pretty good sigline quote!)
You were not surprised by the bourse floor inventory, were you?
Of course, not. I did not just fall of the turnip truck. Disappointed, yes. Surprised, no.
<< <i>Market conditions say it all. >>
I'm not following this.
Currently Listed: Nothing
Take Care, Dave
==Looking for pre WW2 Commems in PCGS Rattler holders, 1851-O Three Cent Silvers in all grades
Successful, problem free and pleasant transactions with: illini420, coinguy1, weather11am,wayneherndon,wondercoin,Topdollarpaid,Julian, bishdigg,seateddime, peicesofme,ajia,CoinRaritiesOnline,savoyspecial,Boom, TorinoCobra71, ModernCoinMart, WTCG, slinc, Patches, Gerard, pocketpiececommems, BigJohnD, RickMilauskas, mirabella, Smittys, LeeG, TomB, DeusExMachina, tydye
<< <i>This one look original and dirty to me. The edge marks are the prongs from a rattler holder:
>>
IMO, the discoloration is from a reaction caused by an aging darkening/chemical agent to different areas on the coin that had different properties/textures. I suspect it does not look like it did when it went to PCGS 20+ years ago. The skin is not original to my eye even forgetting the color as there isn't any layers of age for lack of a better term to describe a life time of build up. I suspect it was dipped into something and then thumbed and has since oxidized/turned
looks better in hand, more dirt