Coinbuf

There is a lot going on with the rev of this coin. I looks like you have two scratches, both are light but do not look like circulation contact marks. Then there is the area under "One Dollar" and between the rim, which seems to follow a circular pattern and from the photo does not look like bag marks. I think it's more than likely this would be given a details grade.

Can you provide a photo that is in focus.

Too nice of condition not to be in a TPG holder, that seller is experienced enough to know that a coin with AU details like this would bring more if in a top TPG holder. Not my area of knowledge but my sense is that there is something wrong, at the very least it has been cleaned.

Welcome to the forum, judging from your photo, whoops there is no photo. We cannot help you very much if we cannot see what you see. Much older coins like bust halvs or early dollars will sometimes slide thru if the scratch is older and has retoned with the coin, just about any fresh scratch is going to stand out and receive a details grade. If you post a photo the forum members will be better able to provide good feedback on your question.

whoops wrong Ali @Ali E.

Welcome to the forum, lets tag @ALI ALMHEIRI and see if she can help get you sorted out. I'm sure that NGC will do everything possible to help you to find your old login information and then you will be able to revive your old set.

Looks like a worn die with some possible grease strikethrough areas, the ridge ring is a sure sign that the die was worn. I see no signs of a strike thru die cap.

Why do you want a gold coin? Is it because you want a coin that will act as a store of wealth? Because you find those two coin designs beautiful to view? Just want to be part of the club? I ask these questions because the answer will answer your question. If you are just considering this as a store of wealth then a details coin as close to spot as possible is one way to go. Just a couple of considerations, 2 1/2 Indians are some of the most counterfeited US coins, buying raw can be a real minefield. As the price of gold has spiked over the past few years it will be very tough to buy gold coins, unless very damaged, anywhere near spot, you will be paying some premium even for details coins. The risk here is that you may have to discount the price when you want/need to sell, which will negate the whole purpose of a store of wealth. You would do better to put that money to work in a safe investment that pays dividends and use those dividends to purchase a problem free gold coin in the future. If you are wanting one because you like to view the design then a details coin is not a very good option as you will be viewing a problem coin which is likely to not be pretty to look at in one way or another. The same is true if you just want to be part of the club, many collectors may not say what they really think when shown a problem coin so as not to hurt your feelings, but they will be thinking it. I would echo @Oldhoopster and say save until you can afford a nice problem free example, problem coins are always a problem when it comes time to sell.

I agree your coin looks to have some glue stuck on both sides.

If you are happy with your purchases that is what really matters, congrats.

While your point is very valid and true, there have been many examples of moonlight minting shenanigans done by mint employees. One that comes to mind quickly is the clover leaf (dimes if I remember correctly) that were struck with Ike dollar dies. There was a recent thread on one or two of these on the PCGS forum. For that to happen the three coins had to be placed into the press, one strike, then removed and as you noted then smuggled out of the mint. As I'm sure you are aware there are other examples of this type of fake errors that have been created and sold to the less scrupulous dealers that have the connections to acquire these illegally produced coins. That said I am in agreement that the op is suffering from severe pareidolia and the op's coin is nothing more than a stained, circulated Lincoln cent.

Happy birthday!! As to the coin, well it looks like a lightly circulated example. I don't collect varieties myself but generally speaking in order for a variety to have much value it needs to be included in the registry sets that include varieties. This one, while cool to view under magnification, is a very minor variety and will only appeal to a very tiny segment of the collector base, most of whom would rather find one themself rather than pay for one. Personally, I would put the value at $.50 at best, however I have no doubt that there are unknowledgeable buyers who are overpaying for coins like this.

Same as above, just a damaged coin is all I see. I would spend it but nothing wrong with sticking it into a flip if that is what you want to do.

#1) Fine details, but harshly scrubbed and I would only buy it for melt value, although I'm sure that there are buyers for this for more than I would pay. #2) VF details, however once again this looks cleaned. The pictures are not very good and appear to be deceptive, likely for a reason. Again, not a coin I would buy.

Well, it's a theory anyway.

MS65, maybe MS66 if the luster is better in hand.

This would be a total waste of your money, the coins are authentic steel cents, but someone plated or polished them. Coins like this fool novice or non-collectors because they are shiny, but the reality is that coins like this have no value to collectors. because they have been altered after they left the mint.

It never hurts to start a thread on these in the marketplace, however there are not very many eyeballs to see them here. Ebay has lots of eyeballs, just be sure to account for all the fees if you list them there. I am no help on the pricing as I don't follow or collect any of those items.

I seem to seldom get around to looking in on this thread, so while I'm here.

If you did use a rolling avg then you would see that the price of gold is much higher, the problem is that you keep using the spikes (1980, 2011) as your basis for your conclusions, that is the wrong way to go about it. Lets try this, gas is roughly 2X what it was a year ago, is that expensive or cheap to you? I think you would have a tough time selling your theory if you try and justify that gas is cheap because its only 2X higher to most people. Yet you want to claim that gold is cheap because its only 4X as expensive.

As I said you are trying to justify the price, and using a point in time where the price was in a bubble to do so, that is just bad analytics. 42 years ago was the 1980 price bubble, hardly a valid point in time to use.

Seems like a perfect coin for @Revenant

You can wear gloves, but they can actually be rather slippery so just be careful.

Best of luck on the sale, I do not collect these coins but do love the history and designs.

I would agree with a fair grade for this coin, very desirable date.