Think ..."DOCTORED" .... coins will EVER be accepted as superior?

[Count_Erfit]

Not talking NOW but FUTURE. I can recall when refinishing a gun was a TERRIBLE no-no. Now it is accepted if it is WELL DONE. Or FACTORY refinished.

It is still not the equivalent of a mint ORIGINAL, but it is far more tolerated and even desired than in the past. An arsenal refinish gun is now worth MORE than a worn original (well.....VERY worn)

 

I don't really think so, but I just wonder if down the line coins that have been actually IMPROVED or re-cut (not "conserved") will be a desirable collectible.

 

I have seen TWO .......V E R Y......pretty altered small eagle bust halves in the past couple months that have been TEMPTING.

 

[braddick]

You bring up an excellent Thread. There was a high grade- XF40, I think- Bust dollar with a doctored hole that was holdered. There was NO evidence of the hole.

 

Now, like the tree falling in the forest without an ear to hear it, If there is no one to detect it the alteration, did the hole ever exist?!

[Hoot]

Some of the doctored coins - those that are likely to fool all but the experts - won't continue to change drastically over time and will take on more of a "natural" apearance. Those may very well be determined acceptible, simply defacto. But those that were doctored badly will show as readily in the future (if not worse) as they do now.

 

Hoot

[James_OldeTowne]

Count, that's a fantastic question, one very dear to me. Certain coins are just simply not available, unless you are willing to forego "perfection" and settle for what's "real". I sincerely believe that enlightened collectors, who are more interested in the historical value of coins over their financial value, are able to accept, and sometimes prefer, a doctored coin. I have sold quite a few bust (and seated) dollars that were holed and subsequently repaired. It's a blunt fact that some collectors just don't have $2000 for a bust dollar with EF detail, but might be able to afford $600 for such a coin that's been repaired.

 

So my answer is that such coins are already accepted, but again, only by an enlightened minority of collectors.

 

James