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Amazing What the Internet Enables You to Learn About Your Coins

Started by USAuPzlBxBob,

19 posts in this topic

USAuPzlBxBob

USAuPzlBxBob

Posted
Posted

The other day I was looking through my limited US Gold "100 Year Essential" type set, and I was horrified to see an indentation marking on the reverse of my NGC $5 1914-D Indian.

 

I had paid a pretty penny for the coin, and now was kicking myself for overlooking what I thought was handling damage it had experienced at some time in its history.

 

I was curious to see what more I might learn about the coin, so I searched it out on the NGC Coin Explorer Auction Prices Realized. Since the coin has a "+" in its grade, when I went to where it should be found, there, it was listed as a Stack's Bowers Auction, possibly. But when I clicked on it, "We Are Under Construction" came up. (and still comes up even right now, even though in another NGC thread I was able to go to their auction results)

 

So, I then went to the Stack's Bowers site, and whittled down the choices, and could not find my coin as an auction result at some time in the past.

 

I browse both NCG and the "ATS" websites, and a thread over there led me to a webpage called CoinFacts which no longer is a current webpage, and it instructed me to click a button to get current info. When I clicked that button, I was taken back to the "ATS" site, at its CoinFacts. (OK, going in circles, so what else is new.) But then, somehow I wound up at "ATS" Auction Prices. You can toggle the listings as either NGC or "ATS," so I toggled NGC.

 

Finally, I found my actual coin, listed as a Heritage Auction result, not Stack's Bowers, and I learned that the amount I paid for the coin was only $50 more than that auction price result. So, probably the dealer I bought the coin from just barely broke even.

 

There was a write up at the auction describing the coin as "making this near-Gem example an attractive candidate for any half eagle specialist. The strike is bold, although influenced by die buckling at the mintmark and through UNITED. Gleaming orange-gold surfaces are brightly lustrous and attractive."

 

So, not only did I find that I got the coin for practically dealer cost, but I also found out what the expert opinion on it was, and that it experienced "die buckling" on its reverse, and so not handling damage that I had feared.

 

Just amazing what you can learn about your coins by doggedly searching around on the Internet.

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thebeav

thebeav

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That's pretty good sleuthing.

I guess, if you're willing to do the work, you can find out some neat stuff.

Nice job....

Paul

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RWB

RWB

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Did the catalog define "...die buckling at the mintmark and through UNITED?"

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greysoldier

greysoldier

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If this is your 1914 D $5 Indian, it sure looks like it was 'struck through' debris on the planchet or die to me. Piece of string or cloth perhaps ?

 

lfJS7K82ET_zpsyxxjktsv.jpg

 

Just my observation. Can't say as I know what "die buckling" is supposed to look like.

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USAuPzlBxBob

USAuPzlBxBob

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I thought debris, too, and also don't really know what "die buckling" is. What does that mean? That the die is falling apart? That this was at the end of the die's life, and the debris is maybe part and parcel of the "death throws" of the die.

 

The coin is an MS64+. If not for this remnant, or defect, it may have reached MS65, or beyond.

 

Every coin tells its story, and only Rockefeller money will get you into perfect coins if they are not common. Even then, you'll find something not to like. And so it goes.

 

This coin even has a CAC. Very beautiful obverse.

 

When I look at other coins of MS64+ grading, I'll find some little nick or ding. That's what MS64 is all about. Very nice grade, but still something not perfect.

 

The 65 coins for the 1914-D $5 Indians jump considerably in price, so I was glad to settle for 64+. But, just never noticed this until the other day.

 

Still, I was amazed to find it online.

 

One odd thing is that my coin, right now, has rotated just a little from the image provided. In a different online image showing the whole NGC holder with CAC, everything looks similar. CAC right where my actual holder also has it. I thought these NGC inserts have a little give to them, so that they are snug on the coins.

 

So how does rotation come about?

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skippy

skippy

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Die buckling is damage to the die that occurs during normal use. Similar process to die cracks and die breaks. Buckling means a local area of the die's surface was deformed from its original shape.

 

A die buckled coin is struck "as is", and to my understanding should not affect the grade of the coin, but it may affect eye appeal and price.

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WoodenJefferson

WoodenJefferson

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If this is your 1914 D $5 Indian, it sure looks like it was 'struck through' debris on the planchet or die to me. Piece of string or cloth perhaps ?

 

lfJS7K82ET_zpsyxxjktsv.jpg

 

Just my observation. Can't say as I know what "die buckling" is supposed to look like.

 

The ends, especially the looped end is classic strike through debris...not quite sure how die buckling is interpreted, if that's the case though, wouldn't there be other examples out there?

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RWB

RWB

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USAuPzlBxBob - The book From Mine to Mint is a concentrated compendium of 19th and early 20th century US mint technology and operations. You might find it interesting.

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USAuPzlBxBob

USAuPzlBxBob

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Hi Roger, I have the book.

 

It's on my bedside table.

 

I only got so far, and then got caught up in other interests.

 

I've dusted the book off a dozen times when I clean around the room. Pick it up, dust it off, and put it down again.

 

Maybe I'll start to read, especially with you, the author, suggesting I do.

 

Thanks for reminding me.

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RWB

RWB

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There's a CD in the back -- that's probably not too dusty... :)

 

(Honestly, it's not a front-to-back reading book, so don't worry about putting it aside for a while. Just keep it dusted and it will be happy.)

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RWB

RWB

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It's really back-to-front or sometimes middle-to-each-end - that's the beauty of the CD = you can read it any way you like. :)

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physics-fan3.14

physics-fan3.14

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It's really back-to-front or sometimes middle-to-each-end - that's the beauty of the CD = you can read it any way you like. :)
I'll be honest, I've read it rather helter-skelter, looking for topics that were of interest at the time.

 

It is, however, still sitting on my reading table - I fully intend to read it front-to-back at some point in the not-too-distant future.

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RWB

RWB

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"... I've read it rather helter-skelter, looking for topics that were of interest at the time."

 

That's how I expected readers to use the book. It's more resource compendium than story-line novel.

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