Frequently asked questions
Are your coins as nice as they appear in the photographs?
Our coins are much nicer looking than displayed in our auctions, as our photographs are magnified 30X, and show defects that would never be visible to the human eye. All photographs are of the actual coin that you are bidding on, and are not altered in any way whatsoever. Andy is a graduate of the prestigious New England School of Photography, and has over 35 years of experience as a professional photographer, having mastered journalistic, medical, and numismatic photography. This assures you of unparalleled and accurate photographs of the types of coins that we sell.
How much do you charge for shipping and insurance?
Shipping is free worldwide. Insurance is included on all coins mailed to locations in the 50 United States, its territories, and possessions. International insurance is included, provided your country is on the list of eligible countries highlighted under the "Payment and Insurance" section below.
Are your coins cleaned, polished, or otherwise altered?
Unless otherwise stated, we never knowingly sell coins that have been altered in any way. However, since the coins that we sell are up to 100 years old, it would be impossible for us to say with total certainty, or to guarantee, whether or not a coin has been cleaned, altered, etc., at some point during its lifespan. While there is always a risk involved when purchasing raw/uncertified coins, we are proud to say that we have many customers who have received extremely high MS grades upon submitting our coins to the two most respected third party graders in business today.
If I send my coin to a third party grading company, can you guarantee that it will receive a certain grade?
Due to the subjective nature of coin grading, it would be impossible for us to guarantee a specific grade your coin will receive, or if it will be gradable at all. We can tell you that we make every effort to purchase only the finest quality unaltered specimens, and guarantee that all coins are authentic. We've seen many examples of the same coin being sent to the same third party grading company up to 3 times, and receiving a different grade each time. We've also seen many examples of coins being returned with the designation, cleaned, altered surfaces, etc., then resubmitted, and returned a second time with a high MS grade. As mentioned above, many of our coins have received extremely high MS grades from the most respected top-tier third party graders in business today.
Why are the Indian Head gold coins so popular?
They are popular because of several factors. First, they are among the most beautiful coins ever minted in the United States. Second, they are extremely rare, as the vast majority were melted down during the great gold confiscation of 1933. Third, as with all gold coins, the content of the gold itself is valuable.
Is it possible for the edge of an Indian Head gold coin to be worn, and the coin to still be in MS condition?
Yes, it is possible. Many of the coins from the Indian Head gold series were produced from clogged collar dies. A collar die is the circular die that creates the reeding around the edge of the coin. If dirty or clogged, the reeding will appear worn, even though the coin may never have been placed in circulation.
You mention that certain Indian Head gold coins are weakly struck. How does a third party grading company know if a coin is weakly struck, or has been worn by circulation?
A weakly struck coin shows design obliteration only in specific areas, not on all, as is the case for a worn specimen. A prime example would be an Indian Head Quarter or Half Eagle that possesses excellent feather detail on the obverse side, yet has a lack of feather detail on the uppermost portion of the Bald Eagle's shoulder on the reverse side. Also, professional coin graders have years of experience, and know the difference between a worn coin, and a weakly struck one.
Why don't you sell any 1911-D Indian Head Quarter Eagles?
We don't sell this year, because there are so many counterfeit specimens in the marketplace. If you're looking for this particular coin, you're better off paying the extra money to purchase one that's already certified.
I'm willing to take a chance and would still like to purchase a raw/uncertified 1911-D Indian Head Gold Quarter Eagle. After all, it's the key coin from the Indian Head Gold Quarter Eagle series. Isn't there a way to tell if it's authentic?
Yes, but you still might not be able to tell if it's been cleaned or altered in any way. All genuine 1911-D Indian Head Quarter Eagles have a raised wire rim on the obverse, from approximately 1 o'clock to 5 o'clock. This can be seen even on very low grade coins, and serves as an immediate hallmark of identification. This explains how a 1911-D, weak D, Indian Head Quarter Eagle can be identified, even if there is no trace of a mint mark whatsoever.
Can a coin with numerous bag marks still receive a high M
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