Damaged Old Gold
 

I have a chance to buy a 1906 Liberty Head gold coin (.120oz).

Looks good on the front but on the back side it had a small area where it looks to have been soldiered. It doesn't dominate the coin but I am wondering how this is viewed in numismatic circles.

Does such damage render this otherwise treasure as bullion? The seller is asking $150 so it isn't like losing my shirt or anything but I'd like to know if it has any value outside its gold content.

Re: Damaged Old Gold
 

I have some without any damage and when I took them for a quote to sell I was only offered melt anyways- still got them too. HH Mark

Re: Damaged Old Gold
 

for de-soldering electronics, there is a copper braid that they use to soak up he solder. also a vacuum, where you heat up the copper layer the solder is on and vacuum it up.

there's also the one and only "solder sucker", a spring loaded device that people use with a soldering iron, but that wouldn't be right for this coin.

the effect on the coin is, it's heated up to the melting point of solder, e.g. 500 F. once the solder is truly liquid, it can mostly be removed.

that part is pretty non-destructive.

with electronic stuff you use fluxes and there's probably some chemicals that break the bond of solder to gold (surface tension, etc.) without effecting the gold (gold being very inert).

my guess is, there's probably some GIM'ers that have tried solder removal.

Re: Damaged Old Gold
 

Why would a coin be soldered?

Re: Damaged Old Gold
 

Most solder removal methods will get excess solder, but will leave the thin layer that is actually bonded to the coin. You can never get all of it, without risk of damage.

I'd leave it as is and call it bullion. Or make it into a jewelry piece again and sell it that way.

2c, R.

Re: Damaged Old Gold
 

bullion value. Most I'd pay for that is $135. A cleaned or polished one, I might go for $200 or something.

I have a damaged 1/10 krug that I paid $90 for. I think it's worth it as long as you dont over pay.

Re: Damaged Old Gold
 

Thanks for the advice.

The reason people had soldiered these coins is for jewelry making. Back before there was any thought of numismatic value.

Re: Damaged Old Gold
 

Edit: no go. I went back and offered. The guy seemed to be in a huff already. People were looking at his cases and he was picking them up and putting away. I offered and got a gruff reply. Some of these numi's guy's need to get a lesson in sales. You don't have to give away the store but you don't have to be a xxxxx either.

Re: Damaged Old Gold
 

You sure nailed that one. One place I visit the guy is such a grump I wonder how he is in buisness at all.
I stop in to buy bullion, and once he found out I have the $$$ to buy what I look at he tries to sell me collectable stuff I have no interest in.
I told him once, I buy gold and have no real interest in what is stamped on it, I really don't care how rare a 1880's whatever is.
He just about did a war dance.

If I don't like the price, I thank him and walk. Done that a few times and have gotten some great deals from the grump too.
:23_30_104: