1842-D Liberty half eagle (w/grading poll)

lordmarcovan · March 14, 2014 6:30PM

This is a really big-ticket purchase on my blue-collar income.

More than twice my previous biggest coin purchase, in fact.

More than all but two of the vehicles I've ever owned, in fact (though I usually drive old clunkers and don't believe in car payments- I drive a 19-year-old pickup truck right now).

I live in Georgia, and this will be my first Dahlonega coin.

Obviously a midgrade circulated example is all I can afford (and that only after selling a lot of other nice coins).

I liked the orangey toning on this one, though, and think it is a nice circ. What say you?

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Index of similar grading poll threads like this

When posted here, this coin was a pending addition to my "Eclectic Box of 20" collection.

lordmarcovan · March 14, 2014 6:34PM

For the record, I voted the Neutral option in the poll.

Note the new avatar, as of this posting. That will be my next big-ticket buy, now that I have the money to pay for this one.

amwldcoin · March 14, 2014 7:34PM

Looks like a nice 30 to me!

Bullsitter · March 14, 2014 7:43PM

I'll say 35, nice toning....

sparky64 · March 14, 2014 9:29PM

LM,
You sir, are on a ROLL!

I know little to nothing about early gold as far as strikes, planchets, etc.
The rims look near perfect.
I voted 35 but my vote shouldn't carry much weight.

Any thoughts on setting new personal record on cost?

Like you, I do my best on a bluecollar income but I often feel angst after a bigger purchase.
I haven't come close to buying a coin like this, yet.

I suppose if you are confident and knowledgeable about what you are purchasing, you should be able to sell if needed without taking a bath.

Edited for clarification.

Flatwoods · March 14, 2014 9:46PM

I really like the color of that piece. Congratulations.

ricko · March 14, 2014 10:06PM

Nice old gold.... it has seen some commerce, but it all looks like reasonable wear. I voted 30.... Cheers, RickO

kaz · March 14, 2014 10:32PM

I really like the look of that half eagle. The ones that are a bit worn have a nice glow to them.

CharlotteDude · March 14, 2014 10:36PM

I'm on the VF-25 fence. Nice color and wear is more in line with a VF-30/35 grade, but I think the tics on the obverse would push it down slightly to -25. Nice coin... one that did just what it was made to do... circulate.

Congrats on your first southern gold purchase,

'Dude

Boosibri · March 14, 2014 10:47PM

I think it is graded VF30 but I voted VF25. Congrats on your purchase.

rec78 · March 14, 2014 10:59PM

I voted 35, mainly because I like to overgrade the early D-mint gold coins.

Is the seller getting it graded before you get it, or is it already graded, or maybe you are keeping it in raw state? I am pretty sure that it is genuine, but I don't know much about puttying residue or anything like that. It looks really good though, I admit to not being a gold expert or even an amateur. I would have a gold expert look it over to see if there are any possible problems that you may have missed. (e.i., puttying,repairs,etc. are sometimes difficult to detect). I like it the way it is, but would have the satisfaction of a few expert opinions. I am mostly a raw coin collector, but this coin would be better in a PCGS holder,not just for authentification (Even though we all know it is real), but also for peace of mind that there are no problems with it, and ease of sale later. That is a really nice early D-mint coin. These early D mint gold coins usually do not come without problems. JMHO for what it is worth.

Bob

bosco5041 · March 14, 2014 11:04PM

I voted VF-30 and I think it is a nice original coin for the grade. I would like to someday purchase a C or D gold coin also but boy are they pricey.

lordmarcovan · March 14, 2014 11:07PM

<< I voted 35, mainly because I like to overgrade the early D-mint gold coins.

Is the seller getting it graded before you get it, or is it already graded, or maybe you are keeping it in raw state? I am pretty sure that it is genuine, but I don't know much about puttying residue or anything like that. It looks really good though, I admit to not being a gold expert or even an amateur. I would have a gold expert look it over to see if there are any possible problems that you may have missed. (e.i., puttying,repairs,etc. are sometimes difficult to detect). I like it the way it is, but would have the satisfaction of a few expert opinions. I am mostly a raw coin collector, but this coin would be better in a PCGS holder,not just for authentification (Even though we all know it is real), but also for peace of mind that there are no problems with it, and ease of sale later. That is a really nice early D-mint coin. These early D mint gold coins usually do not come without problems. JMHO for what it is worth.

Bob >>

Bob- thanks

This coin is in a TPG holder.

I also had RYK and a couple of others look at it.

I will post the TPG grade in another thread later.

shorecoll · March 14, 2014 11:14PM

I like the coin, but I'm bummed about your avatar change.

lordmarcovan · March 14, 2014 11:21PM

<< I like the coin, but I'm bummed about your avatar change.

>>

That's my NEXT big-ticket newp. The avatar keeps me focused on scratching up the dough for it. (Maybe this week, once my eBay stuff ends.)

Then I go back to being a peasant again.

Staircoins · March 14, 2014 11:51PM

<< I'm on the VF-25 fence. Nice color and wear is more in line with a VF-30/35 grade, but I think the tics on the obverse would push it down slightly to -25. Nice coin... one that did just what it was made to do... circulate. >>

Pretty much sums it up.

Congrats! Excellent choice.

LanLord · March 15, 2014 12:44AM

I submit that someone has stolen Lord M's login credentials.

The coin is neither an ancient nor holed. Therefore, I am forced to believe the true Robertson would never purchase that coin.

morgansforever · March 15, 2014 12:55AM

Nice coin, love the circulated orange look

I wonder where it's been and who has handled it?

DeepCoin · March 15, 2014 2:37AM

I love the coin and now that I am moving to Georgia, will have to get a similar coin for my everyman type set. I voted VF35, but was on the fence for VF30. I am not sure if these coins are graded harder or easier than P coins of the same ear. FYI, love the new avatar.

GeorgeKellogg · March 15, 2014 2:40AM

I like the toning and the level of wear is certainly acceptable, but both sides of the piece are peppered with contact marks. I think the coin has the detail of a VF35, but may have been net graded, due to the excessive contact marks. It's also possible that the coin was a no-grade, depending on how strict the graders were at the time. I assigned a net grade of VF25.

Due to the mismatch between the wear level and the general appearance (it almost has a sandblasted look), I think that this coin was likely sweated, which was the illegal practice of causing artificial wear to gold coins, in order to remove minute amounts of the precious yellow metal. In its crudest form, a number of gold coins (usually $5s, $10s, and $20s) were placed in a small leather bag and shaken, so that the coins were in abrasive contact with each other. After the process, the coins were removed and the perpetrators were left with their "profit" -- a small amount of gold dust that had been abrasively removed from the coins. The more sophisticated operations used acid, along with agitation, to remove the gold.

Personally, even if the coin was sweated, it is part part of the coin's gold rush-era history and has a certain historic fascination. If the piece is to be your only Dahlonega type coin, you might consider finding a similarly toned and well defined piece, but with less surface abrasion.

lordmarcovan · March 15, 2014 7:05AM

Yes, it has some ticks. Those were the only detractions to my eye, and not a major one.

I decided they were acceptable to me on a piece of Southern gold of this era.

Hadn't thought about it possibly having been "sweated". I had heard of the practice and actually think it lends an interesting "frontiersy" sort of aura, now that you've got me wondering about that

Ready for the TPG grade yet, or shall I wait a bit?

SeattleSlammer · March 15, 2014 7:13AM

I like it but not as much as I like your avatar.

Tibor · March 15, 2014 7:14AM

You sir may have a "blue collar" income but your thinking and knowledge
prove otherwise. This is a very nice piece and would be a welcome addition
in any forum members collection. Congratulations!!

lordmarcovan · March 15, 2014 7:23AM

Tibor- thanks. Validatory comments like that? I eat 'em up. I like the cat avatar, too.

<< I like it but not as much as I like your avatar. >>

I can't wait to post the avatar piece over on the Darkside, but that would be premature, as I haven't gotten it paid for yet. When I do, after my eBay money comes in, it will become my second most valuable piece behind this half-eagle.

Edit- I guess there's no harm in a sneak peek, eh? I don't think the seller (a forum friend) will mind.

Truth be told, this coin and the Pilgrim half I also posted aren't technically paid for yet, either, though I have committed to buy them, the money's in the bank, and I'm just waiting to hear back from the seller who's been holding them (also a forum member), about which form of payment he prefers.

The check's all but in the mail, so to speak.

GeorgeKellogg · March 15, 2014 9:04AM

<< Yes, it has some ticks. Those were the only detractions to my eye, and not a major one.

I decided they were acceptable to me on a piece of Southern gold of this era.

Hadn't thought about it possibly having been "sweated". I had heard of the practice and actually think it lends an interesting "frontiersy" sort of aura, now that you've got me wondering about that. >>

I hope that I didn't sound too negative.

I thought that you were still trying to decide whether or not to buy the coin and were soliciting opinions. The coin does have a number of pleasing qualities and hopefully will look even better in hand. Sometimes a high resolution photo will unfairly exaggerate contact marks. Congratulations and let us know how it looks in hand. Be forewarned: I was not able to stop with my first Dahlonega purchase!

lordmarcovan · March 15, 2014 11:00AM

<< Be forewarned: I was not able to stop with my first Dahlonega purchase! >>

I sorta figgered that out from your avatar.

I will be able to stop after one, 'cause I won't have any choice in the matter. This is far and beyond my usual budget, as mentioned.

mkman123 · March 15, 2014 11:01AM

whats the grade?? COME ON!

DennisH · March 15, 2014 11:03AM

I voted XF40, even though my first reaction was 35. It hasn't had a gentle life, but its detail and originality swayed me to XF.

Tookybandit · March 15, 2014 11:05AM

Watch it be a XF45 ...just watch

spinaker2000 · March 15, 2014 11:08AM

Know nothing about gold, so I graded it like a Lg Cent. Gave it a 25.

Glad to see you back in the swing of things LM.

lordmarcovan · March 15, 2014 11:18AM

<< whats the grade?? COME ON! >>

Here you go.

I posted it again (grade and all) in a separate thread, so I can link that to my Box of 20 master thread. I wanted to keep this poll thread separate. Sorry for the redundancy, but it will be more sensible that way after both of these threads have sunk.

MFH · March 15, 2014 1:18PM

<< I think it is graded VF30 but I voted VF25. Congrats on your purchase. >>

I was on the fence. I think it could grade 30, but I'd be more comfortable with a 25 grade. JMHO

lkeigwin · March 15, 2014 1:27PM

Nice color. Neat coin. VF30 feels right to me.
Lance.

Swampboy · March 15, 2014 2:03PM

I gave it a 25.
Shows you what I know about grading gold.

Anyway, that's a tasty piece. Congrats!

steveben · March 15, 2014 2:13PM

cool coin. it may have been sweated, but i think for the grade it's right on. congrats!

1842-D Liberty half eagle (w/grading poll)

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