Newp: 1835 Bust half dime (w/grading poll)
lordmarcovan
Posts: 43,671 ✭✭✭✭✭
I just won this on eBay, so I haven't got it in hand yet. It's perhaps a bit lower grade than I'm shooting for in my new type set (which should mostly end up being VF-XF coins), but this fledgling set is mostly about CircCam silver, and this piece has that look. I'm a little bit worried about the apparent hairline (staple scratch?) on the face, but everybody knows that marks like that can sometimes jump right out at you in a picture and be practically invisible in hand. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that's the case here. In any event, whether I keep it or toss it in with my BST material, I'm satisfied with the price. I grabbed it for less than the current Redbook G4 price. Whether it ends up as a keeper or a selloff item in the long run, I figure there's a chance it could be a winner for me.
Do please let me know your opinions on grade and attribution, and of course there's a grading poll. That's gonna be a new thing I do each time I add a coin to this new circ set- mostly just for fun but also to educate myself and others.
Index of similar grading poll threads like this
Do please let me know your opinions on grade and attribution, and of course there's a grading poll. That's gonna be a new thing I do each time I add a coin to this new circ set- mostly just for fun but also to educate myself and others.
Index of similar grading poll threads like this
0
Comments
If the majority makes this out to be Fine or better, I might just keep it. I've already figured that though most of my set will be VF-XF, there are going to be a few Fines (for the earlier stuff) and maybe some AUs (for the later stuff, though AU and CircCam is probably a scarce combo). VG is another matter. Should I keep a VG coin because I like its eye appeal, or stick to my guns and try for a more "matched" set in terms of grade? I think the main thing to me is matching in terms of look- i.e., the CircCam thing.
As I mentioned, I like the look of this piece, despite not seeing it in hand yet and having that small bit of uncertainty over the hairline.
Nice contrast on the Obv. Looks like a keeper, especially when these can get pricey in your target grade range.
I wouldn't worry about the small scratch on the face. The size of the coin on my screen is the size of an oil can and the mark is about 2 cm long, so I'm guessing it's gonna look like a flea's chin hair in hand.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
The LM-3/V3 is quite easily attributed when one knows an interesting bit of history at the second mint. This is the only use of this numeral 8 date punch for 1835, with what I like to call 'vertical loops', or the much less descriptive "Block 8", since 1829, when it was the only 8 punch used. You will note that the loops of the 8, both upper and lower, are taller than they are wide, or vertically propagated, whereas all other 8 punches used for 1835 are horizontally oriented.
I would grade your coin F-12.
Thanks very much.
Positive BST as a seller: Namvet69, Lordmarcovan, Bigjpst, Soldi, mustanggt, CoinHoader, moursund, SufinxHi, al410, JWP
We shall see for sure when I've got it in hand.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
<< <i>Should I keep a VG coin because I like its eye appeal, or stick to my guns and try for a more "matched" set in terms of grade? I think the main thing to me is matching in terms of look- i.e., the CircCam thing.
>>
You can do both. If a VG coin has the look you like AND you can get it at a price that you know you can break even or profit later, then you could add it and watch for an upgrade. It partly depends on how easy you think it would be to find an upgrade and how good the price of the VG is. If easy to find an upgrade, you may want to wait. If the price is low enough anyway to definitely profit, that can help fund an upgrade (in which case a dealer is born).
I voted VG-10 based on looking at my "up to date state of the art" 5th edition ANA grading standards from 1996. But my 1st impression is F-12. The Fine pictured in the 1996 book looks like a very high end Fine which probably throws off grading based on that.
"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
I'm still not so sure I'd put it any higher than VG10, technically (it's right on that cusp between VF10 and F12 and I could see calling it either one). But the hairline I was sort of worried about is so faint that I had to have it under a loupe and turn it four or five different ways to the light in order to see it. It is, as I'd hoped, one of those whisper-thin sort of hairlines that are almost invisible in hand. There were a few others not seen in the picture, but they too were very indistinct, and I'd say all of them fall well into the "acceptable" range.
I guess I'll keep this coin until a VF+ example with the same sort of CircCam contrast comes along. It's a nice piece, and I'm quite happy with the price I paid for it.