Classic Head $5..... what do you think?

Indulger

She’s a little dirty...

jonruns

I really like the Classic Head design!!!

BryceM

Looks like a nice circulated coin. I think the photo technique is over-emphasizing the circulation marks and that it probably has a nice, even look in-hand.

BillJones

The 1838-P half eagle is a somewhat better date. The coin has some nice detail and luster, but surfaces have some heavy abrasions. It all depends upon the grade and the price. I don't care for coins with a lot of surface marks, so it would be a pass for me.

Here is the coin in my set. It is graded NGC AU-58, CAC. I think that it is really an AU-55. I bought it out of frustration because I'd spent two days at major show and had been unable to add anything to my Classic Head $2.50 and $5 sets. It's okay, but I paid too much. At this point I had the 1838-C and 1838-D, and couldn't find a decent 1838-P. LOL

If you are looking for a type coin, I'd advise you to look into an 1834, Plain 4 or an 1836. Those are the two most common dates, and they can come nice.

PQueue

Pass...

matt_dac

I love the series (mine is my avatar). This one looks a bit beat up but maybe camera flash or such.

Indulger

My photo skills do need work and doesn’t show the coin for what it is. It’s in a EF-40 holder. These are the sellers pics:

Indulger

@BillJones
Yes, there are some nice 34’s and 36’s. I have those and a 37. This was also somewhat of an impulse buy with ebucks available and it fits in well with the others! Yours is a great looking 38, nice and even surfaces with that smooth AU look. The high point wear does look more 55 to me also. Congratulations on the D and C...!

Paradisefound

Don't overpay too much and wait for a little better one if you can afford the time

thisistheshow

That is not a nice example.

Indulger

@Paradisefound said:
Don't overpay too much and wait for a little better one if you can afford the time

Absolutely. I will cycle out the ones that I don’t like as much eventually for better examples. I’m new to the series and have to find out what works. I did this twice with my Indian 10 set...working on the second set now!

Paradisefound

Wise approach to your new hobby ...... happy hunting and welcome again

Indulger

@Paradisefound said:
Wise approach to your new hobby ...... happy hunting and welcome again

Thanks!

USMarine6

Maybe it's just me but there seems to be a lot of detail on that coin for an xf40

skier07

The Classic Head design is one of my favorites. I probably would have passed on your coin. IMHO the eye appeal is lacking and the surfaces have too many abrasions. Take your time buying coins and try to avoid being compulsive.

BillJones

@USMarine6 said:
Maybe it's just me but there seems to be a lot of detail on that coin for an xf40

It's got a lot of detail for the EF-40 grade, but it's net graded down for other issues.

It may have been one of these coins that got jingled around in a bag to "sweat" gold from its surfice. The game was to place a group of gold coins in a leather bag, jingle them for a period of time, cut the bag open and gather the small gold fragments that came off the coins. The coins could be passed at face value because their weight would not be off by much and the crook would have some gold. I imagine that you had to do this quite a number of times to get much of value, but perhaps people had time on the hands in the 19th century. There was no no Internet, TV or radio to distract you.

Indulger

@USMarine6 said:
Maybe it's just me but there seems to be a lot of detail on that coin for an xf40

I’m thinking it was net graded somewhat for the “look” and the mark on liberty’s face. Has a nice cameo.... At least it’s not one of the many scrubbed and over dipped versions sitting in a TPG holder......JMHO

thisistheshow

@Indulger This is not a series I know anything about but I have enjoyed the ones you have posted. The images seem to show an amount of distracting marks and surface hairlines that it looks like a bad example to me. How does it look to you? I don't have much to compare it to.

MFeld

Regardless of the (or any other) assigned grade for the coin, the marks on the face kill it for me. But what counts is whether you like it.

Indulger

@thisistheshow
Thanks for the input! I’m going to try and take better pics to (hopefully)show what it looks like in hand. However, it is the lowest grade coin of my set so far. Will post those pics soon

@MFeld
Well said sir. I think it comes down to that for all our coins. I have many others that probably would receive the same assessment from the forum, yet they are coins that I enjoy. Thanks!

Indulger

Different obverse pic

dcarr

I think it is a pretty nice coin. It seems like folks here are unduly harsh on it (although I admit that the pictures show it in a harsh light). I would bet that it looks fairly attractive in hand.

ricko

Old gold, that has seen either commerce or bag time.... sure, it appears to have a lot of 'chatter'...but gold is soft and quickly picks up surface abrasions. Enjoy your coin... Cheers, RickO

asheland

Nice addition!

Insider2

@BryceM said:
Looks like a nice circulated coin. I think the photo technique is over-emphasizing the circulation marks and that it probably has a nice, even look in-hand.

Yes a nice, even, beat up surface.

@Indulger said:

@Paradisefound said:
Don't overpay too much and wait for a little better one if you can afford the time

Absolutely. I will cycle out the ones that I don’t like as much eventually for better examples. I’m new to the series and have to find out what works. I did this twice with my Indian 10 set...working on the second set now!

Most collectors do this. Even the ones going for the title "Greatest Collector Ever." Buy a coin and upgrade later. Unfortunately, each time you do that costs money unless the timing and the market conditions are perfect and in your favor.

PS I hate it when folks stick coins into a thread besides the one that is posted by the OP. In this case, both are very baggy. These would have been described as "EXCESSIVE BAGMARKS" to ID them for internal records.

BTW, a very baggy coin can still be attractive when all the marks are basically uniform in nature and not too severe.

Oldhoopster

I really like the small letters on the reverse of the classic head and early coronet half eagles

Smudge

Not too bad for a 40. As it is pre Civil War gold I have to like it.