Hunting for a crusty Bust Half brings home a prize
pursuitofliberty
Posts: 6,356 ✭✭✭✭✭
Sometimes when we hunt for things, we get intertwined with different people and situations … sometimes common to other hunts or activities, sometimes not … and sometimes new adventures, people and possibilities ensue. I think it's the best part of hunting.
Like a customer of mine often jokes about ... I like to go fishing ... sometimes that doesn't mean catching anything, but fishing is still good.
Anyway, in this game of hunting we do, a casual conversation can turn into an “Oh, yeah, I should look into that” moment, and pretty soon we’re embarking on a more focused journey or introducing ourselves to someone we have never met who might help us along the way.
In this case, a friend was explaining his relationship with someone I knew of, but had never met or spoken to. My “Oh yeah …” moment was a thought I followed through on, “Yes, I really should look at his website and see what’s there.” Then of course, there was that one example that made me go “hmmm” … at least six times over the next few days. It fit with the search, it kept me going back and looking, seeing what I missed, if anything … seeing if it really was what I wanted.
Back to my friend with questions. About the gentleman I didn’t know, about the prize I had not seen in hand, but one I knew my friend had. I thought about it more, wrote an introduction email, and had a wonderful exchange. A reasonable deal was worked out, and even sent on approval, although I wouldn’t have expected or asked for that.
And so, with an Invoice dated on my 56th Birthday, partially handwritten even, and a check ready to be sent in tomorrow’s mail, after a call tonight to introduce myself further and thank the seller for my package, I am the proud new caretaker of this original skinned beauty.
Guess the grade if you’d like … comments always appreciated. Bonus points if you can read between the lines and know where it came from.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Comments
awesome half-55
That's how a coin of that age should look.
Congrats! It's fabulous.
The reverse would make a beautiful forum avatar.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
The essence of originality.
Very nice, my guess is AU53, and the seller was David Kahn. He always has nice original coins such as this, and is friendly and easy to work with.
Didn’t guess Sheridan, as I’m assuming that you already know him for bust halves.
What a beauty.
Grey dirt obverse and reverse.
Edited to add a nice solid 50
Nice CBH! It looks to be AU-55. Not sure about the seller, but (with deference to @Walkerguy21D) it does not look like Dave Kahn's imaging.
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Wow, talk about O-R-I-G-I-N-A-L-I-T-Y.....it doesn’t get better than that!
An amazing quality bust half you just bought, Todd. And no doubt, it likely came from one of the nicest dealers out there with incredibly original coins...David Kahn!
As for my guess, I’m gonna go by wear alone and say AU53, but the skin and luster makes it look just a bit better.
Regardless of the grade, that’s a beautiful bust half, congrats on a great pick up!
Dave
Thanks for all the comments so far!
I'm going to hold off answering who and what grade until later, but these are NOT the sellers pictures so you can not use those to guess who. I took these shots tonight right before I posted after studying, and enjoying the coin in hand for about a half hour.
Also, for what it's worth, for all the time I have been a collector, I am still a relative newb in the CBH world, so the answer I give on who may surprise some of you.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
55
Mr_Spud
We are all still newb's when it comes to CBH's.
And my wife still can't understand how I can look at one coin under a glass for 45 minutes
That is a beauty and a great reminder "original is best". Congrats.
Click on this link to see my ebay listings.
Very Noice! (What happened to Mr. Noice?)
Love the skin. I’m going with 53.
55 and a nice original coin.
Nice piece and story.
What a wonderful coin!
From your story, I guess you bought the coin from CRO.
But it doesn't matter, she is a real looker
53
Dang! Another gorgeous coin for Original Todd. He is on a roll! This set could be special.
AU for sure. And a great date and Redbook variety.
Lance.
It looks to be on the lower side of AU and appears original. You can see some remaining mint luster on the protected areas of the obverse. And a better date.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
That's a good one!
Nice coin! My grade guess is AU 53 and I have no doubt that it came from the U.S. Mint.😉
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Superb mid-AU coin. Love the look!
Very nice coin, but I'm guessing it's in a 45 holder.
That coin look great! Awesome skin. Sweet pickup. AU55.
AU53, that is some crust!
Latin American Collection
Well, good morning! I really appreciate all the responses. Some good chuckles in here too!
Let's start with the grade. Our host graded this as a AU50, and I consider that is possibly a little on the conservative side. I think I might be inclined to call it a 53 if I was grading it.
As for the seller. This coin actually came from Sheridan Downey, a gentleman I had not met or done business with prior to this adventure. I tried to lay the hint that I hadn't known the seller prior to this purchase, thinking a few regular posters might remember I have done business with and corresponded with Dave Kahn. Although I certainly agree this is a coin that looks like this easily could have come from Dave's site.
Also, it may be that if I shared the sellers pictures, someone might have caught on. Sheridan in not the photographer, as he uses a prominent Bust Half collector that posts here to shoot most (or all?) of his images. I consider that gentleman a friend, and he sent me his larger images on request before I contacted Sheridan, as I was doing the back and forth, "Am I sure", "How should I approach this" dance.
That photographer may even decide to post those pictures ... or maybe I will later tonight. If you know who I am speaking of, you can insert his name in the story for more clarity on how this all came about. He can out himself for those that do not know the relationship he has with Sheridan, and can add any color (or dirt!) to the commentary.
Sheridan shared a few interesting tid-bits of information with me about when he first purchased this example, in addition to what he bid. He was the winning bidder at the last public sale, and had viewed the coin in hand prior to that sale, still having notes and memory to share.
Anyway, I am absolutely thrilled to include this example in my collection. It's a pleasure to share these finds with you ... thank you again for all your comments.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Wow, totally original, you rarely find coins like that. Very pq for grade.
Now that is a crusty bustie.....Nice old coin. Late to the grading game, but agree with you... looks a tad better than 50. Cheers, RickO
Very nice coin! That original look is hard to find on coins of this age!
Love it!
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