1808 Half Cent - help with Variety, Grade, Value?

pcgs69

Maybe VF-ish? There is some red, so maybe it was dipped a long time ago? The reverse is rotated 180 degrees. Thank you for any help! What would a rough value be?

BillJones

The good news is that coin has a remarkable amount of detail for an 1808 half cent. This date is very hard to find in the higher grades. I would place the sharpness grade of this piece at VF-30.

The bad news is that it has been cleaned or dipped and recolored. The lighter patches on the piece are where the less than competent coin doctor did not tone down the surfaces.

As to setting a value, I think that the Fine prices would probably be appropriate. PCGS would put this coin in a "details" holder. "Coin World" says the retail value is $175; the Grey Sheet says $125. The trouble is this would be a filler coin for a serious collector or a good coin for a "budget collection." The practical dealer buy price might be $100 to $110, and the resale could be in the $125 to $150 range.

pcgs69

Thank you BillJones! I appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge.

@BillJones said:
The good news is that coin has a remarkable amount of detail for an 1808 half cent. This date is very hard to find in the higher grades. I would place the sharpness grade of this piece at VF-30.

The bad news is that it has been cleaned or dipped and recolored. The lighter patches on the piece are where the less than competent coin doctor did not tone down the surfaces.

As to setting a value, I think that the Fine prices would probably be appropriate. PCGS would put this coin in a "details" holder. "Coin World" says the retail value is $175; the Grey Sheet says $125. The trouble is this would be a filler coin for a serious collector or a good coin for a "budget collection." The practical dealer buy price might be $100 to $110, and the resale could be in the $125 to $150 range.

WAYNEAS

Any added value for the die rotation?
Wayne

BillJones

No, a lot of these coins have a 180 degree die rotation i.e. "medal turn." The first one I owned when I was young collector was rotated 180 degrees.