Not a GTG - FH Half $

lilolme

So looking through images this one was a little bit of a surprise when I looked at the grade. It has a lot going on.
Would be interested in what others see.
You can look the cert up, or if you just want the grade it is the 10'th and 11'th digits on the long number I typed at the bottom. This way you can look at grade and then coin or if preferred the coin and then the grade without the grade staring at you.

a
a
a
a
a
506355458625361455850536140

jesbroken

Lot of die work. Beautiful coin. I don't have a problem with the grade. If I hadn't read your writeup, don't see any obvious wear points, I would have guessed 61-63. Probably would have said 63. Can't tell if the date has been recut from the pic, but probably not, so a regular head 2 leaves beauty.
Thanks for sharing. Is it yours? If so, congrats on a very nice collectible.
jim

Broadstruck

What are you questioning the file marks?

Those were a regular occurrence within the mint during this time era for planchet weight adjustment prior to it circulating for commerce.

If you want perfect early coinage, there's always Gallery Mint restrikes.

lilolme

@Broadstruck
I understood the adjustment marks and the weak strike and part of why I said it had a lot going on.
What I missed is what @jesbroken mentioned that he didn't see any wear. To my eyes I thought some of the darker area on lib face was due to light wear. Then going to the reverse the weak strike flattens the eagle making that not a good indicator.
It is not mine, I was just looking through images and checking them out and thought this one stood out.

BryceM

My guess would have been AU55. The portrait and wingtips look like they show wear to me, but in-hand it would be easy to see if there was mint luster in those areas. It could also be an AU, “netted” up to an MS grade. Lots of that going on these days.

The uneven strike & adjustment marks are not really a factor in this grade range. They becomes much more of a potential issue in gem grades.

Broadstruck

@lilolme said:
@Broadstruck
I understood the adjustment marks and the weak strike and part of why I said it had a lot going on.
What I missed is what @jesbroken mentioned that he didn't see any wear. To my eyes I thought some of the darker area on lib face was due to light wear. Then going to the reverse the weak strike flattens the eagle making that not a good indicator.
It is not mine, I was just looking through images and checking them out and thought this one stood out.

On these pale 200+ year old silver coins that could just be toning on the high points from storage instead of rub. It might very well just have re-toned from maybe having been dipped in cyanide a 100 years ago. They need to be viewed in hand tilting a tad bit under a light source to see if there's rub.

cameonut2011

I like it as a 58, but wouldn’t be surprised to see it in a low grade uncirculated holder.

ricko

I thought 61 when I looked at it... Then checked the number at bottom... Not surprised. Cheers, RickO

marcmoish

I also would have guessed 61, totally not surprised, big like from me.

pursuitofliberty

Also one who thought 60/61 from the first take, so not a huge surprise. I think the areas of discoloration where we first might think wear are just method of storage toning.

LanceNewmanOCC

Nysoto

First glance I thought 58, then I attributed the coin, which can easily be memorized as O.116/T-11 by the chip under S1 and heavy letter clashing at LIB. I recognized the coin as being offered for sale. It is very late die stage, with a lot of lapping which weakens the details, and when combined with the reverse adjustment marks can make the coin appear worn in places, which it is not. It has a rim bump by OF. Since PCGS uses strike quality as a component of grade, I doubt if this one could have been no more than 64 right off the press. I like the coin.

For comparison, this is my example of the same die marriage PCGS VF20

lilolme

Thanks for the input. Yes to me when I look at it my eyes just can't see no wear/rub.... But I have never participated in this area - mint state early/bust. Just need to see enough of them to judge them.
I recall a past conversation with a dealer friend about this and I think it was bust halves. He semi-jokingly said:
You know the only difference between a 61 62 and 63 it the amount of rub.
Ha.