1868-S Half Dime: Thoughts?

Aotearoa

Being auctioned locally - but no opportunity to see in hand. Thoughts on how it may grade?

yosclimber

EF-45? (reverse is more like AU).
There may be some damage on the second T of STATES.

coinbuf

Looks possibly like an ex jewelry piece, I have doubts that it would straight grade.

PTVETTER

I think it's better than EF. maybe AU to low MS

Flatwoods

@PTVETTER said:
I think it's better than EF. maybe AU to low MS

I agree.
My first thought was high AU.
No idea about any other issues.

ms70

55

Walkerguy21D

AU-something…..if you can snag it for under ~$120 US it may be worthwhile.

johnny9434

Au 55 area, fwiw

Aotearoa

@Walkerguy21D said:
AU-something…..if you can snag it for under ~$120 US it may be worthwhile.

The starting bid is NZ$150 (~US$98). Seems like not much to lose at that level…

291fifth

The obverse looks like an AU while the reverse looks like an MS. It may very well have been part of some piece of jewelry as there are some small disturbances visible on the obverse rim.

rhedden

AU58 from here. Then again, I also think my PCGS MS63 should grade AU58.

NumisOxide

Looks like a lower MS example. As long as the obverse has some luster like the reverse pic.

lermish

@coinbuf said:
Looks possibly like an ex jewelry piece, I have doubts that it would straight grade.

Agreed, rim damage above T in States and R. AU Details.

Aotearoa

@lermish said:

@coinbuf said:
Looks possibly like an ex jewelry piece, I have doubts that it would straight grade.

Agreed, rim damage above T in States and R. AU Details.

It seems the anomaly near the T is a die crack. See photos on CoinFacts for other examples.

yosclimber

[1868-s V-1b MS-62 from PCGS CoinFacts]
Good point. It's a V-1b, with the die crack from rim to T2 (first T in STATES),
then along the right side of the T upright (which I had thought might be damage).
And all the reverse cracks expected for V-1b.

The partial dentil/rim indent above R of AMERICA might be a struck-thru?

Here's a V-1b AU-50 that I downloaded from CoinFacts back in 2018 when they showed more.
It's comparable in grade to the coin photos you posted.

It's true that a lot of 1860s S-mint half dimes became jewelry and were later liberated.
So it's a good thing to watch for, although after several looks I believe it's not the case for this coin.

ricko

The reverse rim, left side, looks as if it has had some work done, or solder remnant... Cheers, RickO

JRGeyer

I suppose it's possible that it was in jewelry, but it is a very small coin. It's actually a pretty good strike for a 68-S, I think high AU/ low MS.

FlyingAl

I grade it 63, not my series however.

CommemDude

MS 62, nice original surface appearance although not everyone will appreciate the obverse splotchy toning

jesbroken

I do not feel it is a jewelry piece, nor the rim damaged. Nice piece.
Jim

amwldcoin

My gut tells me 62!

jdimmick

Im in the ms 61-2 camp

thefinn

AU58 to MS62. I like it.

Dave99B

Based on the pics, I'd go MS62.

Dave

7Jaguars

Not my series but looks MS to me. I don't see substantial ex-jewelry marks to prevent a grade of 62 or so. Looks worlds better than the above AU50 which is most unattractive.