Home U.S. Coin Forum
Options

1868-S Half Dime: Thoughts?

AotearoaAotearoa Posts: 1,375 ✭✭✭✭✭

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


Smitten with DBLCs.

Comments

  • Options
    yosclimberyosclimber Posts: 4,600 ✭✭✭✭✭

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

  • Options
    coinbufcoinbuf Posts: 10,775 ✭✭✭✭✭

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

    My Lincoln Registry
    My Collection of Old Holders

    Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
  • Options
    PTVETTERPTVETTER Posts: 5,882 ✭✭✭✭✭

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

    Pat Vetter,Mercury Dime registry set,1938 Proof set registry,Pat & BJ Coins:724-325-7211


  • Options
    FlatwoodsFlatwoods Posts: 4,122 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @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.

  • Options
    ms70ms70 Posts: 13,946 ✭✭✭✭✭

    55

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • Options
    Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,152 ✭✭✭✭✭

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

    Successful BST transactions with 170 members. Recent: Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • Options
    johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 27,526 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Au 55 area, fwiw

  • Options
    AotearoaAotearoa Posts: 1,375 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @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…

    Smitten with DBLCs.

  • Options
    291fifth291fifth Posts: 23,947 ✭✭✭✭✭

    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.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • Options
    rheddenrhedden Posts: 6,619 ✭✭✭✭✭

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

  • Options
    NumisOxideNumisOxide Posts: 10,989 ✭✭✭✭✭

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

  • Options
    lermishlermish Posts: 1,958 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @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.

  • Options
    AotearoaAotearoa Posts: 1,375 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @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.

    Smitten with DBLCs.

  • Options
    yosclimberyosclimber Posts: 4,600 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 27, 2022 8:15PM


    [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.

  • Options
    rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

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

  • Options
    JRGeyerJRGeyer Posts: 132 ✭✭✭

    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.

  • Options
    FlyingAlFlyingAl Posts: 2,858 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I grade it 63, not my series however.

    Young Numismatist, Coin Photographer.

  • Options
    CommemDudeCommemDude Posts: 2,196 ✭✭✭✭✭

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

    Dr Mikey
    Commems and Early Type
  • Options
    jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 9,327 ✭✭✭✭✭

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


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • Options
    amwldcoinamwldcoin Posts: 11,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

    My gut tells me 62!

  • Options
    jdimmickjdimmick Posts: 9,605 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Im in the ms 61-2 camp

  • Options
    thefinnthefinn Posts: 2,653 ✭✭✭✭✭

    AU58 to MS62. I like it.

    thefinn
  • Options
    Dave99BDave99B Posts: 8,364 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Based on the pics, I'd go MS62.

    Dave

    Always looking for original, better date VF20-VF35 Barber quarters and halves, and a quality beer.
  • Options
    7Jaguars7Jaguars Posts: 7,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

    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.

    Love that Milled British (1830-1960)
    Well, just Love coins, period.

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file