1851-O Half Eagle

I bought this half eagle at a local auction about 10 years ago. I bought it un-slabbed, and it still is.
Please let me know what you think of it, and how you would grade it. Note the short scratch beneath the right wing of the eagle.
Thanks!
16
Comments
VF-25 of a scarce date coin. I like this kind of coin much more than a common date mint state example. The scratch on the reverse is not too distracting. This is from a time when these coins actually circulated.
I don't think the scratch is bad at all and also believe the coin is quite attractive.
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Very neat, better date gold coin from the pre-Civil War period era. I'd give it a VF20 grade. A lot of history in that coin and certainly worth getting slabbed.
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"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
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I have a fondness for pre-war New Orleans gold, and this one area I've been focusing on lately.
The 51-O often shows a weak strike in the curls below Liberty, so I'd say yours is a 40.
Lovely coin, I like it a lot.
I enjoy this coin
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Nice coin and a cool piece of history. Based on the pics I'd guess it's a VF30-35..
I like it a lot, VF30-35 in my opinion.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
VF 20. Based on some $5 gold coins I just had graded.
Beautiful piece to be hold at any grade ☺️
Nice piece. Scratches could be graffiti but need to see in hand.
Definitely worth certification.
Love the originality. I think VF 30 as this issue is known for weakly struck centers.
Nice looking branch mint gold. I’d say it belongs in a straight-graded VF-25 holder.
Nice one!
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Certainly scarce enough to at least consider certification. I like it and it should straight grade. Nice grab. I’m at about 25.
Vf25
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
I really like it and think it's a great looking coin.
Not familiar enough with the series to be sure, but it "feels" like a 30.
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Todd - BHNC #242
Very cool. VF35
Another vote for 25.
I would call it a VF30.... may even be a tad better. I would get it slabbed, it is a very nice coin. Cheers, RickO
Thank you so much - I am very pleasantly surprised by your grade evaluations.
I thought the grade was in the region of Fine 12, but I am not at all familiar with this type of coins.
I have been wanting for 2 or 3 years now to have some of my coins encapsulated. This will be one of them when I finally do.
My first impression is XF40
Mr_Spud
As stated by others this coin is typically not well struck. I think you will be pleasantly surprised when and if you send it in for grading. A really nice dirty old gold piece that performed the task it was set out to do.
let's see what else you are thinking about sending in someday.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
Thank you, Tommy. I will take you up in that offer to post here and get opinions on coins that I will want to have graded someday.
VF-30 straight grade
Nice, you probably did well on it if you purchased some time ago. I do question the area of the field above the scratch. Wondering if there wasn't some work done on it some time ago. You have the coin in hand, maybe you can be the judge. Worth the money to send it in to have it slabbed in any case.
Mark
I agree straight grade VF-30. Very nice and original looking! A much better date!
30-I’d leave it raw unless you’re looking to sell.