Newp. 1808 Draped Bust Half Cent
jesbroken
Posts: 10,601 ✭✭✭✭✭
Just received this 1808 Draped Bust Half Cent C-3 from a forum member. Your opinions welcome.
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
9
Comments
Nice looking 1808 half cent. My only concerns are the patches of light green corrosion. Especially noticeable at the F in OF on the reverse. Maybe a nice soak in olive oil will help.
My concern also. It's been in olive oil for the last 3 days. Thanks.
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
It is very hard to find a sharp 1808 half cent, even for the most common of the three varieties. The piece that was in my collection probably did not have quite as much detail as those one has. I would grade it VF-30. EAC would probably knock it down to Fine-15 or VF-20.
I have it in my notes that the piece I had received a VF-30 from me. I think that it may have been a little smoother.
When I was dealer I sold a Choice AU 1808 half cent in one of those large, green insert PCGS Regency holders from strong money at an EAC convention when it was held in Boston.
I thought that olive oil could have acids that would negatively impact the coin, isn't mineral oil better? I've seen a trend for people getting their old large cents sent in for conservation for good or bad.
I have done so many in Olive Oil I cannot count. Never a problem with copper. Some have soaked as long as 6 months+ and some as quickly as 2 months with great results. A little trick to use is always use cheap olive oil as it is not as refined and has stronger concentration of olive oil. Read this online and have tried it with success. Not a chemist, so not truly aware of why this truly matters.
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
Bill,
I bought this for the strike. I thought it better than many I have owned or looked at and feel it to be a keeper if the olive oil soak reduces or prevents the oxidation going on around the OF.
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
Beautiful piece... a little roughness in the fields but that comes with the territory for this issue and yours has a great strike.
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Very nice.
A little bit of roughness and possibly recolored/retoned, but otherwise very nice and a better date too.
To add, it may just be the lighting or image making it appear recolored to me.
In my Draped Bust set I have 2 coins left - the 1802/0 and the 1808. IMO they are the two toughest coins (ignoring varieties) in that date set. Congrats!
I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.
It will be a while before I can own an 1802/0 and that will complete my Draped Bust Half Cent set. Hopefully, I will be able to purchase one someday. I would love to see your 1802/0.
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
@jesbroken... That is a nice old copper coin.... I do think the olive oil will help. Cheers, RickO
Jim
I owned this 1802 over 0 half cent at one time before I broke up my half cent collection. It was part of the Garrett Collection.
It's a really nice coin, but one of the grading services zipped it back to me in a body bag. I still got good money for it from someone who appreciated the piece.
Most of the cheap olive oils are substandard and more refined than the quality organic ones, also adulteration of olive oils is well known in the business. I'd no want to go with some standardized oil that is not going to be acidic and a problem.