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Crack ... some people say, "Just say no!" ... I say, "Yes, PLEASE!"

pursuitoflibertypursuitofliberty Posts: 7,051 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

Sometimes I feel like I must be living right … as certain opportunities and experiences just seem to come my way … and even if I have to calculate how to make them happen, they usually work out wonderfully.

.
Such was the case that started on Tuesday morning, I was getting ready to walk out of the house. I looked down at my phone as I was tucking into my jacket and saw an email from a friend, offering me a coin.

Stop. Walk back to computer. Sit down. Open the images.

Oh. My.

Oh. My, my.

Not just any coin, but something rather unique and special.

A hot mess of a crack monster, and a quite lovely and rare one at that.

.
I had to go. A quick email confirmed my interest and asked for a day to consider since I really didn’t have time to think through it all right there, on the spot.

.
Yet ... as sometimes happens ... things get into my semi-consciousness, and my brain keeps processing. And then, on the coffee break, I text back and forth with a friend asking for images of other coins of the same Die marriage and Die State and am asking his opinion. By the time I get home I am studying carefully, trying to see if I think I will really like her, and almost as importantly, trying to do price discovery. I reach out to more friends.

In the end, I know I’m stretched thin, yet I do not say no. I almost feel like I can't.

I climb into bed early after shooting off an email letting him know I’ll get back to him in the morning, but at the same time asking if he has any room on the price.

I reached over to turn the notifications off when I see his response.

.
The little of the backstory on the coin that I know of, is that the coin was purchased raw by my friend, 23 years ago, at the August 2000 sale of the Gehring Prouty coins. Prior to that it was part of the Brown and Hilgrad collections. Heady names in the CBH world of the late 20th Century.

About five years ago, the previous owner had the coin graded and TrueView’d. We'll all revere him more as time goes on as well.

.
This Reverse Die State is terminal, with the striking weakness on the Obverse due to the deteriorating Reverse die. All of the known cracks are present.

The luster shimmers in hand, and the surfaces are pleasing. It is a difficult coin to image, but a pleasure to view. And so, without further ado … ;)

.
My images first, followed by the TV




“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

Todd - BHNC #242

Comments

  • ifthevamzarockinifthevamzarockin Posts: 8,902 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wow! Congrats on the pick up! :)

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,335 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice!

    My YouTube Channel

  • CatbertCatbert Posts: 7,296 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Glorious hot mess! So much going on to take in.

    Your pics so much better too.

    I bet this coin was tough on the graders (I haven’t looked it up). Allow the ignorant (me) to take a WAG - AU-53?

    Seated Half Society member #38
    "Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
  • RobertScotLoverRobertScotLover Posts: 973 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very pretty half and of course quite interesting

  • OAKSTAROAKSTAR Posts: 7,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Bring on the Kraken! 👍🏻

    Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )

  • pcgscacgoldpcgscacgold Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congrats on the pick. Glad you were able to bring that one home. It's in a good place now.

    Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
    $5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
    CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572

  • BustDMsBustDMs Posts: 1,636 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice coin Todd.

    I’ve got a couple of those around somewhere in slightly lower grades. I’ll have to look them up to compare die states.

    Q: When does a collector become a numismatist?



    A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.



    A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
  • BustDMsBustDMs Posts: 1,636 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Oh, and everyone knows things go better with Coke…….

    Q: When does a collector become a numismatist?



    A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.



    A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
  • pmh1nicpmh1nic Posts: 3,294 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congrats! Very nice coin.

    The longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice is it possible for an empire to rise without His aid? Benjamin Franklin
  • braddickbraddick Posts: 24,178 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Like the story.
    Love the coin!

    peacockcoins

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 28,580 ✭✭✭✭✭

    You got a good friend for doing that

  • pursuitoflibertypursuitofliberty Posts: 7,051 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BustDMs said:
    Nice coin Todd.

    I’ve got a couple of those around somewhere in slightly lower grades. I’ll have to look them up to compare die states.

    .
    Please feel free to show them off here Brad! It's a fantastic Die marriage / Die State IMO.

    For what it's worth, I could have called this thread "Stephenville, the Auction that keeps on Giving". If you read my auction report posts in early October, you might get the reference, if not the premise.

    My new coin would have never been offered to anyone probably anytime soon had the previous owner not purchased the finest graded for this Die State, an amazing PCGS MS63 in that auction. That coin has a TrueView that I don't think does it justice after seeing the new owners images.

    This one is probably the finest AU that isn't graded 58 (a couple exist), and is also one of the last coins struck as far as I can tell. I really haven't found a later state yet.

    Thanks for all the compliments!


    “We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

    Todd - BHNC #242
  • psuman08psuman08 Posts: 340 ✭✭✭✭

    Great coin!

  • jayPemjayPem Posts: 4,081 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The famous 106a!
    I've been patiently waiting for one of our preeminent cbh collectors to pass his lovely example on, and in the meantime a few have made their way in and out of my grasp!
    It's definitely one of the greats as far as us bust half crackheads are concerned, and yours, Todd, is a stunner!

    I'll add a couple to the mix...

  • KliaoKliao Posts: 5,608 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Awesome crusty bustie. Great pickup!

    Collector
    75 Positive BST transactions buying and selling with 45 members and counting!
    instagram.com/klnumismatics

  • hfjacintohfjacinto Posts: 878 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @pursuitofliberty your coin siso has a clash, you can make the unun on the obverse next to the stars. Die was done and then it clashed with the reverse.

    My current registry sets:
    20th Century Type Set
    Virtual DANSCO 7070
    Slabbed IHC set - Missing the Anacs Slabbed coins

  • pursuitoflibertypursuitofliberty Posts: 7,051 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Good eye @hfjacinto

    It's actually a multiple clash where the scroll can be seen in that area and under the bust, but the die is so fatigued I have not fully determined how many I can see. It looks like three clashes


    “We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

    Todd - BHNC #242
  • MWallaceMWallace Posts: 4,197 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Thanks for sharing the coin and the great story. Were you able to get any work done that day? :D

    http://www.SmallDollars.com
  • pursuitoflibertypursuitofliberty Posts: 7,051 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MWallace Actually, I did! Thank God I was busy or I would have been really distracted all day. B)


    “We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

    Todd - BHNC #242
  • mtn_scoutmtn_scout Posts: 101 ✭✭✭

    Spectacular coin and I love the story behind it!

  • Pnies20Pnies20 Posts: 2,374 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Did you not listen to anything Nancy Reagan said???

    Sweet coin.

    BHNC #248 … 130 and counting.

  • Herb_THerb_T Posts: 1,754 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I need the 106 and 106a…….good catch

  • WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 9,445 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice story and write up.

    A very unique Bustie with quite the impressive pedigrees.

    What you said about being lucky and feeling fortunate for the opportunities that have come your way really resonated with me. I felt the same way about my Walkers, when I was building my set.

    Congrats to you and it sounds like the coin found herself a good home.

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

  • FrazFraz Posts: 2,118 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Good title too.

  • jacrispiesjacrispies Posts: 1,019 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Ohhawwwohawwwww.....

    Great example of this tougher die marriage, I am impressed! It fits right into your set like the final puzzle piece.

    "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:33. Young fellow suffering from Bust Half fever.
    BHNC #AN-10
    JRCS #1606

  • jayPemjayPem Posts: 4,081 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jacrispies said:
    Ohhawwwohawwwww.....

    Great example of this tougher die marriage, I am impressed! It fits right into your set like the final puzzle piece.

    All that but... almost surely not the last puzzle piece 😂

  • pursuitoflibertypursuitofliberty Posts: 7,051 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jayPem said:

    @jacrispies said:
    Ohhawwwohawwwww.....

    Great example of this tougher die marriage, I am impressed! It fits right into your set like the final puzzle piece.

    All that but... almost surely not the last puzzle piece 😂

    >

    .
    Absolutely not ... I haven't found Shirley yet! :p


    “We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

    Todd - BHNC #242
  • TomBTomB Posts: 21,488 ✭✭✭✭✭

    For all of you familiar with Harry Potter...

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • TomBTomB Posts: 21,488 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Almost forgot...I love the coin, think it dramatic as heck and believe there will be more educational material shared within this thread on this cool die marriage.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • NicNic Posts: 3,386 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Great coin!

    My 1866 Philly Mint Set

  • HillbillyCollectorHillbillyCollector Posts: 639 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 22, 2023 3:55AM

    Wow, nice CBH! Todd, you’ve been on a roll for the last couple of months, brother!
    Congrats and thanks for not giving up the grade, I nailed it, which I really enjoy trying for!👍

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