Thinking of buying this half. Opinions on grade?

FlyTooHigh

Opinions please.

Thanks, Tony

Luvdawgs

I don't know much about earlier coinage, Tony, but I think that one's a beaut

Susan

FlyTooHigh

Thanks, so do I. Its listed as EF by the seller.

Placid

AU 50-58 not the best picture to try and judge from thou.

FlyTooHigh

Placid: seller says "about AU" and the scan is no better. He has a good return policy. Maybe I'll go for it if it stays around $85.00.

Thanks,

Tony

lordmarcovan

VF35, at least. I don't think the seller is out of line by calling it EF. To my eye, it is on the cusp between very choice VF and typical EF40. EF is a perfectly reasonable "market grade" on it.

AU? I must respectfully disagree. A nice coin, though.

Edit: had a second look. My "choice VF" comments may have been a little harsh. That's a solid EF. I still say AU is pushing it a bit, though.

Placid

Sounds reasonable to me

HuliganRS

I dunno....

If the seller had to put the coin against a yellow background...It looks a little to dark, hence the background...

IMHO

FlyTooHigh

Huligan: the background is a bit decieving, especially since I downloaded the pictues. Mine are darker than his pictures. What concerns me are the light areas that may be rubs. Well, for an EF coin, I guess you have to expect that, especially for its age. Thanks for your input.

Tony

FlyTooHigh

LordM: thanks for the opinon(s). If EF it is, then it is priced right.

Tony

lordmarcovan

<< <i> What concerns me are the light areas that may be rubs. Well, for an EF coin, I guess you have to expect that, especially for its age >>



Exactly. Those are rubs. It's very common on those, but really doesn't bother me. In fact, I'd say that coin looks like a very original un-messed-with example. It vaguely resembles (but looks better than) one I used to have:



This coin really should have gotten a VF35, I think. But SEGS wasn't too far off.

JD

I agree VF, not AU, natural toning, right side stars look weakly stuck but may be excessive rub on that side, rest of coin looks well struck, are those scratches at 4:00 obv side?

FlyTooHigh

LordM: The seller says it is very original and has no real evidence of cleaning (at least in the last 100 years). I am interested in expanding my half collection into early halfs (oh boy!) and saw this one as a starter. I see from your 1831 there are rubbed areas, and as you say, common. So I thank you immensly for the input and will go after this puppy!

Tony

lordmarcovan

You should see my 1827. It blows both the 1831 I showed (a rather generic-quality piece) and your potential 1830 away. It has slightly better detail, much nicer luster, and hints of pink/green iridescence beneath a light grey secondary toning. Because this toning is not original, though, and the coin has a minor rim bump, it won't slab with PCGS/NGC. I tried both. It has been in four holders, just for the heck of it. SEGS and PCI said EF45, but noted the problems. I have owned it since the beginning of my collecting days, and it is one of only three coins I will never sell, for sentimental reasons. I have it raw again. I cleaned it around 1978 when I hardly knew better, but in the subsequent decades it has picked up some beautiful retoning; even better looking than its original off-white when I got it.

FlyTooHigh

JD: after bolwing up the picture, it looks like there are two small hairline scratches at 4:00. But I guess that shouldn't affect the coin in this grade?

Tony

lordmarcovan

A squishy strike on those stars is also pretty common. And if there are a few hairlines at 4:00, they look too minor to really note. More likely, I'd say that's a little scuff, not even worthy of being called scratches or hairlines.

FlyTooHigh

LordM: I am not collecting halfs for slabbing purposes. I have been looking at early halfs for a long time, but never ventured there. I collect Franklins, Walkers, and early commeratives. The 1800's have become of interest lately. I just want to start out with these coins in a manner that I get "quality" first.

Placid

Depends on who you ask or if it's pcgs,ngc or anacs.
Anacs would pobably net it and label it scratched if they are in a bad mood.
The other two would probably let it slide but knock off a point or two.
Anacs gave a ef barber dime of mine a net-scratched for one small scratch about 1/16 of a inch long.
If it dosen't bother you thats what really matters in my opinion unless you are going to try to use it as a potential money maker

FlyTooHigh

Placid: As long as it is fairly graded, I plan to add it to my "ever expanding half collection"!

If it was in an ACG holder, I wouldn't give it a second look!

lordmarcovan

I'd say that is a nice "starter" coin for the 1800's, then. Placid's comments about the whims of grading services are pretty accurate. But ANACS would have to be in a really bad mood (maybe on a rainy Monday), for that to net grade, is my guess. If you were talkin' about a Mint State coin, those little hairlines might make the difference between MS60-61 and MS63 or better. At the EF level, though, a certain amount of that can be forgiven. Heck, it's a 172-year-old circulated coin, and it looks just like such a coin should.

abmluce

ok, in my humble opinion, visually that is a nice coin for a start, and the price is right. Grade maybe a EF-45? It's always tough using only scans to grade. So many bust halves sold on ebay show rough cleaning, even ones from dealers. This one is a keeper in my opinion !

dorkkarl

it is xf-45, assumig there is some visible luster in the hiddne areas. this varieity will always have a weak obv, and the coin is a LDS (late die state). value up to $120 imo.

nice find!

K S

itsnotjustme

I can't give that coin better than a VF35 due to the wear on the tops of the wings. Compare to the photos in the ANA grading standards. The obverse looks strong XF.

FC57Coins

The coin looks original, and I'd peg it at an XF45. The toning is a little dark for my taste but that might be the picture too. If you like the coin and it fits well into your collection then go for it! Good luck!

Frank

MacCoin

It sure the heck ain't no AU but for 85.00 you ain't going to get hurt on that pretty little bust. good luck

RotatedRainbows

Strong CH.VF or using the sellers lingo about XF, to much rub on the eagles wings and MORE importantly on the shield to grade any higher. On the other hand it does appear to be an original uncleaned piece which is not something you see every day.

JimD

Looks like EF40/45 details. The problem I have found with these "Raw" Busties is that it is often impossible to tell from the scan if it has problems such as scratches or hairlines from harsh cleaning. Price looks right for the grade if there are no hidden problems.

FlyTooHigh

Thanks folks, looks like I'll give it a go and see if I can snipe it.

Tony