Help me grade -- 1804 Draped Bust 1/2 Cent - Problem Fixed

FrattLaw

Pick this up yesterday from a Bid Board. Anyone here good with grading old copper? Any ideas of price range?

Sorry, pics aren't that good, but my camera/lighting isn't the best. There's a little more detail on the coin then what shows.
Thanks for the help.

Michael

Obverse Pics

Reverse Pics

Sorry -- links should work now.

wingedliberty

I am getting a Purina dog food ad from your links??


Brian.

FrattLaw

Really, I just tried it and it works for me. It's a Yahoo Pics Briefcase thingy. Anyone else having problems?

Michael

BigD5

I can't get the pics either. Yahoo wants me to log in.......

redhott

"The File You Are Looking For Is Inaccessible."

MrKelso

She's a no work..

LanLord

Looks really nice, the pic is a bit blurry but there appears to be a great deal of detail on that coin. Strong VF or EF? Is there some corrosion on the front?

KlectorKid

I'll say Net VF, XF details

FrattLaw

There appears to be some corrosion, I guess, on the front. Looks like carbon spotting, nothing green, it's black. Hair detail is about 2/3's there, but it does look like a weak strike, the LI from Liberty is very faint along with the corresponding area on the reverse.

What can I do about the carbon spotting/corrosion, I'm not familiar with copper, especially not copper from 1804.

Thanks

Michael

redhott

Looks to be a plain 4, stemless. (???, a bit blurry) Based on the cheek, drapery, bust and hair on obv., leaves and rim on rev, I'd say XF something. Probably a good buy, since not many bid board bidders would know what they're looking at.

redhott

is the spotting raised above the surface, or even?

FrattLaw

RedHott - the spotting appears to be flat, almost a part of the coin. It doesn't seem to be raised, more of a discoloration now that I've examined it more closely. Should I be worried and have the coin conserved professionally?

It is a plain 4, stemless.

I don't really think the members of the board bothered to look @ this coin. No one else bid on it and I picked it up for $65.00 . VF-20 is $80 XF-40 is $250, so I guess I got a good deal.

Thanks
Michael

originalisbest

I wouldn't try to do anything to "help" the copper - better off leaving well enough alone. If you store it properly nothing's going to "grow" on the piece. Looks like a solid VF, towards the upper end of that range, and as such you got a fair deal. Would go very nicely in an old Library of Coins type album!

dorkkarl

ef details, too blurry to look for net-considerations.

K S