Anything wrong with this AU58 1806 half?

johnf162000

Does anyone see anything wrong with this coin? I'm a newbie, but most of the other early halves that I've looked at have dark gray toning.

eBay Listing 1806 Pointed 6 Stem Half NGC AU58

Varlis

Yeah, that's been cleaned.

DNADave

probably dipped to make it look MS. NGC must not have considered the cleaning to be harsh.

johnf162000

I'm not sure I understand how the grading services decide when to declare that a coin has been cleaned. Is it only when the coin has been cleaned in a manner that damages the surface? Are coins that have been dipped considered okay?

Should the coin in this eBay listing have a lower value than a coin that has not been cleaned at all?

tsacch

Maybe an MS70 miracle coin, just removed the skanky stuff??????????????????????

nwcs

It's very hazy where the line is between acceptible cleaning on coins and unacceptible. Especially on bust coinage which is mostly cleaned. Dipping is usually acceptible as long as it doesn't have a dipped look. This one doesn't suit my taste.

rays

It's been dipped and the amount of wear is too much for an AU58. I like it as an AU55.

lordmarcovan

I think it's purdy.

cohodk

That coin looks like it has a lot of luster, especially on the reverse. I have the same coin in a 55 holder and this one is more than 3 points nicer.

The seller is also first rate.

johnf162000

Thanks for your help. This forum is certainly a great source of information.

John

Nysoto

Any bright bust coin has been dipped or clean. I believe the TPG's accept obviously dipped/cleaned coins if the hairlines are minimal, as heavier hairlines indicate abrasive cleaning.

If you like the way it looks it could be a nice coin, but I prefer original coins (or original looking), if I have the choice. The coin is struck from fairly fresh dies, and early O.115's can have one of the best all-around strikes for 1806 halves - mostly sharp obverse stars, drapery lines, and none of the reverse star and cloud weakness found on many 1806's.

Bill

KurtHorn

Looks reasonably original to me. Appears to have a light gold or yellow color across the entire coin. Usually in a coin like this I would be suspicious that someone is playing with the white balance to hide the cleaning. But since NGC slabbed it I'm going to assume the coin actually has that color. Cool Pop 2/0... but the PCGS Pop is... 37/67

ziggy29

I wouldn't kick a high-grade early bust coin out of my collection, but this isn't the look I'd want for a 199-year-old choice AU silver coin. It's probably not hideously cleaned, but certainly dipped if not at least lightly cleaned.

Still a fairly nice coin, but not as nice as it might have been if it weren't visibly messed with. If I had the kind of money to buy this coin lying around to buy this coin (well, I could if I sold quite a few coins I don't want to sell), I'd wait for a more appealing piece. I wouldn't insist on 100% original because that could make me wait a lifetime for a piece like this, but certainly I think eventually I'd be able to do better than this.

Nysoto

A comment on the NGC/PCGS pops - the NGC pop is for the O.115 variety, there are many O.115 NGC coins that did not get attribution service. The PCGS pop is for 1806 pointed 6, stem (and all 1806 non-overdates from earlier slabs), as PCGS does not attribute by Overton variety, although they should.

The 1806 O.115 is a very common R.1, second only to O.109 as the most common 1806, and for that matter, the most common DBHE. There are probably a dozen O.115's in mint state. Be careful when using TPG pops to assess rarity.

Bill

CUEBALL

I have some like that and I plan on trading them off someday.I would much rather have more original coins. circulated dipped coins always bug me.

elwood

YUK!!! I'd stay away from that coin.
I bet it is bright white with a milky haze. The gold toning in a couple of the pics (I'll wager) has been enhanced in photoshop.

Theop

Verify the seller's 7 day return policy and maybe find a couple of forum members who have bought from him.

If all is well then you can decide when you get the coin without much downside (a few $$ for shipping).