I have a 1837 half dollar - I need advice

LanLord

I bought this long ago, when I thought nice white coins were really good.

It's scrubbed, horrible! It would have been a mint state coin had it not been abused!


So should it be a pocket piece?

DickyBetz

Can we see a pic?

DeputyPud

The coin is 170 years old (okay...almost). And scrubbed or not, if its really as detailed as you say, its value will continue to rise..... until you make it a pocketpiece, that is.
IMO, No. It is not a pocketpiece.

LanLord

<< <i>Can we see a pic? >>

No

I don't have a pic. It's in great condition, but is scratched to hell!

Answer the question, should it be a pocket piece?

mepot

Pocket-piece it!I am currently wearing a cleaning off an 1885 Morgan,and a 1924 Peace dollar that was

in a bezel.I dont know how long it will take,but I hate those hairlines.

LindeDad

Put it in your pocket for a few months, then a album for a couple of years to grow some skin. Then into PCGS plastic to sell.

jayboxx

I think it would be a really cool pocket piece.

TomB

If it's truly scrubbed then I doubt the value would rise much at all over the years, relative to other parts of the market, and that your money would be better off in a problem-free coin.

carl

Only 3,629,820 made. Leave it on a window ledge inside for a few months. Do not use as a pocket coin. Still worth more than a half dollar you know.

goose3

You should mail it to ME to use as a pocket piece.


if you don't want to do that, Yes, you should use it.

DeputyPud

True Tom, it may not grow much very quickly. Not seeing the piece, let's say that it nets out as a VF20 piece.
Just using Red Book VF, in 1965 it listed at $36.50. 2005 Red Book had it at $110 (grey sheet at $90). Not exactly a World Series winner, but I'll bet it doesn't get any prettier rubbing up against all those bi-centennial quarters in the pocket, either.

JRocco

I agree with DP here. Most pocket pieces do not just wear off all those unpleasant scratches, they also take on some other forms of damage from being a pocket piece. Unless you are able to carry it, and only it, alone in your pocket for a nice long time. Sounds easy-but not in real life.

originalisbest

Won't work out - your pocket's not an 1837 pocket, with other 1837 debris, grit and grime.

mirabela

Why go through the trouble? It's unlikely it will "recover" in any helpful way. Let's suppose it has nice AU details -- I should think with a good picture you would be able to get at least choice VF-ish and maybe XF money for it on ebay or what have you. If it were me -- and it's been me before -- I would just get out of it with full disclosure of its issues & move on.

mozin

Either sell the coin for what it is, or dip it in acetone and place it in an atmosphere where it can tone heavily over a couple of years. The acetone dip will give the coin a fresh start in hopes of toning more evenly.

ChangeInHistory

<< <i>Put it in your pocket for a few months, then a album for a couple of years to grow some skin. Then into PCGS plastic to sell. >>



I agree, but I wouldn't put anything else in that pocket.....

tmot99

Pocket piece.

relayer

Keep it as a pocket piece and show us a picture in a few years

LanLord

Okay, here it is

1837

mozin

That is too nice a coin for a pocket piece. Tone it heavily for a couple of years and it will look OK.

AU58WALKERS

too nice for a pocket piece, putit in a album and forget about it.

LanLord

That pic really doesn't show the scratches on the coin.