Please help me put a grade on this Bust Half
greghansen
Posts: 4,301 ✭✭✭
I don't know the weak strike dates or grading nuances of this series. Where in the VF20-35 grading scale do you think this 1829/7 O-102 falls? Does anyone think it falls either side of the VF scale? Thanks in advance for your opinions.
Greg Hansen, Melbourne, FL Click here for any current EBAY auctions Multiple "Circle of Trust" transactions over 14 years on forum
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Nice coin.
can anyone elaborate on what makes it look burnished -- not arguing mind you, just trying to learn. What am I not seeing?
<< <i>VF30, burnished
can anyone elaborate on what makes it look burnished -- not arguing mind you, just trying to learn. What am I not seeing? >>
I'm not sure what 291 means by "burnished". In fact I don't think I've ever heard that term used in describing bust coinage. I think I've heard it used in regards to Sacagawea Dollars or something similar.
The coin may very well have been cleaned at some point in it's life. That being said...who cares. If this coin was cleaned it was A LONG time ago and it's built up a healthy layer of crust and crud since then. When you're dealing with bust coinage, especially circulated bust coinage, 9 times out of 10 the coin has been cleaned in it's 170-200+ year life. It comes down to how recently it was cleaned and how severely it was cleaned. From these photos this coin doesn't scream "look at me, I've been cleaned" to me.
If this coin was ever cleaned (which is entirely possible) it hasn't hurt the coin a whole lot.
Ammended to say the obverse came up. My opinion has not changed. Nice VF. I'd be proud to have that coin in my raw inventory or as a VF-something in my certified inventory. If the TPGs called it EF, I'd pass.
Greg Hansen, Melbourne, FL Click here for any current EBAY auctions Multiple "Circle of Trust" transactions over 14 years on forum
<< <i>It pleases me to no end that these VF and XF Bust Halfs can be picked up for less money than VF or XF Barber Halfs.
>>
For now.
<< <i>
<< <i>It pleases me to no end that these VF and XF Bust Halfs can be picked up for less money than VF or XF Barber Halfs.
>>
For now. >>
No, for now might not fit.
The Bust haves were stored in bank vaults for much of the 19th century, and a lot of them did not see much circulation. Therefore coins in VF and EF and not that rare.
The Barber design did not wear as well as the Bust design did in circulation. The "LIBERTY" and other features are far more fragile, PLUS the Barber coins got KILLED during the Great Depression because people need to pay the rent and eat. Middle grade Barber haves are much harder to find that middle grade Bust half dollars.
If the variety collectors soak up a lot of Bust half dollars, they will get more expensive. BUT given the population of survivors, the middle Barber half dollars are harder to find.
<< <i>VF30, burnished
can anyone elaborate on what makes it look burnished -- not arguing mind you, just trying to learn. What am I not seeing? >>
The coin was probably overall very dark. A previous owner, knowing that dark coins don't sell well, but not wanting to clean the coin, took a piece of cloth and began rubbing it over the high points of the coin until the toning started to wear off. Once the previous owner liked the appearance, they stopped.
Burnishing of older silver coins is actually quite common. It may have been done many years ago so some retoning may have taken place.
After... VF25 and crusty.
Hope this helps!
Steve
In memory of the USAF Security Forces lost: A1C Elizabeth N. Jacobson, 9/28/05; SSgt Brian McElroy, 1/22/06; TSgt Jason Norton, 1/22/06; A1C Lee Chavis, 10/14/06; SSgt John Self, 5/14/07; A1C Jason Nathan, 6/23/07; SSgt Travis Griffin, 4/3/08; 1Lt Joseph Helton, 9/8/09; SrA Nicholas J. Alden, 3/3/2011. God Bless them and all those who have lost loved ones in this war. I will never forget their loss.
This coin has not been kept on a piece of felt for over 150 years like many other bust halves have been, rather, this coin was used.
Great piece to have.
an alternate explanation would be that the coin circulated a while and got crusty, then was stored for a while as Bill described, where it toned darker. Then, at a later date (but when bust halves still circulated), the coin re-entered circulation, where the toning wore off the high points of the design, before it was finally pulled from circulation and saved.
either way, nice enough VF coin, probably 25 if you want to split hairs although 5 points here or there doesn't make much difference in this grade range. I agree, lots of coin for the money with the bust halves.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
<< <i>I would grade the obverse VF25. The reverse is better. >>
I would have to concur.