A picture of Bear's Bust Half....I sure do miss this one..

coinlieutenant

For all the new bust half collectors out there....this is what a choice AU bust half should look like...and the kind you should reach for to buy...

adamlaneus

I cannot say i've seen many (any) like that!

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Boom

Oh Man!

jmski52

It actually looks as if it's been dipped in honey. Nice!

mrearlygold

AnkurJ

Wow...

This is probably as close as I have thanks to a fellow board member:

(XF45)

adamlaneus

Q: Whose brand of plastic is this coin in?

Bear

The coin is in a PCGS holder.

renman95

Three words...Gor Gee Us.

coinsarefun

Beautiful......................I'm in ...............








Stefanie

AnkurJ

Would it be choice without the toning but with full luster?

Bear

Two things struck me about the coin.
First was the toning. Only the hand of God
could create such colors. Second, was the
fact that each and every star is struck thru
clear to the center. While there is some softness
in the middle of the coin, all in all It is truly one of
the most amazing CBH possible to behold.

adamlaneus

That is what confuses me. Those stars look great. Really awesome!

But liberty appears to have lots of wear. And the high spots on the eagle too. I have a hard time telling between wear and softness.

I'm not sure the specific number of the grade matters here. It's "AU-Whoa". It's a coin i'd like to slowly tilt under a strong light for a while.

Sunshine Rare Coins

that coin is ms 64

CoinJunkie

Very, very pretty coin! I might have guessed 55 on the grade, though, based on the difference
in luster between the center of the obverse and the outer band protected by the stars.

Congrats on picking up a beautiful coin, Bear.

coinlieutenant

The history of this coin is that it used to reside in an ANACS AU58 holder. I bought it from Jade in a NGC AU58 holder. I crossed it at PCGS AU55. Sold it at auction. Premium was the buyer and put it into his set. He got it graded AU58 at PCGS. He sold it at auction. De Falco bought it and sold it to Bear I believe.

This coin is an AU58 all day. It has a bit of striking weakness in the centers. The luster is full. Amazing luster...

mgoodm3

I remember that one. Nice coin

MajorDuty

<< <i>....each and every star is struck thru
clear to the center. >>



Wow. Those stars are struck incredibly well. I don't think I can say I've seen them that sharp before on an AU coin.

luckyman

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1819over18bustreverse.jpg][/URL]
1819over18busthalf.jpg][/URL]

picked up this raw beauty recently.... Thinking AU +

TahoeDale

Yes, Bear, that is one fine AU 59.

Here's one a little higher grade

TahoeDale

etexmike

I would buy nothing but AU 58's if they all looked like this one.

Great Bustie.


Mike

micmt

Those all look great. I have recently started to admire bust's and seated. if only I had the money to enjoy getting some of these nice grades.

Boom

I've been particularly fond of busts ever since I was a little guy.

Mesquite

That is a great bust half!

scoobydeux

John, just an amazing coin!! Hubba, hubba!!

You've got quite the golden eyes.

Could you share the selling price? I'd imagine that a coin like this would easily bring 2-3x retail.

lcoopie

John,
Is this what you mean?

signed,
a new bust half collector

it's a little lighter than the pic

AU58WALKERS

seems like all the nice au58 bust halves have been taken off the market.
nothing out there but the dregs and woofers

doh

<< <i>this is what a choice AU bust half should look like >>


If you like toning. The coin does little for me. No offense. I'm just not a rainbow toning guy.

CB2597

scoobydeux

Sweet!!

58++++++++

Placid

<< <i>

<< <i>this is what a choice AU bust half should look like >>


If you like toning. The coin does little for me. No offense. I'm just not a rainbow toning guy. >>



Dont discourage Bear, he is the coin market right now

STONE

Wow, that's a super eye-appealing coin to me, and I bet the luster is great.

If I were grading this coin, it would be AU-55 as far as details/wear go; no chance for AU-58.
BUT, then you tack on the eye-appeal and this is why the TPG's pulled it up to AU-58.

For me, I would want my AU-58's to have better strikes; I know that some DM's just come with mushy strikes (like this one).
The weak strike just doesn't bring out the toning like stronger struck CBH's do.

Therefore I grade this coin a B+

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maibockaddict

That is a great type coin. But building a collection of CBH's like that would take a lifetime, and then you still would be missing some. Every collection should at least have one like that someplace. I know I do.

Thanks for sharing and I love the pics!

doh

<< <i>i rather have the piece in bright dipped white >>


There is a wonderful, beautiful, eye appealing natural gray area between rainbow toning and "bright dipped white" coins. That's where I prefer my coins to be.

drddm

Beautiful 1818!!!

I agree with STONE, 1818's sometimes come with a mushy central strike on the obverse, like yours, but the luster and eye appeal certainly bump it up to AU58.....CONGRATS!!

I sold my 1818 PCGS XF45 below not long ago, also with a mushy central obverse strike, which in my opnion is why PCGS gave it a 45, but the great eye appeal and luster on this coin make this CBH an AU50, all the way!!



I replaced it with this beautiful, original 1818 PCGS AU55 and am quite happy with it.....courtesy of Dave Khan.

numisma

John,

Thanks for the walk down memory lane. I also miss that half. Trying to remember where I bought it........ Baltimore keeps coming to mind.

coinlieutenant

I dont remember Dennis...I do know I was in Hawaii at the time. Right at the beginning.

I was an idiot to sell that coin...an idiot...

Bear

John, selling the coins was perhaps stupid, dumb,

or even insane, but idiot is rather harsh!

dthigpen

Bear should sell it to feed starving children.

CoinJunkie

drddm,

I like the look of those, especially the 55!

thisnamztaken

Beautiful toning on Bear's Half! Whew!

coingame2000

<< <i>The history of this coin is that it used to reside in an ANACS AU58 holder. I bought it from Jade in a NGC AU58 holder. I crossed it at PCGS AU55. Sold it at auction. Premium was the buyer and put it into his set. He got it graded AU58 at PCGS. He sold it at auction. De Falco bought it and sold it to Bear I believe.

This coin is an AU58 all day. It has a bit of striking weakness in the centers. The luster is full. Amazing luster... >>



John: You're correct regarding the history of this gorgeous coin. It was part of the magnificent Premium Collection that was sold by Bowers and Merena and I was the winning bidder at a very likely record price for the date in AU58 condition. I thought it was the most beautifully toned half dollar in Don's collection and it certainly was my favorite among those I purchased at the sale.

Mike

Bear

I thought I would bring this one back for you all to drool over.

MikeInFL

You still own it, Bear?

Bear

Yup, plan to be buried with it.

SUMORADA

Yup, plan to be buried with it.

be careful who you pick for pallbearers........

ElmerFusterpuck

I remember that coin very well, in fact when coinlietenant had the coin up for sale, I was the underbidder on that half (via the web). Think I missed by about $100. I figure that coin must be something else in hand.

lkeigwin

Wow! What's not to love? Even the rims are friggin' gorgeous. Love it.
Lance.