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AUCTION IS TOMORROW!!!! Capped Bust Half Collection

If you're looking for some very original and truly outstanding Busties, gorgeous toning and difficult dates and species, they're in here.
Any questions about a particular coin, please feel free to PM me.

Bower's and Merena this March in Baltimore



CAPPED BUST HALF DOLLARS:

1807 large stars PCGS 40..................incredibly difficult to find like this (ex Laibstain) and PQ for the grade.

1807 small stars PCGS 40 ................outrageously original and well struck for the year. Gorgeou and very
very hard to find like this. In fact, I doubt you WILL find one like this.

1809 IIIII edge PCGS 50....................an R 4, and fantastic original toning

1809 Overton 108 PCGS 45 R4 (TO BE EVALUATED
BY PCGS TO DETERMINE IF
XXXXX OR IIIII EDGE)

1809 ............PCGS 58....................probably never seen circulation, and an absolutely outstanding coin.
Also, rarely found in this condition.

1810 .......... PCGS 58........................Beauty, absolute beauty, totally original, softly struck in the L wing,
but everything else makes up for it, and a very hard coin to part with. You won't find another like this as well.

1811 small 8 .. PCGS 55 ..................A lustrous, nicely struck small 8
1811 LARGE 8 PCGS 55....................Obviously properly dipped long ago, lustrous, nicely toned, and not easy to find as nice as this.

1813 50/UNI NGC 50.........................Nice original 50/UNI, had a hard time finding one like this

1813.............PCGS 55......................This is an OUTSTANDING coin, total originality, beautiful blanket of chocolatey toning that has great depth and beauty.
You will NOT find another like this, or if you do, snatch it up immediately.

1814 E/A PCGS 35............................Obviously dipped, and surprising amount of remaining luster for the grade. Difficult to find issue.


1814/3...........PCGS 55.....................Spectacular toning and beautiful strike. Overdate very clear. A definite collector piece.

1817 NGC 62.....................................Original, Original, Original, dark, appealing coloration.

1819 PCGS 63...................................This is a spectacular 63, both strike and overal beauty, a TRUE MS.

1819/8 LARGE 9 PCGS 40.................Very nice affordable, original, and very clean surfaces.

1820/19 CURLED 2 PCGS 50...............Absolutely OUTSTANDING and ORIGINAL coin. I hate parting with this one.
I haven't seen another like it except in very high grade, and then, only rarely. This is ONE HELLUVA coin. Gorgeous thick grey toning with blushes of pink and blue silver underneath.

1820/19 SQUARE 2 PCGS 55..............Another 1820 overdate, hard to find in this grade, and very nice. All 1820's are sleeper coins.

1820 KNOBBED 2 PCGS 45 Overton 104 R4+ ..... For the specialist, the Overton 104, very, very difficult to find. ONe pops up now and then.
This one is really a 50 in a 45 holder, lustrous and appealing.

1820 SQUARE 2 PCGS 55.................Real nice original coloration and another sleeper coin in a difficult grade.

1821 PCGS 62................................Stunning colorful original TRUE MS
1823 BROKEN 3 PCGS 40..............Broken 3's are NOT easy to find, especially un-fooled with. This may not be the prettiest coin, but it's a very nice one nonetheless and you'll be hard pressed to find another like it or prettier or in higher grade.
1823 PATCHED 3 PCGS 45..............Very very nicely toned 45. Again, difficult to find in this grade and in this condition.
1823 UGLY 3 PCGS 40.....................Very original, unmessed with ugly 3. Another difficult to find coin in this grade and unmolested as this one is.
1824/VARIOUS PCGS 53...................Gorgeous colorations, should be in a 55 holder, just not worth the $$ to have it regraded.
I had a hard time finding one this nice, and when I found it, I bought it. So here it is.

1826 NGC 55 FATTY........................OUTSTANDING toning, spectacular surfaces and strike.
Old FATTY holder to boot. Worthy of a significant premium and should be highly affordable.
1827 CURL 2 PCGS 58 EX PREMIUM.....Try to find another like it, nevermind another in 58. WOW.
Another one of the many coins I am having a hard time parting with. Whoever gets this one is fortunate.

1828 CURL2NO KNO PCGS 62.An incredibly FROSTY Mint State Busty, and yes, it is Mint State and not an overgraded. AU.
Beautiful to look at and doubtful you'll find one as frosty as this. (I think this would be a good example of what these coins looked like when they came off the press).........

1828 CURL2 KNOB PCGS 55...fantastically original with chocolate brown toning which has great depth and allows remaining luster to show through.
VERY DIFFICULT COIN TO FIND, NEVERMIND IN THIS CONDITION. GIVE UP TRYING, HERE IT IS.

1828 SQAR2 NGC 58 FATTY.................WOW original original gorgeous toning and in a FATTY holder to boot.


I forgot to list the following coin:

1829/7 PCGS 58...................................Another WOW> not too difficult to find overdate, but EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to find this beautiful, this original. A lovely coin.


1830 SMALL 0 PCGS 62 EX PROUTY........Great double profile, ex PROUTY, true MS, totally original, fantastic toning...uh...what more can you ask?

1830 LARGE 0 PCGS 58............................I can't tell you how long it took me to find a large O like this one. Spectacularly original and gorgeously toned.
I haven't found one like it since.

1831 EX PREMIUM PCGS 58 ........ Beautiful, originally toned 1831. May be a 'common date' but the condition of this one is entirely uncommon.

1834 PCGS 58..............................Well struck, very original, satiny luster, beautiful color under a light.

I forgot to list the following coin:

1835 PCGS 63 very PQ with OUTSTANDING coloration (iridescent greens) and OUTSTANDING luster and great flash, almost like a jewel. I put this coin down on a table at a coin show and the first thing the person next to me (who had GREAT experience seeing millions of coins...literally) said was "WOW. What a beautiful coin". And it is. I bought it raw thinking it was a 64, PCGS gave it a 63. It does have some cabinet friction but I reviewed this coin with John Albanese and it was CAC stickered at the show.

A note on CAC stickering. Some of the coins in here may be CAC stickered, honestly, I didn't keep track of it. I brought 15 coins to the free CAC thing at a show in CT, and all 15 were stickered. I sold several of them and they weren't all Busties. I contemplated CAC stickering my collection before putting it up for auction, but I don't put as much into do this, and to me, I don't need it, whether choosing or selling a coin. I have no question (although, of course, I couldn't guarantee it), that 99% of what I have up for sale would CAC sticker. In all seriousness. I spent years looking for these coins, and upgraded and downgraded in order to find a coin that really had something to say. Grade was not, and is not an issue with me. Never was. So be assured, a lot of thought went into each coin in this collection.

1836/86 PCGS 58.........................this is a totally outstanding coin. They rarely exists like this. totally original, and a 58+++.
A VERY HARD coin to part with. A very rare find and one that I would not trade for an MS 64.

1836 BEADED PCGS 50 .................the beaded reverse is not that easy to find and this is a very nice AU50 example.

also some sitting liberty quarters, all outstanding


1873-S 25C arrows pcgs 40 (you won't find another like it)
1845 25C pcgs 45
1890 25C pcgs 50

Comments

  • LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,672 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Why didn't you just TTT this one? http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=7&threadid=705717&highlight_key=y

    BTW, many busties I'd love to have, but the timing is not quite right.
  • I thought I'd freshen things up. Try to be a little less obnoxious about promoting my own material, even though I believe firmly in my coins and hope they'll find good homes in worthy collections. image
  • Let me introduce my coins, for anyone not familiar with them (this is a self serving advertisement)

    This 1809 Bustie is one of the most stunning golden flash nicely skinned with remarkably clean surfaces, that probably never saw circulation. It is in a PCGS AU58 holder, and I purchased this coin from Premium Numismatics.

    I really love this coin, and hate parting with it. When I say 'skin', trust me, there is a nice skin on this coin. I've had dealers try to sell me coins, saying there was a thick skin. When I'd recieve the coin, it would be hairlined from a wipe, no skin, maybe great toning, but who wants that if the coin is cra p?

    This is a stunning coin and PQ for the grade. I seriously doubt you'd find another like it. No Kidding.

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    LOT 979 *****************************
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
  • Here's the 1809 IIII edge, this is an Overton 107a, which is an R 4. You can find a lot of nice, unmolested, busties in the old ANACS holders. I found this one in an ANACS 53 holder, stupendous coloring, totally natural, unfooled with unmolested. I cracked it out so I could photograph it and sent it in to PCGS where they graded it an AU 50. The coin is superb, and at a grade level for the IIII edge, where you can get rarity at an affordable price. But, in terms of toning and originality, there is no price. That, is totally grade independant, if not rare.

    This coin can speak for itself, and is outstanding.

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    imageLOT 980 ******* The color, which is amazing, is best seen in my own photos
  • jhdflajhdfla Posts: 3,025 ✭✭✭
    It's not self serving advertisement to see such gorgeous ORIGINAL pieces posted here. Even those of us who are not bust half guys can appreciate the beauty and originality of coins like this, thanks for posting pics of them and please continue to post more of them.

    john
  • fishteethfishteeth Posts: 2,236 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I love these coins.
  • Here is another one that will be in the March BM auction, the Large Stars 1807 Overton 114.
    Believe me when I say it is NOT easy to find one of these entirely unmolested.
    I bought this one from Harry Laibstain, thick skinned and with very clean surfaces for the grade.
    It grades a PCGS 40, very scarce at that grade level, and ranks an R3 according to the BHNC. It's really still, a very undervalued coin, a lot scarcer than generally believed, a great sleeper, and a must have for a complete Bust Half Collection.
    This is a VERY desirable specimen.

    The strike on this coin is remarkable for 1807 with all star centrils, central clasp and also the left eagle wing. Very nice.

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  • Another difficult to find 1807 is the small star variety. This coin was previously held by a member of this board, and I obtained it from Premium Numismatics. Gorgeously dark chestnut brown toned that is simply just lovely. Graded a PCGS 40, PQ in every way for the grade, and rarely found in this condition. Another very desirable 1807.

    Well struck for the series with all star centrils, as well as clasp and the notorious Left Eagle wing.



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  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭
    WOW, all I can say is you have a VERY beautiful collection of CBH's.
  • Another 1809 being auctioned is the Overton 108 PCGS 45
    It's an R4, but I don't know whether it's a XXXX or a IIII edge.
    We're having it cracked out at PCGS to find out

    I didn't take these photos, so my apologies



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  • This is an 1810 Overton 102, which is an R2. The coin grades PCGS 58, though, I doubt it's ever seen circulation. I have to say that this is one of the most beautiful Bust Halves I've ever laid eyes on. Again, another unmolested, un-fooled with Bust Half. Gorgeous toning and beautiful hair curls, that to me, just makes the coin. Personally, I feel this coin is all I could want in an 1810. Did I say beautiful?

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    LOT 983 ***********again, coloration best seen in my own photos
  • lkeneficlkenefic Posts: 7,740 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Shucks... I'm living in Baltimore now... will be at the show in March... and I'm too &^!@%# broke to buy one of these!!
    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

    Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
  • I also have this 1811 large 8 up for auction as well. It grades a PCGS 55, overall beautiful, with tremendous luster, beautiful peripheral toning and great great die cracks and clash marks for studying. I had a hard time finding a large 8. You can even see the die flow lines peripherally, which is in part why this coins is so gorgeously lustrous.


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  • This is the 1811 small 8, a nice frosty one w ith a lovely bluish/steel/grey patina, that I picked up in one of the Baltimore shows. It grades a PCGS AU55.
    Not an easy date to find like this, and worth the search.

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  • kazkaz Posts: 9,052 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Those are just plain gorgeous!
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  • Another coin that will be for auction in March thru BM is my 1813 graded PCGS55
    There are TONS of 1813's auctioned off thru Heritage...why, just look at the archives.
    I reviewed the archives this morning.
    THE COINS SUCK
    They're all harilined fugly dipped out 1813's in both AU55 and AU58 (except for one possibly decent on in PCGS58 out of ALL the rest) I'm amazed at what people bid on.
    THIS coin is FANTASTIC
    WHOLLY ORIGINAL and unmolested
    I got this coin thru one of the early Legend auctions
    Still lustrous in the protected areas, with a golden metallic iridescence. Just beautiful.
    Magnificent surfaces for any grade up to 63. NOthing hidden.
    This is a great, organic, Bust Half
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  • I'm glad I'm posting these here, because the Bower's and Merena catalogue for Baltimore was just posted on their site, and the photos are
    well..ummm.....
    so please check out my photos if there's a coin you're interested in, or just pm me.


    Michael
  • I'll try to get all the coins I'm having auctioned off by BM, posted on this message board because their photos don't really show the coin for what it is.

    This is the 1813 50/UNI

    not so easy to find


    this one is NGC XF 45

    hard to find one like this, unmolested, natural, clean surfaces without those fkng hairlines at this grade level.

    Very nice piece R4 and not easy by any means if not elusive

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    LOT 990 ***********
  • I'm going to jump to my two 1836's by request, and then get back to the other dates at a later time.

    The 1836 with the Beaded Reverse is a PCGS 50, nice, organic looking coin with a more chestnutty brown tone than the BM photo reveals. It's an R1, but you don't find these very often at all, especially unmolested like this one.

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    LOT 1051 **************

    What follows is the 1836/1336 in a state of preservation that I doubt you will ever see again. Seriously. It was a luxury to find a coin like this. The coin, by the way, is entirely original, and outstanding in every way. I just love this coin.

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    LOT 1052 ____________*********
  • guitarwesguitarwes Posts: 9,237 ✭✭✭


    You're absolutly right about the BM pics, they are terrible. Your coins are very very nice. Wish I had the dough to add a couple to my set. Best of luck to you with the auction.

    @ Elite CNC Routing & Woodworks on Facebook. Check out my work.
    Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
  • GABGAB Posts: 641
    SWEET 36's !!

    The O-106 looks like an O-106a from the pics. I can't tell for sure if there
    is a crack from the right wing to the C of AMERICA, but all the other cracks
    are solid. I want BOTH of them, but will probably get blown out of the water(you hope!)
    Thanks for the images.
    Golf time!!
  • I'd been looking for an 1814/3 for quite a long time. Difficult time finding the 'right' coin. You know, my collecting habits, within a set, allowed for quite a lot of variability in the 'kinds' of coins. My rationale was that with this species of coin, i.e., the Capped Bust Half, there are SO MANY toning parameters that each coin is an individual entity. I mean, it's like their .. I don't know, 'different' from other coins. There's a character to be expressed with what can go on with silver, and that era of minting, while they had problems, lot's of them, in the US MINT, gave us collectors a great opportunity. Die marriages, which are phenomenal study with Bust Half material are only part of the story these coins can tell. The stage of the die, the kind of silver used, the different kinds of toning depending on how they were stored. An amazing plethora of differnt kinds of beauty.

    The first 1814/3 I bought was a beauty, an AU50 CAC stickered (for whatever that means, because to me it bears no relevance, though, I understand what they are trying to do) from, oh gosh, I forget his name...while at a Baltimore auction. Shortly thereafter, and 1814/3 in AU53 became available through Dick Osburn, which he described as colorful, which indeed it was, so I traded up and here it is:

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    Even those photos don't do it justice, you have to see it, and very pretty it is.

    Now the BM photos are a bit washed out but their description is pretty good:

    nullLOT 993 ***********************


    It's only an R2, but I had a helluva time finding it.
  • I'll introduce the 1817 that's up for auction with BM in March.
    Organic original and unfooled with
    Gorgeous toning if you like them this way
    Graded NGC MS62

    Lovely coin

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    gorgeous strike, great surfaces, great original flavor


    LOT 997 ********************
  • This is a really beautiful, and needless to say, fully original 1819/8 large 9 in PCGS XF 40. I bought this for my collection at another Baltimore show, and it is a truly lovely representative of this overdate FOR ANY GRADE! Which is why I snatched this one up as soon as I found it.

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    LOT 1000 ******************
  • Another Bustie I'm auctioning thru BM this month is a GREAT coin. Firstly, it's an 1819 101a which is an R3, and in PCGS 63, is probably condition census for this die marriage (BHNC members please correct me if I'm wrong). Lustrous, original, unmolested, true MS. Extraordinary surfaces for the grade. Very nice thin blanket of toning allowing full luster to come through. This is a spectacular coin.

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    LOT 1001 *************************
  • There were only 751,122 minted this year (including the 20/19),
    which is less than the 1814, but just a wee bit more than the 1807.
    Still using the 1817-1825 Sub Design #4, this constituted six
    obverse and seven reverse dies producing eight distinct die
    marriages.

    ALL 1820'S ARE BIG TIME SLEEPERS

    totally undervalued and rarer than the market knows at this time.
    that won't last for long.

    All of these coins were very difficult for me to obtain in the condition that they are in.

    1820 square 2 Overton 108 Rarity 2 PCGS 55

    f all the different kinds of "2's" that were used in the 1820 Bust Halves (the curled base "2", and the two different square base "2's"; the square base knobbed top and the square base curled top), the square base curled top is supposedly the least scarce variety, although still scarce in and of it's own.

    Overton suggests that the low mintage of all the 1820 Capped Bust Halves (751,122) is due to increased mintage of small denomination silver coinage for that year.

    There are only three varieties of the square base curled top (or no knob) two. This is Overton 108, the hallmarks of which include a recut star #5 and a "2" that leans towards the left. The reverse shows leaves and berries that are doubled.

    This particular coin is a lovely silver with an overlay of russet-orange toning which concentrates at the periphery.

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    LOT 1006 *********

    1820 knobbed 2 Overton 104 PCGS 45 (should be a 50) Rarity 4+
    ex Sheridan Downey
    Chicago ANA 1999.

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    LOT 1004 ***********


    20/19 curl Overton 102 PCGS AU50

    To me, one of the MOST stupendous coins in my collection with outrageous originality, the truist of true depth with underlying blushes of pink and blue on the silver.

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    LOT 1003 ***********

    20/19 square Overton 101a Rarity 3 PCGS AU 53

    The 1820/19 Square 2 overdate is supposed to be of a rarity greater than that of the overdate with the 2 having a Curled base. At least, from looking at auction archives, this roughly (for all grades, using Heritage auctions for the past 2 years, I found about twice as many curled 2's offered than the square base 2's) seems to be the case, though, finding them without damage from cleaning is difficult in either case.

    The square based overdate at one time was thought to be an 1820/18/19, later 'determined' to be 1820/19, but then again, Souders discusses the possibility of it indeed being an 1820/18/19 overdate, and his questions about it make sense.

    The projected mintage (for both the Overton 101 and 102), according to Souders, is 187,780, and he believes that combined, there are only about 1100-1300 extant.

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    LOT 1002 *******

  • Yes, the 26th is the day.

    I want to introduce the 1821 in PCGS 62, an Overton 107, Rarity 2.

    The coin is lustrous, beautifuly colored and unfooled with. I believe this coin went from a board member to Mike Printz.

    I bought this coin from Mike Printz, and hope he doesn't mind using his photos, as I didn't take my own, subject to his accuracy and better picture taking. I'll also include the PCGS true view, which pre-existed my buying this coin.

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    LOT 1008 ************
  • kazkaz Posts: 9,052 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great coins, superb photos. They will make their new caretakers very happy!
  • Thanks for your very kind words.

    ***********************************************************************************


    If anyone would like a BM catalogue for the Baltimore auction this March (which also contains the coins I'm auctioning off ehem) BM tells me they will send an auction catalogue to anyone whose name I send to them.

    So, if you don't already have a catalogue and want one, PM your name and address to me, and I'll phone it in.



    ************************************************************************************



    This is a really cute little group that I'm also auctioning this month thru BM.
    I really wanted to have all three of these particular die marriages, and believe me, it wasn't easy, even in this grade level. The Broken three, I purchased from Di ck Osburn, raw, while in Baltimore last year. The Patched 3, I purchased from Premium Numismatics, and the Ugly 3, I found at a Heritage auction.

    They are all good coins. Nothing screwy going on. Hard to find like this.

    The 1823 broken three O-101 Rarity 3, PCGS XF40
    a solid coin.

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    LOT 1011**********


    The 1823 patched 3 O-101a Rarity 1 PCGS XF45
    beautiful periphery
    solid coin

    The 1823 has some rather interesting die marriages,
    this was a period of time
    where Scot was ill and died in the latter part of 1823,
    and Kneass was not yet the engraver.
    The situation in the Mint must have been untenable, and while one of the
    stories explaining the patched three was that the die punch for the 3, broke,
    and was later patched. Souders suggests differently, however, and offers the
    thought that the 3 punch was basically unfinished, believed to provide what they needed, and later found out to not provide what they wanted
    when they saw that the 3 was essentially 'broken' in the finished product.
    The result of this was to 'patch' the 3, and thus we have this particular coin, the 'patched 3'.



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    LOT 1012 **********

    The 1823 UGLY 3 Overton 110a Rarity 3
    Another wholly original untouched well struck and solid coin
    PCGS XF40

    OK, the story of the UGLY 3 is this (per Souders). A die crack formed in the die, traversing the 3 causing die chips and therefore, the UGLY 3. Not a reworked 3 that just looks ugly.

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    LOT 1014************



  • If you would like a BM catalogue for the Baltimore auction this March (which also contains the coins I'm auctioning off ehem) BM tells me they will send an auction catalogue to anyone whose name I send to them.

    So, if you don't already have a catalogue and want one, PM your name and address to me, and I'll phone it in.



    Another amazing coin being auctioned via Bower's and Merena this month, the 1823/numerous
    or 1824/various

    1824 Over Various Dates O-103

    Souders calls this one of the strangest overdates in all of numismatics, ranks it 8th in the mintages of Bust Half overdates, and estimates 900-1000 extant.

    I love this coin. Great original looking patina, wonderfully odd overdate.
    Now, I don't care much for getting picky about grades, especially regarding Busties, because both their beauty and difficulty in acquiring nice specimens, obviates grade consideration. Just my opinion. In fact, I've been buying some F-VF Busties, and I'm finding them even more interesting and difficult to find than higher end coins.

    With this grade, PCGS 53, they are simply wrong. Why do I make such a strong statement? The reason for this is that Busties have their own peculiarities that affect the actual grading of the coin. This particular overdate is generally poorly struck, mostly due to the serial lapping that these dies underwent. In consideration of this, seriously, this is a 55 at least. And I point this out because the third party graders are not infallible, and ultimately, it's the collector, who determines the grade of their coin. No one knows more than the collector. Also, there are political and economic reasons for how third party graders, grade the coins. No one should forget that. I think this is a speech on collector empowerment!

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    The coins is absolutely gorgeous, with a slight double profile as well. Amazing coin.

    LOT 1015**********


  • If anyone wants a Bower's and Merena Catologue for this auction, just PM me with your name and address


    My policy is never to cross a coin that is in an old NGC fatty holder. I think they look great, and there's just something special about it (even though the rumor is that they would probably upgrade a point).

    This 1826...well...it's in an old fatty holder graded NGC AU55, and..why...I'm not even going to describe it! This coin is so darn spectacular that it will speak for itself. I bought this coin from Dave Wnuck (Coinraritiesonline.com) and hope he doesn't mind my using his photos.

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    LOT 1018 *******
  • If you don't already have a Bower's and Meren Catalogue, I can still get one out to you. Just PM me your name and address, and I'll let them know


    The 1827 curled base 2 in PCGS AU 58

    How can I describe one of the most beautifully original and most difficult to find Bust Halves?

    I cannot tell you how long it took me to find this curled base two. You just don't see them. AND I have never, ever, seen one as stupendous as this.

    This is from the Premium Collection of Capped Bust Halves via Bower's and Merena.



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    LOT 1022 *******
  • It's still not too late to get the Bower's and Merena Catalogue for the Baltimore auction this month (the 26th). If you want one, just PM me.


    The 1828's have always fascinated me. There are quite a few to collect, Curled base 2's, square base 2's, curled base with knob, square base large 8, square base small 8 with small letters and square base with small 8 and large letters.


    I only obtained three of the above for my collection, all great specimens I was really proud to own, and also difficult to part with.

    I'll start with the most difficult to find, and that is the 1828 curled 2 with knob, Overton 106 which is a Rarity 4.. Graded PCGS AU55.
    and cannot tell you how long I've been searching for this coin.

    There's also a story I cannot tell fully, but I bought one (I think it was a pcgs 58) and returned it the same day, complicated reasons having nothing to do with the coin. Then, I found this one on the Premium coins web site, and now it's here.
    NGC's only graded 9 so far, and only 2 of those are above AU55, PCGS has 50 recorded in total, with only 10 in AU55, and only 15 higher. Very very likely with multiple submissions skewing this number (for whatever it's worth). Then, finding one unhairlined, naturally toned, unstripped and un-molested in any way is close to impossible.

    I'm amazed at how minimal Bower and Merena's description is for such an incredible coin, but then, a Bust Half Collector would defnitely know. .

    This is a very handsome coin and WHOLLY original.
    No hairlines, no hazing, gorgeous thick skin.
    Exceptional strike, exceptional surfaces.

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    LOT 1024*******


    Next, is an exceptionally beautiful, wholly natural, gorgeously toned with lovely underlying luster, 1828 square base 2 large 8 (Overton 108) graded NGC 58 in an Old Fatty holder (which I love).

    The coin is absolutely stunning!

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    LOT 1025*********


    Last but certainly not least, is a PCGS 62 1828 with the curled base (crossed from an NGC MS63 holder). The coin is amazing, which is why I bought it. Wonderful Mint Frost. When do you see this on a Bust Half???? It's like it came right off the press. Also, it is a TRUE MS and not an over-fabricated AU58. IN fact, NONE of the MS coins in my collection can be confused with AU58, and if anything, there are several AU58's that never saw circulation. So there you have it.

    This coin must have been dipped at one point, but obviously, properly dipped, meaning; the die flow lines did not dissolve away. In fact, the mint frost was preserved, and for this alone, the coin is amazing. It's also developed a nice skin over time. It is not hazed.

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    LOT 1023***********


  • Just getting started on collecting Bust Halves, so the pics are very enjoyable to view and educational. Thanks for sharing.
  • The 1830 large 0 was a very evasive coin for me. When I finally found one, as is often the case, suddenly their popping up all over the marketplace. This has hppened to me with a few coins. You wonder why.

    Try to find a decent one.

    Only one PCGS AU58 is listed as being auctioned by Heritage since 1996
    even though PCGS has 45 as being holdered (numbers of course skewed by resubmissions) and only 225 of the 1830 large 0 being holdered altogether, as opposed to 1,210 for the small O variety, so skewed or not, the difference is significant.

    I wish I had the coin in hand now, because I'd rephotograph if. Here is where I think BM actually did a better job with the photography.

    The coin is magnificent, wholly original and un-fooled with in any way.
    The color is gorgeous,centrally dove grey patination with brown, terminating peripherally with a golden brown/crimson iridescence.

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    LOT 1030**********


    The 1830 small O is relatively common, if you can call any Bust Half 'common' compared to many other types of popular collectible coins. Again, finding a special one is no mean task. Finding a true mint state in the lower mint state grades (i.e., MS 62-64) is in itself daunting.

    I originally purchased this coin from Premium Numismatics and I believe it may have belonged once to another board member here.

    The coin sports a nice double profile, extremely clean un-fooled with surfaces for the grade, and a natural rose/lavender grey center, extending peripherally into a golden blue/grey. Incredibly sharp strike and Satiny luster.
    The coin is ex-Prouty.

    A lovely coin.
    And no, you will not have an easy time finding anything near this quality.

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    LOT 1028**********

  • I'm always amazed at how much I paid for this 1829/7, and what I see them going for at auction, which is scary, considering this one will find a new owner in just a few days now.

    Oh...what amazes me is that I paid such a premium over what I see going on with the major auction firms. Did I pay too much??? I don't think so.

    The photos I have here are while it was in its NGC holder, before crossing as the AU58 that it is, to PCGS. I like the PCGS holders a lot better than NGC, except for the NGC old fatty holders. The optics are better with PCGS holders, and with my vision, a little bit can make a big difference.

    Again, I wish these coins were still in my hands, because I would rephotograph this beauty, since what you see, is just a small part of it's glory.

    The coin is well struck with gorgeous natural coloration consisting of pearl grey with varying shades of lavender and blue, terminating in golden brown iridescence, making for a very nice looking coin. And again, search through the auction archives and locate an AU58 like this one. Ha! Bet you can't find one!

    I hope this finds a good home.

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    LOT 1026***********
  • OK, the AUCTION is this Thursday (26th) and my nerves are a little bit shot, worried about the whole 'economy' issue, and how the bidding will turn out.

    I might as well try to finish off this post, since there's only two days left, and I'm not certain I'll be able to post again.


    I want to show you the 1835 that I bought raw (I felt it was bordering on 64 but it holdered at PCGS 63, which is an appropriate grade if you consider it PQ). I honestly wish I could buy all my coins raw, but I haven't had the opportunity to examine that many raw mint state Busties. I have no fear buying a Bustie raw.

    I was at the Stamford show when CAC was offering to take groups of coins...Iforget the number...like 12 or 15, and evaluate them for free. I think I had about a dozen coins with me at the time, and, since the opporutunity was there, I handed them in. They all came out CAC stickered, for whatever tha'ts worth, and I think, only one of these ended up in auction, and this is the one. When I put it down on the table while signing up for the eval, someone looked down at it and said "What a beautiful coin".

    I think that tells it all.

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    and here are the edges, since I had the opportunity to photograph them before being holdered. A neat thing to have for anyone here who might capture this coin on Thursday.

    Mind you, the later 'common dates' of the Capped Bust Half Series are EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT to find with 'the look'.

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    LOT 1049********
  • The auction is tomorrow, Thursday, March 26
    am I anxious?????????????????????????????


    Thanks for all the interest and PM's that were very supportive.

    I really appreciated that!


  • TomBTomB Posts: 20,697 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That's a beautiful 1835 CBH. Good luck on the auction, it appears that there are quite a few truly choice and original pieces in this set.
    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

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