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1839-C Half Eagle

cameron12xcameron12x Posts: 1,384 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
Thoughts on the grade? (Teletrade)

imageimage

Eye appeal?

Comments

  • BustHalfBrianBustHalfBrian Posts: 4,192 ✭✭✭✭
    IMHO, it's more of a high XF example. Calling it AU was kind of a stretch...

    And the cleaning appears to have been very mild.
    Lurking and learning since 2010. Full-time professional numismatist based in SoCal.
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,800 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I am good with a low AU details grade. The eagle wings (feathers and tips) look sharp enough on the reverse, and the star and hair detail on the obverse looks appropriate.

    I have undoubtedly seen worse coins in grade holders.
    My Box of 20: https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/box-20/ryks-gold-box-20/17132
  • cameron12xcameron12x Posts: 1,384 ✭✭✭
    I'll go with AU-50 details, mildly cleaned. image

    So, what does that make her worth?
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,800 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I'll go with AU-50 details, mildly cleaned. image

    So, what does that make her worth? >>


    More than you should be willing to pay. It's a thin market.
    My Box of 20: https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/box-20/ryks-gold-box-20/17132
  • stevebensteveben Posts: 4,638 ✭✭✭✭✭
    pass on it. i vote for xf details and too bad somebody cleaned it.
  • sniocsusniocsu Posts: 1,291 ✭✭✭
    XF/AU cleaned
  • BustCudsBustCuds Posts: 1,096 ✭✭✭


    Strong XF...unfortunately been cleaned image
  • FlatwoodsFlatwoods Posts: 4,246 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My first impression was XF but I will definitely defer to RYK on this one.
    It's funny that on my home monitor it looked slightly cleaned.
    Now that I'm at work it looks much better on this monitor.
  • 7Jaguars7Jaguars Posts: 7,744 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Wow, I'm good with whoever graded this to be there when I submit my coins. EF is OK, I just think there is a real slip in grading to call coins such as this AU - even though its seemingly done all the time now. Yesterday's EF40 is today's AU53, why not?
    Love that Milled British (1830-1960)
    Well, just Love coins, period.
  • cameron12xcameron12x Posts: 1,384 ✭✭✭
    Re-cast images (for display only):

    image

    Any additional thoughts on the example?
  • BoosibriBoosibri Posts: 12,401 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nothing original left about it. Save your money.

    Latin American Collection

  • cameron12xcameron12x Posts: 1,384 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Nothing original left about it. Save your money. >>

    How much would it cost to obtain a AU-details example like this one with original surfaces?
  • BoosibriBoosibri Posts: 12,401 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Nothing original left about it. Save your money. >>

    How much would it cost to obtain a AU-details example like this one with original surfaces? >>



    By definition a details coin has a problem and probably doesn't have fully original surfaces. A nice AU50 will cost near $7k while a scrubbed AU-Details might bring $3k-$4k or less and be very tough to sell.

    I would recommend finding a nice XF40 (if you can find one) which should keep you around the $4k you would spend on a problem AU coin.

    Latin American Collection

  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,949 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How 'bout you guys all post your 1839 C half eagles and then we can compare all of those with the OP coin.
  • mkman123mkman123 Posts: 6,849 ✭✭✭✭
    you guys are tough on this coin, I've seen XF PCGS gold that looked like this get CAC stickers
    Successful Buying and Selling transactions with:

    Many members on this forum that now it cannot fit in my signature. Please ask for entire list.
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,799 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The piece has been cleaned, and I'm guessing that it is marked that way on the holder. The sharpness is that of an AU-50, and I'd say for pricing purposes it would fall in the VF-35 to EF-40 range. Gray Sheet EF-40 bid is $2,700 and VF-35 to EF-40 range on the PCGS guide is $4,200 to $5,200. I suppose $3,900 is fair, but it seems like "all of the money." I would rather have a piece that has not been missed with as much in view of the fact that PCGS price guide says that you can get a lower end AU for less than $10,000. But then again I don't know what your financial limits and budget is.

    At any rate it's a lot better than a piece with filed rims, lots of wear or a big ugly scratch. I'd say that the price is fair, but certainly no bargain.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,799 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>you guys are tough on this coin, I've seen XF PCGS gold that looked like this get CAC stickers >>



    And that is one of the area where I disagree with the CAC sticker ....

    But you guys have to remember that the sticker is for marketing and trading network purposes, NOT for a coin that is "superior" or "perfect " for the grade.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • cameron12xcameron12x Posts: 1,384 ✭✭✭
    Thanks for insight, Bill... much appreciated!

    Total price was $3306 (not $3900). And yes, I do have financial constraints which prevent me from dropping $10K for a pristine AU example.

    Anyway, I'll see what she looks like in hand. In the meantime, it would be great to see other VF-35 to AU-50 images of this issue posted in this thread. I'd love to see them.
  • s4nys4ny Posts: 1,573 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Thanks for insight, Bill... much appreciated!

    Total price was $3306 (not $3900). And yes, I do have financial constraints which prevent me from dropping $10K for a pristine AU example.

    Anyway, I'll see what she looks like in hand. In the meantime, it would be great to see other VF-35 to AU-50 images of this issue posted in this thread. I'd love to see them. >>



    Nice coin!
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 29,233 ✭✭✭✭✭
    cleaned, no grade.
  • cameron12xcameron12x Posts: 1,384 ✭✭✭


    << <i>cleaned, no grade. >>

    What about a technical grade, sans cleaning?
  • CharlotteDudeCharlotteDude Posts: 3,165 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Here's mine. PCGS XF-40, was in an NGC XF-45 back in 2005.

    Your coin is an AU-50 minimum, details-wise. Looks like it's been vigorously dipped though, which is most likely the reason for the NG. It does have a couple things going for it ... the strike is quite nice and sharp, and its surfaces are cleaner than typically seen. The '39-C $5 tends to come with a mushy obverse strike, rendering the curls and stars rather flat.

    imageimage

    regards,

    'dude
    Got Crust....y gold?
  • cameron12xcameron12x Posts: 1,384 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Here's mine. PCGS XF-40, was in an NGC XF-45 back in 2005.

    Your coin is an AU-50 minimum, details-wise. Looks like it's been vigorously dipped though, which is most likely the reason for the NG. It does have a couple things going for it ... the strike is quite nice and sharp, and its surfaces are cleaner than typically seen. The '39-C $5 tends to come with a mushy obverse strike, rendering the curls and stars rather flat.

    imageimage >>

    image

    Thanks for posting your example (it's beautiful) and for the feedback, Steve... as always, much appreciated!

    Not having the funds to purchase a pristine AU-50+ example, I was left with this one for now. From the photos, I'm fine purchasing it for $3300. I'm very happy with the strike. Again, we'll see how she looks in hand.

    There is a "time value of ownership" component to these types of purchases, IMHO.
  • g048406g048406 Posts: 247
    Very nice looking coin Cameron. I'd call it an AU55 details-dipped. That being said, here's a similar grade coin that sold for $2,530:
    1839-c $5 Gold NGC-AUcleaned
  • cameron12xcameron12x Posts: 1,384 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Very nice looking coin Cameron. I'd call it an AU55 details-dipped. That being said, here's a similar grade coin that sold for $2,530:
    1839-c $5 Gold NGC-AUcleaned >>

    Thanks the nice comment and feedback. I'd definitely call my example at least AU-50 (and possibly even AU-53), but AU-55 might be pushing it. The strike is particularly good on mine.

    That's what sets it apart in this comparison, IMHO, plus the Heritage example shows just a bit more wear, and much more abraded surfaces? And the auction was in 2010. Still, it's about as close a comparison as I'v seen so far. But I wasn't looking for this coin in 2010. Timing is everything!

    I'll need to peruse Heritage more and see what can be found to compare. Thanks for the research!

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