1847 Seated Dollar - do you like this look?

rhedden

This common date 1847 Seated dollar (PCGS XF45) popped up on eBay this afternoon, and I bought it after a few minutes of studying auction prices. I probably paid right about what it would bring in a Heritage auction, and it's a very common date, so it's not like I bought it because it was underpriced or super-rare. It's a very nice type coin for its grade range, basically. Nearly all Seated dollars from the 1840s are missing their original skin, even if they are gradable. In my judgment, this one is in the top 10% for originality, but I'm just guessing that from the seller's photos.

After looking at dozens of this date in the Heritage archives, I really came to appreciate the patina on this coin and its freedom from distracting marks. So what do you think- do you like the look, or would you say "pass"? I won't be insulted; my skin is much thicker than what you will find on most Seated dollars.

link to larger image

LoveMyLiberty

Wish you wouldn't fill the screen with such

extra large images!



Oh, pardon me.

rhedden

Hmmmm... I posted it over on the testing forum, and it fit perfectly. Post is called "test image size"- LOL. Also looks perfect on my monitor in this thread. Give me a second and I will downsize it.

Boosibri

I guess it depends on what you plan to do with it. I wouldn't like it enough to add it to my collection but if you got a decent deal and plan on selling it, a good deal is a good deal.

rhedden

No flipping- this is meant to join my other Seated dollar in my collection, which is an 1871 that is also a PCGS XF45, coincidentally.

erwindoc

The toning on the rub or around the rub bothers me, but its your coin. If you are pleased that is all that matters!

rhedden

I figured some people would not like the rub spots, but these rub spots are a likely indicator of originality to me. They usually disappear after a coin has been cleaned and retoned, like most XF-AU Seated dollars have been. It's hard to find a fully original XF-AU Seated dollar that does not have some rub spots on the obverse.

bigjpst

I also find the rub spots a bit distracting in the pictures. It is possible the pictures are making them seem more prominent than they really are.

shish

I like it and I agree that it appears to retain it's original skin which makes it very desirable IMHO.

stman

I think it's decent. Like you say compared to other ones out there that have a bunch of marks, and nasty looking toning, or scrubbed to death. That said, I don't feel it's totally original, but better than a whole lot out there.



You asked so I will say I think you could have done better for a type coin, but it's your choice so all is good.

VanHalen

I like it. The price was retail on a retail venue so perhaps it wasn't a bargain but it looks accurately graded and original. Like the seller said, "Nice coin".

kaz

I think it's attractive. No marks to note and the rims are in great shape. I like the patination. As noted, finding 1840's SD's unmolested in mid grades is a bit of a challenge. Mine (raw) is a bit lower grade with some rim bumps and uniformly dark gray fields.

okiedude

I like it! 140K mintage may make it "not rare" for a SLD, but pretty scarce for any other series-LOL!

scubafuel

The rub jumped out at me also, but in a good way. I feel it is a pretty reliable indicator of originality. Any cleaning or dipping tends to erase this type of toning. I have several early quarters with high point rub that looks similar, and they get high marks for originality from me (and all passed cac)



So I think you'll like it! It seems very hard to find these original and not dinged up.

sparky64

Yes.

No distracting hits, nice rims.

Lots of meat remaining too.

Congrats.

Manorcourtman

Nice coin! Congrats!

coindeuce

I like your choice rhedden. Here is one I picked off in August. Very similar thought process in choosing this one, PCGS XF-40:

coinlieutenant

I think that you are going to have to see it in hand to be sure. The pic may not represent the coin completely...

etexmike

Love the look of the reverse but not so much the obverse.



Not a coin for me but I hope it fits with what you are after and looks great in hand to you.





Mike

rhedden

That's a nice 1841, coindeuce! Much, much tougher date than 1847 for certain.

Jinx86

I really like the eye appeal to this piece. I too like Seated dollars in XF-AU Grades. Its always fun to find nice examples.



Here is a 1846 PCGSXF45 I picked up raw from a forum member a few years back.

oih82w8

The rub contrast (cheek, arm, breast and leg) with the remainder of the coin is too much for my liking.



If you like it, that should be all that matters.

mannie gray

I think it's a nice coin.

keyman64

Originally posted by: oih82w8

The rub contrast (cheek, arm, breast and leg) with the remainder of the coin is too much for my liking.



If you like it, that should be all that matters.

barberkeys

Ron - I like the look, congrats on the acquisition.

Treashunt

Originally posted by: bigjpst
I also find the rub spots a bit distracting in the pictures. It is possible the pictures are making them seem more prominent than they really are.

ditto

coinkat

It looks better than most- congrats



And this series is tough especially in the 45-58 range-

winky

Like the 41 better than the 47 but I like dark original toning on seated dollars.

EastonCollection

Rhedden - Boy those seated dollars are one tough series and finding any original seated dollars is a winner IMHO. The coin you got is one of the better examples as its original and its has alot of meat to it. I guess if you ever come across a more eye appealing one (one with more originally toning) then you can always upgrade it and sell this one. However, it may take about 5 years to find a replacement as they are that tough. Nice coin until you find better - in 5 years.

rhedden

What's really interesting is that out of about 250 Seated coins in my collection, only three of them are Seated dollars. One of them is a duplicate 1847 in raw EF45 that will get sold at some point, oddly enough, leaving me with just two of them I want to keep. It's not that I don't like this series as much as the other denominations - I think they're awesome coins. It's just that I barely ever see one I want to buy - and even so, only about half of the posters on this thread like the one I chose. What a tough series to collect in eye-appealing condition! I cannot even imagine chasing down the 1850s dates in fully original condition, unless you want to spend the mega-bucks and by Unc./Proof examples.

EastonCollection

RHedden - I agree with your comments - finding any original seated dollars are too tough to collect. I tried to put a date set together but you just can't find them the way I like them. The vast majority of them are dipped white without any original skin. I moved on to other series but if I d come across an original seated dollar at the right price, I don't pass it up. Personally, if feel that seated dollars is one of the toughest series out there as they are just not available - unless you have unlimited funds and alot of help finding them for you.

Catbert

Seated dollars are way cool in my book, but I am really distracted at the prominent rub on face and breast. Not for me!

roadrunner

I like it. I saw that exact same "crusty" rub-a-dub-rub look on an XF45 1839 no drapery quarter a few years back and bought it instantly. A number of dealers badgered me about buying it so I let it go for a nice profit. Very easy coin to sell. You see so few of these any more that in a way, they look "wrong" at first glance. It might be that some of these sat face down in drawer and saw the obv high points get an additional layer of wear on the patina. A similar circumstance are when the unc CBH's and early seated coins show a black patina on the highest parts of the design. That isn't viewed so well either by the collector community....and a dipping often follows.



Isn't interesting that in today's numismatic world that original patina, original rub, original luster (ie that "funky" so little seen all orig look) is not the first choice of most collectors. What they want is bright, blasty, dipped, and "prettier" secondary or tertiary toning. We've come a long ways from the 1970's. Note that the world of antiques doesn't think like that. Original surfaces are everything to them.



Fwiw I only see one possible original seated dollar on this thread.

TPRC

I really like the look.

rhedden

Here is my other PCGS XF45 Seated dollar, which is the "with motto" type coin in my collection. This dollar came to me out of a very old collection that was in storage since about 1961. It was sitting in a 1930s cardboard dealer stock box, and it resided in an old yellow paper envelope of 1940s vintage. I'm not sure if the coin was ever dipped, as it does not have the natural wear spots that the 1847 dollar has, but it's got at least 70 years of toning on its surfaces. The slight haze around the edges on the reverse is not real- it's an artifact from my camera looking through the plastic. I wish this coin did not have the obverse contact marks, but it's got a subtle irridescence (blue/yellow/rose) in its patina that makes it attractive when tilted under a lamp.

kaz

Just for a different "look," here is my 1847. Still raw in 2x2. The flash from the mylar makes the rims look worse than they are.

MFH

I think the 1847 is attractive and the rub spots are an indicator of originality.

Boosibri

I have owned two in the past, both a part of a 42 mint set I was building.

BryceM

I think it's a nice coin overall. The absence of marks is a plus. The toning around the areas of wear is a bit distracting to my eye, and that would make it not for me, but I can appreciate the evidence of originality it conveys.