Need advice on my 1863 Seated Liberty S

CoinCollector1990

This will be my first attempt at posting an image. Fingers crossed it works. I am looking for advice on my 1863 Seated Liberty 50c piece. What do you think it would be graded as? Is it worth having sent in for grading?







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DNADave

tried to fix it but I think you just have the photobucket page link.

CoinCollector1990

Here we are. Think I've got it worked out.

DIMEMAN

Hard to tell from this pic, but the the coin looks nice.......maybe cleaned.

kaz

from the photos it looks like an AU level of wear but the luster of an XF, which makes me concerned about a cleaning. Do you see hairlines with a point source light (like LED)?

SamByrd

the coin perhaps will end up in a genuine slab.

The brightness around the stars and devices make it look like its been cleaned could just be the image.

The scratch on the left hand side to the right of 2 and 3 star will keep it from a regular grade imo.

CoinCollector1990

As far as I know the coin has not been cleaned. I think the lighter areas around the lettering is due to the lighting in my living room. I'll try and get a better image up.

CoinCollector1990

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Now that I am looking.. there does seem to be a lighter outline around the lettering, stars, seated lady etc. Is this a sign of cleaning? I bought 5 rolls of walking liberties last year and this guy was among them. Thought I may have found a gem.

CoinCollector1990

Overall consensus... worth having graded?

BryceM

It's very hard to tell from photographs sometimes. Those newest photos show a couple of things that I'd want to look at closely. What is going on in the right obverse field? It looks like a patch of hairlines on the most recent photo. The outline around the devices by itself doesn't always indicate a cleaning. Often those areas were simply protected from wear. There are a couple of rim bumps. The little dings and hits are consistent with a bit of wear and aren't too bothersome. The surfaces look a little too "reflective", which might indicate a cleaning / polishing, but it could just be the photos too....... Looks a little "off" to me though.



I'd let someone with some experience see it before I just sent it in. Might save you a few bucks.



That said, I feel it necessary to ask about your motivation. If you're looking to sell it, maybe. If it's just a coin you enjoy, why bother? If you really think it's a gem (MS65 - PG value $18,500), I can ABSOLUTELY guarantee that isn't going to happen. If you're very, very lucky, it's worth maybe $350-400. More likely it will come back with some grade that puts it in the $100-$200 range, which is borderline worth it for me to have graded.



BTW - Welcome to the forum!

PTVETTER

Looks a little off to me also

USMarine6

The halos around the stars concern me that it's been cleaned but tough to tell from the photos. Nothing wrong with a civil war date seated half though.

CoinCollector1990

Thanks Bryce! When it comes right down to it my coin collecting hobby is for my enjoyment as well a long term investment. Life happens... Maybe I need extra cash for my kids college one day.



That being said if I have a coin that is teetering on the edge of $150 bucks to $300 - $400 and a grade is the only way to be sure... it's worth having graded in my eyes.



I dont have a terribly huge amount of experience behind me on the realm of graded coins. When I came upon this forum there seemed to be alot of knowledgeable people. Thanks for all your input folks. Going to take it to a local shop, get their opinion and likely send it in.

291fifth

I am fairly sure it will end up in a "genuine" holder. However, that isn't all bad as Liberty Seated Dollars have been so extensively counterfeited that raw coins are all going to be suspect. If you can find someone who is willing to buy it at a reasonable price without it being slabbed I would sell it and not spend the money on certification.

CoinCollector1990

@291fifth -- what do you think a conservative price for the coin would be?

roadrunner

I also think you'll get a no grade. A luster halo around the stars and lettering would be fine and expected for an XF/AU coin. But this looks different than halo luster. I suspect cleaning, chemical treatment, etc.



A PCGS grade can easily add a $100 to a normally $200-$300. That's what the collectors seem to want. And a sticker helps too. If cleaned probably in the $100-$200 range. If ok could be $200-$400. Really comes down to how original those surfaces are OR aren't. If it's been messed with, I'd say $125-$175.

291fifth

Originally posted by: CoinCollector1990
@291fifth -- what do you think a conservative price for the coin would be?

Roadrunner's estimate of value seems to be right.

CoinCollector1990

Hmmm... You guys have given me much to think about! Thanks for all your help.

au58

If the photos are accurate, the coin is not original and not worth sending in.

lordmarcovan

Why all this talk of Seated Liberty dollars?



The coin in the pictures is an 1863-S HALF dollar, not an "1863 Seated $".



I do not think it would straight-grade, as previously mentioned, because of the cleaning and the scratches.



Personally, I think it would be a waste of money to submit it, unless you just really want it in a slab (with a " genuine " / " __details" grade.)



That being said, it has some nice details and is not a totally displeasing example.



Just not the best slab candidate, that's all.

bigjpst

Looks to be cleaned to me, but an XF details coin would probably sell for more than a raw cleaned coin. It looks like it might have a shot at AU details which could make it a couple hundred dollar coin. Moot point if you like it and want to keep it,but when you decide to sell you may be surprised at how little you are offered for it raw.

CoinCollector1990

Updated pictures

TopographicOceans

I'm also in the cleaned camp. It has very nice details.

I think it would come back Genuine AU Details, Cleaned

CoinCollector1990

Its with much regret that I must agree... little disappointed but hell I paid $5 per coin on the rolls this one came from a few years ago. Sad seeing such nice details cleaned up.