1870 pattern copper half dollar....PR-66BN or PR-62RB. GTG

ArizonaRareCoins

I will tell you that this coin is PCGS graded PR-66BN or PR-62RB.

FHC

PR-66 BN. Nice coin either way!

Zoins

Both

At different times.

Insider2

I wish I could follow the sage advice to keep my mouth shut if I had nothing nice to say; but...

The coin is a harshly cleaned, environmentally damaged, IMPAIRED Proof. I suspect it looks much better in hand. There is no way that coin graded higher than 62 RB as even that grade is a stretch.
The coin is over graded. That's why grading class instructors will tell students that they will fine over graded, correctly graded, and under graded coins in every major grading service holder.

I should hope that no one posts mistakes like this on our host's site. I wish you would have said the coin was "raw" and there would be plenty of confirmation of my opinion: Even PR-60 is a gift as the coin has been buffed down to AU!

ArizonaRareCoins

@Zoins said:
Both

At different times.

WOW, very good. This coin was graded both. Originally it was in a PCGS PR-66BN holder, today, it now rests in a PCGS PR-62RB holder......Was that just a lucky guess, or did you look them up somehow?

ArizonaRareCoins

pcgscoinfacts.com/Coin/AuctionDetail/61199/1864790

http://images.goldbergauctions.com/php/lot_auc.php?sale=62&site=1&lot=2035

Insider2

Question if you know the history of the coin. Did someone crack it out of a 66 holder hoping for a 67? LOL.

Or perhaps someone (a big player) either bought it to protect the grading service's reputation or made the TPGS "eat it for $$$" and it was regraded closer to what it really is.

If this is an example of a recently graded coin, those collectors who cannot grade for themselves are in serious trouble!

Zoins

@ArizonaRareCoins said:

@Zoins said:
Both

At different times.

WOW, very good. This coin was graded both. Originally it was in a PCGS PR-66BN holder, today, it now rests in a PCGS PR-62RB holder......Was that just a lucky guess, or did you look them up somehow?

Educated guess. Seemed to fit

ricko

Great guess @Zoins.... I would have went for the straight 62 grade... ....Cheers, RickO

ArizonaRareCoins

Photo's of this coin seem to have "mysteriously" disappeared......I love a good COVER-UP:

pcgscoinfacts.com/Coin/AuctionDetail/61199/1864790

images.goldbergauctions.com/php/lot_auc.php?sale=62&site=1&lot=2035

Zoins

Right now the pop is:

62: 1
64: 2
65: 2

@ArizonaRareCoins said:
Photo's of this coin seem to have "mysteriously" disappeared......I love a good COVER-UP:

pcgscoinfacts.com/Coin/AuctionDetail/61199/1864790

images.goldbergauctions.com/php/lot_auc.php?sale=62&site=1&lot=2035

Here's the Goldberg info (photos already gone) just in case the description also disappears.

Sale 62: Lot 2035
1870 Pattern Half Dollar. Copper, reeded edge. Judd-953. Pollock-1096 Low Rarity 7. PCGS graded Proof 66 Brown. Housed in an Old Green Holder. Highest PCGS certified Judd-953. A resplendent brownish steel-gray highlights the gem reddish brown foundation of the piece with a vivid display of rich mirrored iridescence on both sides. Clear-cut devices point to it having been giving a full strike by the dies. Only a portion of LIBERTY at the headband shows any diminishment in the detail.
1870 marks the appearance of the "Standard" reverses for the Pattern coins from the half dime to the dollar, a group out of which this lovely Proof Judd-953 is a member. Probably because of lack of time to prepare suitable obverse dies, these reverses were combined with the obverses of 1869 and a new seated Liberty design by Barber. When this reverse design was combined with the Barber obverse design for the quarter, half and silver dollar and with the Longacre design for a silver dollar, unintentional mules resulted since United States of America does not appear on either side.
The "Standard Silver" series of dimes, quarters and half dollars of 1869 were again issued dated 1870.
At the Mint, experiments continued with silver coins labeled STANDARD SILVER but of lower weights than those authorized by the Act of 1853. As was the case with 1869 STANDARD SILVER Patterns, many varieties were made. The 1870 coinage included pieces denominated STANDARD 1 DOLLAR as well. Pop 1; none finer at PCGS (PCGS # 61199) .
Estimated Value $6,000 - 6,500.
Realized $7,763

Zoins

@ArizonaRareCoins said:
Photo's of this coin seem to have "mysteriously" disappeared......I love a good COVER-UP:

pcgscoinfacts.com/Coin/AuctionDetail/61199/1864790

images.goldbergauctions.com/php/lot_auc.php?sale=62&site=1&lot=2035

The images (also in the OP) are still available here for now:

http://www.goldbergcoins.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/7/lot/23663/