1858 Proof Half Dime ??
aus3000tin
Posts: 369 ✭✭✭
Is this a proof or proof-like coin ??
Are the dentils weak for an 1858 proof ??
Is there a hit on the obverse at the 2 o'clock position ??
On the reverse, the letters look mushy & NOT strong-edged.
Is this common ??
Or is it like my ex-girlfriend, it looks nice, but has issues ? 
Any conjecture is appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris
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I would say it is a very nice half dime... but not proof.... Perhaps proof-like...It does look like a rim ding at two o'clock. I have not seen a picture of your ex girlfriend, so really cannot compare...but the issues on this coin are, IMO, minor. Cheers, RickO
Do you have other images that are not so over exposed?
Either way, I would suggest sending it to PCGS. If it's a business strike, it still looks like it might grade high enough to be worth submitting.
Additional photos with different angles or type of lighting would help us make an educated guess, but I think you're not going to know its proof vs. business strike status for certain until it comes back from PCGS.
I think that is might be a Proof. Many of the 1858 half dimes I have seen were weakly struck, and this piece is sharp. I also think the rims might indicate a Proof although I would have see to piece in person to say for sure.
Here is a certified 1858 Proof Dime. I got this one out of the bank a few weeks ago to really examine it. I am quite sure that it is a Proof.
The coin appears to be a proof. Submitting it to PCGS is the way to know for certain.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
This coins is NOT mine.
It's on market.
So, I was trying to get all expert opinions, before I buy.
Thanks,
Chris
Without more information, you are buying a pig in a poke. If it is a Proof, it might be impaired. I see what could be some roughness by the left wreath stem. Everything hinges on the price. I won't pay a big, speculative premium. You can buy the real thing, and the real thing is not that popular and expensive because it's small. Some collectors don't like small coins, no matter how nice or rare they are.
You can check out the CoinFacts page if you haven't already.
http://www.pcgscoinfacts.com/Coin/Detail/4437
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
It is being advertised as a proof (if my internet sleuthing is correct). I'm assuming the seller has the means and the knowledge to submit to a TPG if it's worth it to them. Since it's not holdered already, it makes me think it won't straight grade or it already came back body-bagged/details-graded and was subsequently cracked out.
That being said, the seller does have a 30-day return period. So if you purchase it, maybe take it to a dealer or two for a professional evaluation in person. Maybe buy something there also to return the favor
Good luck!
The die variety of this coin is 1858 V-4A, which is one of the two known proof die varieties for the year.
You can identify the die variety from the die line from the upper right serif of the second T in STATES to the dentils,
and the date which is roughly centered in height between the dentils and the base of Liberty.
You can verify this yourself by checking the photos of the proof 1858 half dimes on PCGS CoinFacts.
http://www.pcgscoinfacts.com/CoinImages.aspx?s=4437
Of the 9 proof 1858 half dimes shown on PCGS CoinFacts, 5 are V-4A and 4 are V-8.
Sometimes business strikes were made using proof dies. But at least this coin is from a die variety known for making proofs.
Here is a definite proof I owned a few years ago. Bought it raw from a dealer and sold it raw to another dealer before getting around to slabbing it. I graded it in the Proof-63 to 64 range due to hairlines.
They can have some weak denticles at times, especially on the obverse as can be seen in the photos on pcgscoinfacts.com.
pcgscoinfacts.com/CoinImages.aspx?s=4437
The 1859 can be even worse in that regard.
The one in the original post certainly looks like it could be a Proof, but could not be certain without seeing in-person. Don't know if they may have used proof dies to also make business strikes or not.
Here is a link to what was said in "Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins 1722-1989" available here on the PCGS site:
https://pcgs.com/books/breen-proofs/Chapter07-003.aspx
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"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
@WinLoseWin, nice coin.
This is an 1858 V-8, the other proof die variety discussed in Breen's Proof Encyclopedia that you linked.
It has the low, downhill date, and I believe I can see the diagnostic thin die line which splits IC on the reverse, in your upper photo.
The obverse planchet flakes suggest a proof, The one between stars 6-7 is a major distraction. Obverse lighting obscures as much as it reveals. Reverse seems impossible for a business strike.
And having just read @yosclimber on Valentine, I'm in.
PR62 value would be $850-$1050.
All conditional on TPG opinion
@ColonelJessup thank you for sharing your observations on the proof diagnostics for the V-8 posted by @WinLoseWin - I can see the flake between stars 6-7 which you describe.
Any thoughts on the V-4A in the first post by @aus3000tin ?
I went OT with the second coin
OPs's coin looks and smells like a proof, but without tasting it (in-hand) I couldn't say.
If the coin is unslabbed, I would not touch it without a clearly stated invoice saying it is returnable unless proof status is confirmed by a TPG. It's sure worth a grading fee and shipping.
My biggest problem, besides minor concern about denticulation, is, as for many others, that the nicer it looks (64-65), the more suspicious that it's not already TPG'd