1826 CBH Assistance

Azurescens

Hello again folks.

I can't figure out which Overton it is. I'm torn between 4 of the 31 of them and could use assistance on grade also.

The black marks are curious to me too. They are perfect partial circles. Never seen this before. Half dimes on top of it for a long time or some such? Is the only thing I can think of. Size looks right, but I'm also very wrong here and often.

Many thanks to you all.

lkeigwin

O.105.

The black marks are from something like rubber bands.
Lance.

Azurescens

United at edge and needle point 2 gave it away?

Darn that's crummy on the rubber bands. Acetone would be the only thing to take it off?

I bought it as VF20, but think it falls between 30 and 35. The reverse looks almost like a 40 to me, but the high points have rub, and the obverse wear on hair curls, cap and hair above clasp would put it more at the 30 spectrum yes?

The scratch makes this a damage and the since-retoned surface cleaning makes this damaged/cleaned/30?

Do you think this is a fair assessment? Or is that the die crack extending to stars? Staple from a 2x2?

According to Photograde: Official Photographic Grading Guide for United States Coins 19th ed. Ruddy, James F., p 153 as below:

VF 20:

"Obv: All the major hair detail will show. The tops of the waves of hair will be worn flat.

Rev: Nearly all the major details of the feathers will show. Definite wear will show on the high points of the feathers".

EF 40:

"The hair curls will be well rounded with wear only on the high points. Rev: All feathers will be clearly visible. There will be slight wear on the highest tips of the feathers wings and claws."

Thanks in advance for any further help and thanks for the Overton attribution!

lkeigwin

I don't think the thin scratch on the obverse (from neck to S2, not the die crack from S1 to S3) will prevent a straight grade. It's minor and not uncommon to circulated bust halves.

The darker areas on the reverse, including the fainter obverse vertical stuff, is probably from poor storage. Something like a rubber band can be responsible but it could be other things. In all likelihood acetone will not remove it. It is, essentially, unwanted toning. (But acetone won't hurt and if it were mine I'd surely give it a try. Nothing to lose.)

MS70 would probably take it off but leave a brighter surface. You might not be very happy with it. An eZest acid dip is another option but you'd probably end up with a white, luster-impaired coin. I guess it didn't cost you too much so maybe you're willing to experiment.

I'd call it VF25/30.
Lance.

Azurescens

Thanks for taking time out of your day to help educate me.

I paid a lot less for it than one would think. About time I made good on one of these.

Azurescens

Tbh, I'm just happy that waking up halfway through my 4.5 hour evening nap before work was worth it. I couldn't sleep after getting it so cheap. I'm sure if it was on a Saturday or Sunday it would've gone a lot higher. It's really not a bad coin all things considered and the edge lettering is the best I've seen to date on a circulated VF-XF.

Tunis

I like this coin. Not far along in my education to buy raw, but this is a cool looking coin. Right around the condition I have been buying.

astrorat

VF-30, cleaned. I see possible environmental damage (obverse, Liberty temple area). Rubber band marks will not go away easily. Enjoy the coin for what it is. If you are happy, that's what matters.

Azurescens

Thanks for the help!