1839-C Half Eagle

cameron12x · January 15, 2013 11:58AM

Thoughts on the grade? (Teletrade)

Eye appeal?

BustHalfBrian · January 15, 2013 12:02PM

IMHO, it's more of a high XF example. Calling it AU was kind of a stretch...

And the cleaning appears to have been very mild.

RYK · January 15, 2013 12:07PM

I am good with a low AU details grade. The eagle wings (feathers and tips) look sharp enough on the reverse, and the star and hair detail on the obverse looks appropriate.

I have undoubtedly seen worse coins in grade holders.

cameron12x · January 15, 2013 12:11PM

I'll go with AU-50 details, mildly cleaned.

So, what does that make her worth?

RYK · January 15, 2013 12:18PM

<< I'll go with AU-50 details, mildly cleaned.

So, what does that make her worth? >>

More than you should be willing to pay. It's a thin market.

steveben · January 15, 2013 12:25PM

pass on it. i vote for xf details and too bad somebody cleaned it.

sniocsu · January 15, 2013 1:16PM

XF/AU cleaned

BustCuds · January 15, 2013 9:51PM

Strong XF...unfortunately been cleaned

Flatwoods · January 15, 2013 9:58PM

My first impression was XF but I will definitely defer to RYK on this one.
It's funny that on my home monitor it looked slightly cleaned.
Now that I'm at work it looks much better on this monitor.

7Jaguars · January 15, 2013 10:28PM

Wow, I'm good with whoever graded this to be there when I submit my coins. EF is OK, I just think there is a real slip in grading to call coins such as this AU - even though its seemingly done all the time now. Yesterday's EF40 is today's AU53, why not?

cameron12x · January 21, 2013 1:48AM

Re-cast images (for display only):

Any additional thoughts on the example?

Boosibri · January 21, 2013 1:57AM

Nothing original left about it. Save your money.

cameron12x · January 21, 2013 2:08AM

<< Nothing original left about it. Save your money. >>

How much would it cost to obtain a AU-details example like this one with original surfaces?

Boosibri · January 21, 2013 2:21AM

<< 

<< Nothing original left about it. Save your money. >>

How much would it cost to obtain a AU-details example like this one with original surfaces? >>

By definition a details coin has a problem and probably doesn't have fully original surfaces. A nice AU50 will cost near $7k while a scrubbed AU-Details might bring $3k-$4k or less and be very tough to sell.

I would recommend finding a nice XF40 (if you can find one) which should keep you around the $4k you would spend on a problem AU coin.

ambro51 · January 21, 2013 2:22AM

How 'bout you guys all post your 1839 C half eagles and then we can compare all of those with the OP coin.

mkman123 · January 21, 2013 2:28AM

you guys are tough on this coin, I've seen XF PCGS gold that looked like this get CAC stickers

BillJones · January 21, 2013 2:54AM

The piece has been cleaned, and I'm guessing that it is marked that way on the holder. The sharpness is that of an AU-50, and I'd say for pricing purposes it would fall in the VF-35 to EF-40 range. Gray Sheet EF-40 bid is $2,700 and VF-35 to EF-40 range on the PCGS guide is $4,200 to $5,200. I suppose $3,900 is fair, but it seems like "all of the money." I would rather have a piece that has not been missed with as much in view of the fact that PCGS price guide says that you can get a lower end AU for less than $10,000. But then again I don't know what your financial limits and budget is.

At any rate it's a lot better than a piece with filed rims, lots of wear or a big ugly scratch. I'd say that the price is fair, but certainly no bargain.

BillJones · January 21, 2013 2:55AM

<< you guys are tough on this coin, I've seen XF PCGS gold that looked like this get CAC stickers >>

And that is one of the area where I disagree with the CAC sticker ....

But you guys have to remember that the sticker is for marketing and trading network purposes, NOT for a coin that is "superior" or "perfect " for the grade.

cameron12x · January 21, 2013 3:04AM

Thanks for insight, Bill... much appreciated!

Total price was $3306 (not $3900). And yes, I do have financial constraints which prevent me from dropping $10K for a pristine AU example.

Anyway, I'll see what she looks like in hand. In the meantime, it would be great to see other VF-35 to AU-50 images of this issue posted in this thread. I'd love to see them.

s4ny · January 21, 2013 3:32AM

<< Thanks for insight, Bill... much appreciated!

Total price was $3306 (not $3900). And yes, I do have financial constraints which prevent me from dropping $10K for a pristine AU example.

Anyway, I'll see what she looks like in hand. In the meantime, it would be great to see other VF-35 to AU-50 images of this issue posted in this thread. I'd love to see them. >>

Nice coin!

johnny9434 · January 21, 2013 4:07AM

cleaned, no grade.

cameron12x · January 21, 2013 4:13AM

<< cleaned, no grade. >>

What about a technical grade, sans cleaning?

CharlotteDude · January 21, 2013 4:51AM

Here's mine. PCGS XF-40, was in an NGC XF-45 back in 2005.

Your coin is an AU-50 minimum, details-wise. Looks like it's been vigorously dipped though, which is most likely the reason for the NG. It does have a couple things going for it ... the strike is quite nice and sharp, and its surfaces are cleaner than typically seen. The '39-C $5 tends to come with a mushy obverse strike, rendering the curls and stars rather flat.

regards,

'dude

cameron12x · January 21, 2013 4:57AM

<< Here's mine. PCGS XF-40, was in an NGC XF-45 back in 2005.

Your coin is an AU-50 minimum, details-wise. Looks like it's been vigorously dipped though, which is most likely the reason for the NG. It does have a couple things going for it ... the strike is quite nice and sharp, and its surfaces are cleaner than typically seen. The '39-C $5 tends to come with a mushy obverse strike, rendering the curls and stars rather flat.

>>

Thanks for posting your example (it's beautiful) and for the feedback, Steve... as always, much appreciated!

Not having the funds to purchase a pristine AU-50+ example, I was left with this one for now. From the photos, I'm fine purchasing it for $3300. I'm very happy with the strike. Again, we'll see how she looks in hand.

There is a "time value of ownership" component to these types of purchases, IMHO.

g048406 · January 21, 2013 1:14PM

Very nice looking coin Cameron. I'd call it an AU55 details-dipped. That being said, here's a similar grade coin that sold for $2,530:
1839-c $5 Gold NGC-AUcleaned

cameron12x · January 21, 2013 2:13PM

<< Very nice looking coin Cameron. I'd call it an AU55 details-dipped. That being said, here's a similar grade coin that sold for $2,530:
1839-c $5 Gold NGC-AUcleaned >>

Thanks the nice comment and feedback. I'd definitely call my example at least AU-50 (and possibly even AU-53), but AU-55 might be pushing it. The strike is particularly good on mine.

That's what sets it apart in this comparison, IMHO, plus the Heritage example shows just a bit more wear, and much more abraded surfaces? And the auction was in 2010. Still, it's about as close a comparison as I'v seen so far. But I wasn't looking for this coin in 2010. Timing is everything!

I'll need to peruse Heritage more and see what can be found to compare. Thanks for the research!

1839-C Half Eagle

Comments

Leave a Comment