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1877-CC Seated Liberty Half Dollar... XF40 or 45? Thoughts Sought! ***GRADE POSTED***
BustHalfBrian
Posts: 4,138 ✭✭✭
I'm split between the two
It's going to grading soon. I'll make a note to post the grade here when it returns.
It's going to grading soon. I'll make a note to post the grade here when it returns.
Lurking and learning since 2010. Full-time professional numismatist.
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The die crack on the reverse is a cool factor along with the infamous CC
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Latin American Collection
If I had it my way, stupidity would be painful!
<< <i>Xf40 nice patina >>
- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC
There almost seems to be some sort of light graffiti or scratches on the right of the obverse near star 11. May not grade? I'm not sure if it will. It could go to 45 but I will give it a 40 due to the scratches. JMO. It is a very nice coin. Good luck with the grading.
Bob
Finding one like this is a difficult find. Enjoy it as it is - I hope it gets the grade it deserves
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
But I think it gets netted down to XF40 because of the light obv pin scratches.
<< <i>Enough luster and a nice look for it be an XF45 even if the eagles feathers could be a little stronger.
But I think it gets netted down to XF40 because of the light obv pin scratches. >>
I think I have a different definition of luster then others on this board. I would be surprised if that coin retains more than 5-10% of it's original luster to include the protected areas.
We can just agree to disagree on this one.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Sunshine Rare Coins
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<< <i>Crypto79
We can just agree to disagree on this one. >>
Sure but I guess the people who are splitting down the 40-45 level are applying modern market grading and old school technical wear based grading. That might NGC45 due to the companies different standards
While coins can be net graded up and down for different factors causing some exceptions, the baseline difference between xf40-au53 is the percentage of original mint surface remaining. Assuming a minimum of detail loss I want an XF45 to have north of 25% of luster, mint frost or remaining original surface textures (many require more). That coin looks to have very little left in the way of surface area that hasn't been rubbed off. Even if there is some gloss left or a glint in the tone in the deepest recesses, that just makes for a nice xf40.
If you think about it, the AU grades are just more or less descriptors to define how much of the original skin has not been rubbed off as really very little detail loss is allowed. The lower AU range allows a little detail loss but when it starts to look like a worn AU that is what a xf45 is. The gap to 40 is the rest of the fields get rubbed, toned or aged off. Leaving a coin with most of the major details save a few flat spots and or no mint surfaces remaining.
Once the xf40 level has been reached it all becomes about detail loss and eye appeal as those grades assume no measurable mint surface left intact.
This coin has decent luster that remains in protected areas. If we look at the draped areas, the stars and even in the fields have the remains of die flow lines. The actual reflectivity is muted- now, if some one enhanced the coin, then the reflectivity would change the opinion that this coin has insufficient luster for an EF45 grade. And if that enhancement were done, it would look horrible...
Lets talk about the strike and the remaining detail- obverse first. The shield looks bold as does the hairline of Liberty's head. There is significant detail in the draped area with luster present. The minor scratch is off set by the originality of the coin.
The reverse is the bigger question and challenge. There is a pattern of wear that creates doubt as to whether 45 is viable. However, there is a die crack which begs questions as to the status of the die itself and whether the strike left a little to be desired in terms of the loss of details at the high points of the eagle. So while there is a pattern of wear, that wear will be exaggerated if the strike was weak. I think the reverse can be explained as a weak strike- especially if the luster in the protected areas of the feathers is considered.
I suppose the better question is... How many 1877-cc Seated Halfs that are in either a 40 or 45 holder have this look? i suspect the answer is somewhere under 30%
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Reminds me of an AU58 1803 half dime I owned back around 2004. That coin had about 10-15% luster, cleaned surfaces, significant digs and scratches, and a strike to kill for. It looked unc on wear but the luster had been
stripped off over the years from multiple cleanings. That coin was resubmitted by a major retailer where it came back MS62. A pretty lofty grade for 10-15% luster and being cleaned to boot. We're not asking for the moon on
an XF45 seated half.
<< <i>I'd put the luster on the OP's coin at 10-15%....plenty for an XF45. Most XF40's these days don't have ANY luster.
Reminds me of an AU58 1803 half dime I owned back around 2004. That coin had about 10-15% luster, cleaned surfaces, significant digs and scratches, and a strike to kill for. It looked unc on wear but the luster had been
stripped off over the years from multiple cleanings. That coin was resubmitted by a major retailer where it came back MS62. A pretty lofty grade for 10-15% luster and being cleaned to boot. We're not asking for the moon on
an XF45 seated half. >>
Fair enough but the UNC rage plays by a different set of rules as well. I am pretty sure we are saying the same thing and just putting our flag in slightly different spots in the ground. I look forward to the results .
I'd go with a 45, but I think 3 out of 4 times, they call it a 40. Also, gotta take into acct the scratches around 2 o'clock. If they are a little troublesome in person, then a gentle net to 40 for sure.
If it was dipped blast white, it might even get a 50. But please do not do that.
Here are a few random XF - AU CC halves from Coinfacts...I think you will appreciate your coin even more. Enjoy It!
Seth
AU50
XF45
XF40
XF40
scratches/grafitti
One of the few grades from this submission that I'm happy with.
Thanks for playing!
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
<< <i>Bahhhnifninhad submitted it it would have 40. Congrats glad I was wrong >>
I got lucky on this one. You should have seen the rest of the submission...