Looking at my first Seated Half, questions for the esteemed forum
TonneauOne
Posts: 4 ✭
Hello forum! New here (obviously) and wanted to pick up a few pieces to form a very small, but nice collection of US pieces. Like many, I like the 'original skin' concept, a beautiful design and a decent sized coin (i.e. quarter on up, to help with aging eyesight). I'm taken with this exact coin and am considering purchase, but wanted to hear your thoughts. As they say, it's always nice to get a second opinion.
Cheers, and thanks for any comments!
Douglas
5
Comments
Wow. Howdy and welcome.
I must state that the title regarding a "first" Seated Liberty half dollar didn't make me anticipate a PR66+ coin, instead I was thinking of an EF/AU or thereabouts. I think the coin in the images might be very nice and obviously both PCGS and CAC think it nice, but proof coinage is notoriously difficult to photograph in order to get a true image so I really can't say much other than "it might be fine". Personally, I prefer business strike coinage, but can understand completely the desire for proofs as they are typically better struck, have high survivorship and can be exquisite.
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It looks good to me, but Tom is an expert on "exquisite".
Mercy, I was not anticipating a PR66+ CAC either!
Very nice entrance!
Great looking example! Bravo!
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What a surprise, wasn't expecting to see that...Congratulations.
Welcome to the forums.
Welcome to the forums. I think the coin is fantastic. Holder looks a little beat up bit that's being picky. Good luck and let us know if you pick it up.
Wow! Beautiful coin. My favorite US design are the liberty seated series, particularly the larger coins.
I've lurked here on the boards for quite awhile, learning all I can. Obviously still learning, there are some great collectors and teachers to learn from.
Best of luck forming your collection, looks like you are off to a good start.
That's some introduction, TonneauOne. The half looks terrific! Congrats. And welcome to the forum!
Lance.
Nice half! I wish my first purchase was a PR66+ CAC!
Nice coin and welcome to forum
Latin American Collection
That's a beauty. My first seated half was an AU 1876-cc back in 1975. I see nothing missing on your PF66+. My only advice is to be careful on paying the premiums for both + and CAC unless it's a no brainer. Not saying you didn't do it just perfect. But, there's lots of room for dealer overcharge in that area. A 66+ is a great value if you're confident it's of near 67 quality. Otherwise, shoot for the 66 that is basically of 66+ quality yet currently not annotated as such. The coin looks fine....though the other half of the equation is price which can make a good coin be not so good. I approve of your quarter/half dollar and up sizing. You did pretty good for your first attempt.
I learned a valuable lesson when I bought the Kaufman NGC PF68 half out of auction back around 2003. I never felt the coin was a no brainer 68 and didn't feel it would ever cross. So I never tried. 6 months after I sold the coin it appeared in a Heritage auction as PCGS PF68 CAM. It went from a NGC pop 36 for type into a PCGS pop 2 for type. I never saw the Cam coming since the coin was about 2/3 toned except for the centers. Value went from $15K to $36K. Same coin just different presentation. I wasn't totally out of it as CAC has yet to certify any post 1879 seated half as PF68. They've only done 5 total for the W/M type.
Welcome to the forum! Great looking coin for sure
HAPPY COLLECTING
Welcome and great looking proof Seated half!
Gonna get me a $50 Octagonal someday. Some. Day.
Great looking coin.
Welcome. I share your desire for larger coins, but my collection also includes Indian Head Cents and Mercury Dimes. Even tho they are small and tough on the eyes - they are two of the best designs IMHO. I really like the Liberty Seated design and your coin is wonderful. My favorite design is the Walking Liberty Half Dollar.
Howdy !
Count me in the group that was expecting an 1858 or 1876 circulated half.
Your choice is very nice. Am I reading too much into your post by thinking you already collect something else besides US?
Splendid coin!
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Although proof coins were manufactured specifically for collectors, this date in high grade proof is more readily available than the circulation strike. I would prefer the circulation strike in 67 if it could be obtained for under 5 figures.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
This is really more of a personal preference. I too prefer mint luster over mirrored surfaces. But, I think we are in the minority though it's probably fairly close. I would suspect there are a lot more set builders for gem proofs of the 1879-1890 run than there are of the gem business strikes. The proofs offer a more stunning strike in most cases, something the business strikes often don't have. The 1888 gem business strike is frequently softly struck on stars, knee, etc. And per the PCGS pops there's really not much difference from PCGS PF66 vs. MS66....at most a 15-20% difference....not really enough to matter. And in 67 and 68 there are essentially the same. In reality, they are both type coins at grades of 66 to 68.
Only 12,000 of the 1888 half were struck for circulation, far more than the 832 proofs coined. But net survival rates (50-75% for proofs / 3-5% for business strikes) make them fairly similar in higher grades. While the Good-XF examples of the date are in very limited supply, the large population of uncs and proofs somewhat caps their values.
Belated Welcome.
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Looks gorgeous.
Just see if you can examine it under a halogen for hairlines. If it's pretty clear of them, then I'd say go ahead and purchase that piece.
I will assume that it's 'okay', since it has a high PCGS grade AND a CAC sticker, so you should be pretty safe.
Welcome to the forum.
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https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Thank you everyone, I appreciate the warm welcome! It's always nice to get a second (and in this case, third, fourth, fifth.....) opinion. Special thanks to Tom and Roadrunner for your detailed responses, and the survival rate from Roadrunner is very interesting, always neat hearing that kind of data. I'll be sure and post a better (my own) picture when I pull the trigger, but I appreciate everyone's welcome and thoughts.
Cheers!
Douglas
The last comparable coin sold through Legend in December 2015 for $5,287.50. Prior to that, that same coin sold through Heritage in June 2014 for $4,700. This was also an attractive PCGS PR66+ with a CAC sticker. It's re-assuring to know what comparable examples sold for in the past when deciding on an expensive item. I pulled this information from the PCGS Coinfacts smartphone app.
Nice coin, especially for a 'first' seated half. My first seated half dollar was a raw 1854 arrows in VG8. I remember paying $15 for it around 1997.
Hi > @stevepk said:
Wow, thanks for looking this it! I did some cursory research and had found the Legend sale, but it's interesting to see the HA auction as well. I appreciate the time and effort!
TomB wrote almost exactly what I was thinking, although I'm probably more bullish on your chance of receiving a very nice coin here. Still, I'd have a very close look at it before plunking down that much $$$.
Welcome and a very nice coin have fun keep on posting..
Hoard the keys.