My last FUN coin purchase
BillJones
Posts: 35,978 ✭✭✭✭✭
I have been working a set of the Classic Head $2.50 and $5.00 gold coins over the last year or so. At the start of the FUN show I was down to three pieces to complete the $2.50 and two of the $5.00 coins. I thought that I would find at least two or three coins, but the pickings were very slim. There are not that many coins for sale, and what is out there is often over graded and very often cleaned to death. Sorry NGC, but your graders have really got to tighten up your standards for these coins when they have been cleaned, especially for the 1839-C quarter eagles.
Here was only piece I did buy, an 1838 $5 gold. This coin has original surfaces, which makes it look dull. When you look at it with a strong glass there is a lot of mint surface in protected areas, but it's covered by almost 180 years of toning and dirt. NGC graded this one AU-58 and CAC put one of their green stickers on it. My grade is AU-55. A dealer friend of mine thought that it is something less. The trouble is bright a shiny sells, dull often does not, even when it's original surface dull.
At any rate here it is. The 1838 half eagle is scarcer than the 1834 and 1836 coins, but not up there with southern mints.
I placed a retail bid on a common date quarter eagle that didn't have original surfaces in the auction, but still didn't get it. I've got one half eagle to go.
Comments
Tougher dates are kinda limited on being too choosey, but in the long run the right coin pops up.
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It's in one of the large reverse label holders (the labels to pealed off very easily), probably from 15 or 20 years ago.
That is a nice commerce used example with a LOT OF MEAT left!
bob:)
Great looking coin!
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She has a great look to her. Good eye.
Has a nice look to it with honest wear.
I agree it is an AU55 vs 58 as you say, not less though. Nice coin.
What $5 do you still need?
Latin American Collection
Nice looking piece of gold. Congrats on the addition.
Mike
Very nice old gold Bill.... Congratulations on a nice acquisition. Cheers, RickO
Great coin. I think it's an attractive piece that I would like to own. Bill, by "last FUN coin purchase" do you mean it's just the last one you made or the last time you're going to FUN? Just curious.
I intend to come back to the FUN show. This was just the last COIN I bought at FUN. Later I bought the Meade medal that I have already shown here and two political items, a pair of ferrotypes. I could post them up too although they are not coins or tokens.
The coin I need is the 1837 half eagle. According to the books and the experts it is as scarce as the 1838-D. Although the mintage looks robust, the general opinion is that many of those coins were dated 1836.
Great coin Bill!
Best, SH