1817 105a Capped Bust Half Dollar

Sean1990 · August 8, 2018 11:21AM

I picked this up a couple of months and keep coming back to it, thinking "What the heck" when I look at the grade. My only though is that it was net graded and the lack of luster on the inverse signifies an old cleaning. The reverse is stunning and has luster and detail that would rival most 53s! A friend of mine had this coin in XF45 and thought the same... Now here I am admiring this great die marriage in an XF40 holder in my collection. The obverses are always mushy on this one! What are your thoughts?

lkeigwin · August 8, 2018 12:06PM

Looks like a lovely coin. I'm sure you're happy with it.

PCGS has always been tough on this die marriage and die state. They seem influenced by the appearance of the obverse which, as you say, is always mushy due to erosion and die failure (cracks at S8/S9).

I agree your coin is probably a 45 but its assigned grade fits with other 105a's. Below is another XF40 that was offered in Sheridan Downey's 2018 mail-bid FUN auction. I think it suffered at the hands of the graders even more than yours!

FWIW, here is Sheridan's write-up for the auction:

The '17-105 die pair is scarce and intriguing. Both dies are in their second use. The obverse introduced itself as the “punctuated date,” O.103. The reverse matches that of the R.6 1817 O.104. On the O.105 Liberty’s portrait appears mushy while the dentils are usually distinct. Both dies feature notable die breaks. (The “prime” 1817 O.105, without obverse die breaks, is a great rarity – probably R.7). High grade examples of this die pair are rare. The Overton/Parsley Condition Census includes an AU 50. The current offering is far superior to most. It is lightly toned with abundant luster. The detail is surely that of an XF 45. PCGS was too much influenced by the softly impressed portrait. Note, especially, the sharp drapery lines and wing feathers.

When I disagree with PCGS I often resubmit for a regrade. I've been generally happy with the 2nd opinion. But in this case I wouldn't spend the money. The difference in its value at a 45 grade, if it happened, would largely eat up the expense of regrading.
Lance.

BustDMs · August 8, 2018 5:52PM

I think you should give it to me so it doesn’t bring down your average any longer

Sean1990 · August 8, 2018 5:53PM

Oh wow! Thanks for sharing that, I did stumble upon the write up in my search for answers and researching this die marriage but failed to look closely at his piece. Mine did grade 45 through PCGS at one point but just like Sheridans..which seems just as nice if not superior (especially the lustre remaining on the obverse) was given the wrong grade. What surprises me is that they actually gave it a lower grade when attributing it as the 105a instead of as an unattributed specimen that was coming in simply for a numerical grade. Regardless, I think I'll keep her around for a while and appreciate the coin and not the holder!