I'm Broken - it's almost my Birthday - and what a Peak Surprise! UPDATE: '27/6 Posted
pursuitofliberty
Posts: 7,415 ✭✭✭✭✭
Okay, that is the best I could come up with for a spammy clickbait title!!
But, since I've got you here, hopefully you're up for a story!
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Friday, October 10th, I stopped to look at some on-line postings. Dealer sites, eBay, the like. You probably all have the same type of drill.
I see a new listing on eBay. A 1827 Capped Bust Half. PCGS 55 cac. Kindof crusty and a little scruzzy, and if you know '27's, they are absolutely the most fun to attribute. 
And then. Wait. What? I know that reverse. That's a '27/6. Huh? No book necessary there.
So I type out a text to some friends to see if they recognize it too.
Send text.
Hmmm. That BIN is really not that bad. Not great, but doable.
Probably another 100 bucks and a year (at my pace), but get PCGS to correct their error and then send it back to JA to resticker. Or maybe send it to CACG?
Hassle, but ... probably worth it. I have two 27/6's, one I made in P55 with some soft pastel color which is in a box ready to go to CAC, and another one I paid handsomely for (the outstanding P58cac ex-Gerrie coin).
Welp, I can't seem to get the BIN to work. That never happens. WTF.
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Friends start chiming in. They see the variety too.
Also, they know the seller. It's on InstaGram too (I don't do IG).
It's $100. less there too.
Perfect.
Hey, can one of you buy it for me from him? I'll pay you back.
Some back and forth later and a phone call, and my good friend David @Davidk7 comes through. The seller agrees, agrees to ship to me, and David won't even take lunch money for the favor!
I will pay him back in some way of course. We always seem to hang out at least one night at the shows. He's a great young man.
It was a good afternoon and nice to chat with him (we usually text about once a month {maybe} about coins), and then see each other at shows a couple times a year.
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But here is when the story takes a turn, and so after all that, we are driving down a different lane now!
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David sends me a video of a coin he got a "deets" QT grade on which we had previously texted about (and we both STRONGLY disagree with PCGS here), and another video of a coin he just picked up for the shop.
For reference, David works with Dan Decker at @PeakRarities
I look at the videos, and become interested in the "one for the shop". Huh. That's a rare bird. And kinda nice too. And right in my grade range. And unlike the 27/6 I mentioned, I have NONE of this variety. In fact I have never owned one.
And this one would fit almost perfectly in my set. And, and, and ...
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I texted David back, explaining that
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1. I heard from the earlier Seller on the 27/6, all good
2. The details coin you got back is a crime, both the "QT" part and the "AU Details" part (the coin looks like a 3, shot 4 with absolutely natural toning) ... and ...
3. How much? Really! I'm interested and I would love to have first shot on the shop coin.
For further context, "How much?" is sometimes construed as I love your new coin, and not anything else. It is a funny saying we have between some BHNC Nut friends, so I wanted to make sure he knew I was actually asking for the price.
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I won't go too far into how the negotiation went down other than to say this was a coin for Peak's site, but that yes, he would price it, and yes I could have first shot.
There were basically no good comps, so I know David had to do some digging. I did too.
He called again. We talked about the coin and College Football and his trip to College Station to watch his beloved Florida Gators play Texas A&M.
Regarding the coin, he offered. We discussed. We came to an agreement.
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Today I am the proud owner of a crusty, original 1823 O-101 "Broken 3" Capped Bust Half, graded PCGS AU50 with a green bean.
It's not a 55 or a 58, but it's close to the next best thing, especially considering I didn't have to pay 55 or 58 money to acquire her.
She has strong luster for the grade, with little wear and excellent surfaces overall. The TV is an absolute disgrace so I won't even show it, but I can say the coin is difficult to image well. In hand it is much more lively.
Thank you again to David and Dan @PeakRarities for allowing me to be the next caretaker for this coin! I can't say enough good things about both of you guys.
Oh, the birthday part? I'll be 61 next week, so this is officially my birthday present to me. 
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“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Comments
Great story and coin. The title angst you had left me with an idea as to what coin it would be and from whom it would have been acquired...so not entirely clickbait spammy! You could have, alternatively, written something like "Rush Announces New Tour & The First Ten Responses To This Thread Get Free Tickets!" Yes, yes, I would have responded without reading your text first.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
It's fun when things like this fall into place, congrats.
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
i'm just broke
Awesome story!
The Gators might have lost but I still won, since you ended up with this beauty! Great pics, a lot better than the "Trueviews." Looking forward to seeing ya soon brother!
Collector of Capped Bust Halves, SLQ's, Commems, and random cool stuff! @davidv_numismatics on Instagram
Nice coin!
Proud follower of Christ!
Great additions Todd @pursuitofliberty You are on a hot streak.
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
Thanks for the great story Todd and congratulations on your new acquisition.
and a Happy Birthday!
Your rich In many ways ms, you are 🙂
Awesome post and congrats on the new coin @pursuitofliberty !
Great stuff.
@pursuitofliberty . Great coin and Happy birthday. I always mark my B-Day coins in my journal so I know what is what. You must have pretty high standards if you have to add qualifiers to that coin . James
Happy birthday
Goes to sunken ship to look at cbh's... don't seem to have any with broken 3, just crusty.
Is now a good time to sell?
I really like it, Todd. Love the even natural toning. Looks great!
And you're in the 60s club, eh? Bout time you caught up.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Great story and coin Todd! And happy almost birthday.
Congrats, Todd! Great pick up. Nice and crusty and very original looking.
And an early happy birthday to you, my friend!
Dave
Happy bday Todd. Great story and coin, but I would still love to see the 27/6 CBH, just the coin not the holder/error. A beauty and that you never owned one, wow, that's a story.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
The story is better than the coin
But she's nice too!
Todd lives in a hot streak.
I agree.
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
That's a great story and all, but I feel a little empty after reading it.
What about the 27/6? Did is show and where's the pics??
Congrats on the coin and another birthday! And yes, the Trueview is nasty compared to your photos of the coin! It's a nice-looking coin.
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The 27/6 should be here tomorrow and I'll update the thread as soon as I have the 27/6 in hand and shoot some images.
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Thank you Jim! Also not sure if that part got mixed up, but I have owned several of the 27/6's (still own two), but until yesterday, I had never owned a Broken 3.
In fact I had never owned any Die State of the 1823 O-101 as the only Patched 3 I own is the more difficult O-102 (different reverse die), although that is probably more due to opportunity and a little luck than by design.
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Also, thank you everyone for all the comments!!
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Oops, my bad Todd. Misread. After all it was a lot of info for an old man.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Happy BD! Great coin, story, and post. Thank you for sharing.
My 1866 Philly Mint Set
@Davidk7 is one heck of a good guy. He found a coin me, too. But @pursuitofliberty, your coin is just so nice. What a great catch!
@Mark thank you for your kind words. Hope everything is going well!
Collector of Capped Bust Halves, SLQ's, Commems, and random cool stuff! @davidv_numismatics on Instagram
@Davidk7 is a baller.
@pursuitofliberty is the hoop. Slam dunk into the collection with this one!!
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:33. Young fellow suffering from Bust Half fever.
BHNC #AN-10
JRCS #1606
Thanks for the great story and happy birthday.
@pursuitofliberty Todd, I'm so glad that you got yourself a birthday gift, cuz I didn't get you anything. heheh.
Loved the story, and I'm glad you got some goodies! I think PCGS is a little free with the Questionable Color edicts lately. That's a bummer, IMHO.
It's funny; now that I am in my sixties I call guys "young man" and then find out they're in their 30s or 40s. Remember when 40 used to be "Over the Hill?"
My (infrequently updated) hobby website Groovycoins.com
It's funny; now that I am in my sixties I call guys "young man" and then find out they're in their 30s or 40s. Remember when 40 used to be "Over the Hill?"
@Bikergeek I can recall when my best friend and I were about nine-years old we called his mom "middle-aged" one day because she was thirty-three or thirty-four years old at the time and we figured since folks lived to be about seventy-years old that it meant she was half-way done and, thus, was "middle aged". She went from zero to really annoyed in no time!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
That is a great coin and a very interesting story. Happy Birthday!
Great coin, great story and Happy Birthday!
Collector
91 Positive BST transactions buying and selling with 56 members and counting!
instagram.com/klnumismatics
I’ve always thought the lead singer of Rush sounded like his nads were being squeezed in a vice.
Dang they were young. I saw them in 76 and later in 79, were they really looking like that?
Great story Todd. The Broken 3 is a pretty cool variety. Glad to see you Rush out and buy it from D at Peak. (full disclosure - AM over UF every day
), but who am I to talk - Duck class O’87 and we just lost to IU alas…………..
Throw a coin enough times, and suppose one day it lands on its edge.
Alright, sorry this took so long. I should have had the 27/6 yesterday but the PO didn't do what I asked. But, it's all good. They had it safe and set aside today.
Before we go there, thank you all for the early B-day wishes, the humor and the comments on my Broken 3.
And I appreciate the interest in my stories here. Sometimes I like to ramble and it's nice that some of you like to read my drivel.
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I'm going to use the eBay images for the 27/6. For those of you that know how to attribute these, the tell should jump out immediately, which is saying something as there are 49 Die Marriages for the 1827's, and as any good Capped Bust hound will tell you, this date is the one that can drive you crazy trying to attribute some of them correctly.
HINT: In this case, it has to do with the Reverse Die, even through it's the Obverse that makes it a 27/6 (obviously). The Reverse Die is also a remarriage from 1826 (which is kind of cool); the late state 1826 O-120 (120.3).
Anyway, for the record, Chase @jacrispies was the first to respond to my text to 6 CBH people ... in exactly 13 minutes!
I'm not sure if that is due to his prowess, or the fact I sent the text at 2:42pm Pacific on a Friday afternoon, and everyone else was probably busy.
Which brings up a point ... Chase, we really need you to get more of a life young man.
Wait. What does that say about me?
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Okay, here she is. She's original, but not necessarily pretty. And I found out the seller DID submit this to both PCGS and CAC, so I may need to figure out a way to approach helping him see the nuances of these in the future.
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“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
"49 Die Marriages for 1827"
You guys have too much fun and the right name.
My 1866 Philly Mint Set