Grade My Bust! -- Please?

FrattLaw · August 30, 2003 3:00PM

Here's one I picked up for $70 from a bid-board. Any grading gods out there? Is it worth $70?

Thanks
Michael

cherrypickincoin · August 30, 2003 3:03PM

VF35

wingedliberty · August 30, 2003 3:05PM

The two Brians agree. VF35, obviously cleaned, but has nice eye appeal. Who cares if its cleaned, its a bust coin and its pleasing. End of story!

lordmarcovan · August 30, 2003 3:06PM

EF40. Maybe 45.

I'd rather grade her bust:

(Sorry; couldn't resist. You were wide open for that one.)

wingedliberty · August 30, 2003 3:08PM

Lordmarcovan:
Naah, she's AT. Although I have not seen the reverse die crack!

lordmarcovan · August 30, 2003 3:11PM

AT?

Yeah. You're right. Those T's are almost certainly artificial.

(Sorry again. We now return this hijacked thread to its original topic: the handsome Bust half in the first post.) Not the other thing.

FrattLaw · August 30, 2003 3:12PM

Nice CES shot? Are you going in January LM?

Michael

lordmarcovan · August 30, 2003 3:14PM

FUN/Orlando in January?

Definitely!

FrattLaw, that coin would maybe be worth almost seventy bucks to me, but not quite. It's nice, though.

(You see, I'm just cheap, I guess. I know I could get an original EF40 in a slab for about that much money. But I'm not suggesting you got burned by paying 70 bux for that. I think you did fine).

Blackhawk · August 30, 2003 3:14PM

EF40

jhar · August 30, 2003 7:42PM

Grade my bust!!!

boiler78 · August 31, 2003 12:08AM

LM - You gotta love a bust that you can grade without magnification! That bust definitely qualifies!

RotatedRainbows · August 31, 2003 12:49AM

Although I have not seen the reverse die crack!

Boy, that was a shot below the belt!!! Your bad!!!

numonebuyer · August 31, 2003 2:21AM

You got to love it when the subject line brings out the best (or beast) in all of us.

LOL

Numonebuyer

Nysoto · September 2, 2003 12:40AM

The Overton variety of this half is either a late state O-114 or O-115, I can't tell from the image. O-115 is a very scarce R.4 variety that was first discovered in 1967, was described in the first Overton book but no picture was available. O-115 would have a modest premium for rarity. The small lump above the clasp identifies the obverse which is shared with O-114 and O-115, the reverses are similar, but O-115 usually has drawn lettering, which your coin has.

This is another example of a late die state bust half with drawn stars and lettering, with worn, blunt rims (from the die, not wear). This makes grading a challenge for these coins.

billboat · September 2, 2003 12:59AM

I think its the O-114 as the left side of I and T are in line on reverse. The O-115 has the right side of I in line with the left side of T. Still it's an R.3 (scarce) and as Nysoto said a late die state, with denticles almost absent and drawn letters and stars. IMO grading should be based solely on bust and eagle wear--which in this case looks to be about an EF40 (cleaning mentioned in earlier post).

FrattLaw · September 2, 2003 1:02AM

Wow, but is it worth $70, or more because of the rarity. Should I keep it in my type set or get it attributed with ANACS/NGC? I know nothing about Overton and scarcity of these coins. Please help further.

Thanks
Michael

billboat · September 2, 2003 1:22AM

It's worth about $100 in EF40 without the cleaning, which drops it to about the $70 you paid. It's a common date and the R.3 isn't going to add a premium IMO. You really need to get to R.4 and above to start realizing a premium and then only from die hard Bust Nuts. Don't waste any money on certification--keep it in your type set.

cherrypickincoin · September 2, 2003 1:23AM

I'll have to copyright the Grade My Bust trademark.

Very nice coin, I like it.

Nysoto · September 2, 2003 1:39AM

Your reverse image looks like it was done at an angle, making the I/T alignment difficult. If you could show a straight-on picture of the reverse and a close-up of AMERICA, we might be able to confirm the variety. The alignment of the letters in AMERICA is different on O-114 and O-115, AM is closer on O-115.

I think this is a $70 coin for an O-114 (R.3's have no rearity premium), EF40 details with a light cleaning. For O-115, auction records indicate a $90 to $120 value, depending on the severity of the cleaning.

ANACS might net grade for cleaning, NGC might bodybag. I personally would keep the coin raw. "Early Half Dollar Die Varieties" by Al Overton is the bible for the series.

MacCoin · September 2, 2003 1:50AM

vf cleaned (very Nice) it don't matter what the grade is unless you put in anacs plasic PCGS will bb it because its not that bust black they like so much. they are way to hard on the classices and to easy on the moderns.

billboat · September 2, 2003 3:04AM

Just a clarification. When we talk about rarity ratings, its by die marriage and not date. This 1831 has twenty die marriages, one of which (O-120) is very rare, R.6, (30 or fewer examples known) (courtesy of A.C. Overton)

Grade My Bust! -- Please?

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