What do you think of this Seated 1853 H10C?

boston · October 16, 2006 2:55PM

I bought this earlier this year. The detail is great with no flat spots,signs of wear or noticable marks.

It does have nice nice clash marks on the reverse and has planchet striations from 11 to 5 on the obverse.

The luster is nice, but I suspect it may have been dipped. Just seems too white? There is a light milky stain
on the reverse, bottom right side of the ribbon.

I plan on sending it in for grading.

Thanks, Bob

seanq · October 16, 2006 11:43PM

Maybe it's the photo but that coin does not look natural at all. The reverse seems to have several harsh hairlines running horizontally between the words HALF and DIME. I do not think you wold have any luck getting that coin into a TPG holder, if nothing else show it to a trusted dealer before spending the grading fees.

Sean Reynolds

LanLord · October 16, 2006 11:52PM

<< Maybe it's the photo but that coin does not look natural at all. The reverse seems to have several harsh hairlines running horizontally between the words HALF and DIME. I do not think you wold have any luck getting that coin into a TPG holder, if nothing else show it to a trusted dealer before spending the grading fees. Sean Reynolds >>

That jumped out at me too, the obverse has some odd look to it too, as if it's been scrubbed a bit as well, but not as harshly as the reverse.

rhedden · October 17, 2006 12:01AM

My comments - looks AU-58 to me. There actually is a bit of wear on Liberty's knee, and her arm. What seanq is seeing on the reverse is probably some hairlines from light circulation, and I bet they are not noticeable in person, as many digital cameras exaggerate their appearance with bright lighting in place. The head shows a real sharp strike, which I like. I can't say for sure that this coin was dipped, but many high grade Seated coins have been. I'd guess that PCGS and NGC would holder this as AU-58. If it's been "wiped," like seanq thinks, then forget it. Take a closer look by rotating it under a bright lamp, and look for signs of parallel hairlines. Now the bad news: 1853 Arrows is a dreadfullly common half dime. There may be more of these in existence than any other half dime. There is little or no market for them because everyone who collects half dimes has 5, 10, or 50 of these in their collection. As I write this, there are over 100 of them for sale on ebay! If you like collecting half dimes, try getting an 1853 No Arrows, an 1853-O Arrows, and the elusive 1853-O No Arrows. All of these are much harder to locate. That will give you a miniature "set," and maybe you'll be inspired to complete the entire series.

Here's one of my 50 examples of the 1853 Arrows, which I grade MS-64.

Cladiator · October 17, 2006 12:05AM

I like the half dime but my gut instinct, based on those photos, is that it has been cleaned...possibly harshly. The majority of the coin features a bright white look but in the hard to reach spots near some devices (around S5-S11, "OF A" and several dentils) there appears to be remnants of a dark "crust" that perhaps once covered the coin. Both sides of the coin appear to have hairlines as well. It's entirely up to you but if it were my coin I don't think I'd send this one in for grading. Pop it in an album and let it sit. Hopefully it will regain a nice look to it in time.

The 1853 Arrows is a pretty common coin so if you're looking for a slabbed coin or one you can easily slab yourself it won't take much searching.

ps. The reverse die clashing of the date is prett darn heavy on your coin, very cool.

BillJones · October 17, 2006 12:40AM

I'd say the coin was harshly cleaned a one point. The basic grade is AU, but I would not send it in to be slabbed because I think it will get a body bag for improper cleaning.

ziggy29 · October 17, 2006 12:53AM

I thought it looks whizzed.

mgoodm3 · October 17, 2006 12:54AM

I have to agree on the cleaning opinion.

StrikeOutXXX · October 17, 2006 12:55AM

<< I thought it looks whizzed. >>

I was thinking a buffing wheel of some sort when I first saw it.

GoldenEyeNumismatics · October 17, 2006 11:36AM

<< I thought it looks whizzed. >>

definitely not whizzed. There is still original luster on that coin. Whizzing would have removed it.

Leiana · October 17, 2006 11:40AM

I do not think it's whizzed, but it does look harshly cleaned.

-Amanda

Pentimento · October 17, 2006 11:45AM

<< I thought it looks whizzed. >>

Do you say this because of the twinkly shine around the letters?

boston · October 18, 2006 5:11AM

Thanks for the comments. Sorry for not responding sooner, I don't sit upright very much as it is uncomfortable and keeps me away from
the computer.

The small halogen desk light that I use does bring out the slightest hairline, but the whiteness of the coin
doesn't come out without showing them. I've added a couple pics with the aperture setting reduced. The
orange peel surface is more noticable. The close-ups are 60x with a QX5.

Bob

rhedden · October 18, 2006 5:16AM

I am standing by my opinion that this is an AU-58 that will slab at PCGS or NGC. Isn't it fun trying to guess grades from photos?

ziggy29 · October 18, 2006 5:18AM

Definitely not a whizzing with the new images.

boston · October 18, 2006 8:51AM

<< I am standing by my opinion that this is an AU-58 that will slab at PCGS or NGC. Isn't it fun trying to guess grades from photos? >>

Thanks. I'll send it in and see. If it makes AU-58 or better?, that will be fine. Don't have 8 coins to send in yet on the PCGS membership though.
Trying to get accurate pictures of some coins is difficult at best for many of us.

At the time I was looking for raw 1853 coins VF-40 to AU-50 with the silver being steel grey, and all of the coins having good crud around the stars/ dates. Just decided to do a circulated 1853 set, but ended up on permanent disability and no coin budget. This one doesn't fit in with the half dollar down to the 1/2 cent. Didn't expect the luster and whiteness of the coin. The detail I liked from the auction pics, although they appeared to be hiding something and weren't very good. Took a chance for $66.

Thought I'd post a couple more 60X close-ups;

Thanks again for everyones' comments. Bob

TomB · October 18, 2006 9:33AM

I haven't read the other responses yet, but the coin looks to be a heavily cleaned AU and would be bagged.

What do you think of this Seated 1853 H10C?

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