Another seated half is on it's way......

Barberman55 · May 23, 2007 11:46AM

It's a common date, 1857-O seated half, graded AU-53 by NGC. The coin looks original and clean of any noticeable hits. In hand, I'm hoping the coin shows a little bit of luster.

tjkillian · May 23, 2007 11:48AM

Very nice, but you should not try to collect too many of them as they are addictive. I know, I've become addicted myself.

Congratulations!

roadrunner · May 23, 2007 11:54AM

1857-0 is not a common date.....at least not in AU and Mint State.
In my opinion probably the most underrated MS date in the seated halves.....because most think it's common (line it's later sister O mints). And even the 58-0 gets to be quite elusive in strict choice Mint State. Forget what the pop reports say, I'm not aware of a strict gem 57-0 half out there. So a nice AU piece is a good coin.

The lone graded NGC MS65 is not a true gem coin by any means
(it's recent sale at around $7500 shows it wasn't gem as one would likely trade for $15K and up). And even among the MS64's I've seen graded all have been typically lackluster, muted, mottled, or semi-cleaned. If you run across one of these with bold luster under acceptable original toning, please let me know. I'd like to be the first on my block to own one.

This date also has some interesting and better varieties with extra date digits showing up in the rocks as well as a recut date. Check it out when you get it.

roadrunner

jayboxx · May 23, 2007 11:56AM

I like it. You can just forward it on to me.

coinlieutenant · May 23, 2007 11:56AM

Barberman,

Your statement of "In hand, I'm hoping the coin shows a little bit of luster" is a bit scary.

I normally dont give advice if not solicited, but in this case I am going to break my rule. Choice VF's should have a "little bit of luster".

For this series , you will have a MUCH nicer and more worthy collection if you put your AU standard at "at least 50% luster remaining", especially on a semi available date like the one below.

IMO, that coin isnt remotely an AU53. It might have AU50 details, but luster should count for something on circ coins as well...it is an XF45. NGC missed the boat badly. Dont get suckered into paying AU money for a coin that isnt all there.

Not trying to hack the coin...it looks decent...but overgraded.

John

Shortgapbob · May 23, 2007 12:09PM

I like it. Looks nice and crusty.

Barberian · May 23, 2007 5:33PM

My impession is that the coin is not original, but was cleaned long ago and has retoned nicely. I may be wrong on this, though, and would appreciate someone else's opinion.

I don't like the fact that the tops of the feathers are darker than the recesses. In original coins that have circulated, the recesses will be darker than the higher surfaces. However, it could be one of those "powdery" looking originals.

STONE · May 23, 2007 9:00PM

My first thought was that this date could have been weakly struck since I didn't see where AU-53 came from. I do think NGC was off on this one. No better than a 50, but no less than 45 like coinlieuteneant said.

These halves are quite addictive. I just started putting together a set of mid-grade circulated coins this past year. It's an easier series to find nicer condition coins if you're patient. My Crown Jewel is my cherrypicked 1844-O Double Date in VG-10 from Tuesday.

Congrats on the coin and good luck with the rest of the set.

dorkkarl · May 23, 2007 9:21PM

phenomenal, i like it alot, a look that is sadly underappreciated

K S

Dennis88 · May 23, 2007 10:34PM

Nice coin with very original surfaces

ziggy29 · May 23, 2007 10:38PM

<< <i> It might have AU50 details, but luster should count for something on circ coins as well...it is an XF45. >>

My usual understanding of grading is that luster primarily matters for the AU grade and not so much below it. Below AU, the grading is done primarily by details, not luster, but at the AU level luster becomes one of the primary factors in assigning a grade. For example, a coin with little luster that grades XF-45 might be graded AU-50 if it has half of the original luster remaining or some such -- even with the same details...

Barberman55 · May 24, 2007 6:12AM

Boy.....you Seated guys are one tough bunch. I thought the Barber crew (myself included), were rough on the new Barber collectors.......you guys sure have us beat.

The reason I mention the luster......the dealer I bought the coin from has terrible images of the coins he sells. The coins are always much nicer in hand than what his images would indicate. With that in mind....I'm hoping that the coin shows more luster than what the image shows.....which is nill. I'm well aware of the fact that an AU coin requires luster as a prerequisite for the grade, but sometimes that luster is subdued, hidden under some darker toning. I can live with that if the coin has a nice original look to it, a decent strike, and is free of hits. I'm also aware of what the "grading books" say in relation to how a coin is graded vs how the major TPG services actually grade those same coins. Being a Barber specialist......these differences are easily apparent.

Are the New Orleans mint Seated halves known for a weak strike, like the Barber halves are? I know that the TPG services are very generous when it comes to grading "O" mint mark Barber halves. If this were the case here, maybe this could account for the generous grade. Knowing that the coin is going to look much nicer in hand, my opinion is that the coin will look nicer than an XF-45.....more like an AU-50.

On to the toning. Over the years, I've seen my share of Barber halves that are totally original, that don't necessarily have that wonderful 2 tone look to them (lighter toning on the higher surfaces and darker in the recesses), that we all love to see. How the coin was stored over the years will have an impact on the look and type of toning that develops on a coin. IMHO, this coin looks totally original, but I'll have a better idea when I receive the coin in the mail.

Roadrunner.....you're right, the pops on this coin, especially in this grade, would suggest a better than average date. Although, the price I paid for the coin, was more in line with a common date, low AU graded, seated half.

Thanks for the responses guys. If the Seated crew is anything like the Barber crew on these boards, I'm looking forward to learning alot from the boards. I'm currently working on expanding my numismatic library to include seated coinage.......it looks like some of the reference material may be hard to come by.

longtimecollector · May 24, 2007 6:23AM

You guys crack me up........ There is page after page of threads that say "YOU CAN'T GRADE FROM A PICTURE"......... and here, where the picture is obviously not of great quality, your tripping over your tongues in a rush to say it's overgraded........ I think that there are many on the boards that will try to say that the coin is simply overgraded because it's in an NGC slab (Kool-Aid addicts)......... and a few that would wait to see the coin in hand before agreeing / disagreeing with the stated grade......... That said, WHO CARES ???? One of the nice thing about collecting this series is that there are many great looking coins in all grades. You don't have to worry about crack-outs for a one point upgrade with circulated coins...... You don't have to worry about milkspots appearing at a later date........ You probably will have a tough time finding ANY Seated material with a "First Strike" label........

Barberman 55....... It shouldn't matter to you what these Kool-Aid addicts think....... It is a nice coin........ You like it, and that's all that matters........ Congratulations on developing an appreciation for coins as a HOBBY !!!!!!!

fc · May 24, 2007 6:30AM

.. It is a nice coin........ You like it, and that's all that matters......

except when you go to sell it..

that is when you learn the difference and what matters.

i have no opinion on the grade. i found it amusing people's
opinions were all over the place.

longtimecollector · May 24, 2007 11:19AM

It's a 50 /53 in anyones holder....... and I believe the price would be the same

Another seated half is on it's way......

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