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What would you grade this seated half dollar?
Grade revealed on page 3, thanks for all the guesses.


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halfnut X3, Dabigkahuna, Kaelasdad, LALASD4, harvey85422458,
fivecents, Coll3ctor, cucamongacoin, Becoka
I bought an NGC PR64 like that once from Pinnacle, and it was lovely, but I ended up returning it. Not because there was anything wrong with it, but because I realized that a person of my budgetary means has no business at all buying $3K+ coins. I'll keep my $500/coin ceiling, I reckon.
That's a big-boy coin, and I ain't man enough to play with stuff like that. Not when it comes to matters of the wallet.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
I'm hopeless at telling them apart.
I'll go with ms64, longshot at ms65.
Beautiful coin, either way!!
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
So, I'm wondering, for those who guessed 64 or 65 and not higher, was that based on what you saw, or what you think might be there, but that you didn't see?
halfnut X3, Dabigkahuna, Kaelasdad, LALASD4, harvey85422458,
fivecents, Coll3ctor, cucamongacoin, Becoka
Ray
<< <i>I see nothing in the images that precludes a grade of 66. That said, if it is a proof, or even a PL business strike, it probably has hairlines/flaws which are not apparent from the pictures.
So, I'm wondering, for those who guessed 64 or 65 and not higher, was that based on what you saw, or what you think might be there, but that you didn't see?
Mark,
It looks like several proof coins that I have seen that had surface disturbances that are only clearly seen in hand, I don't like what I see in the right obverse field. OTOH, it could also be from the imaging, or the toning. If it's that nice in hand I could see a 66, but my gut is that we're not really seeing it.
<< <i>I doubt it's a proof as the surfaces inside the shield aren't mirrorlike - the low mintage dates in the 80's come dmpl on the business strikes. With that said, it's still impossible to accurately assess the grade of this coin off an image. While bagmarks appear to be absent, it still could grade anywhere between 64 and 67 or better. >>
Agree with this & it's well stated. I have a similar close dates in proof & MS. They're hard to tell, but I'd guess this is 65-66. I see nothing that implies
there are hairlines present, but that doesn't mean there are not!
R.I.P. Bear
I assume this is an proof like coin and is in an old ANA style holder.
<< <i>
<< <i>I see nothing in the images that precludes a grade of 66. That said, if it is a proof, or even a PL business strike, it probably has hairlines/flaws which are not apparent from the pictures.
So, I'm wondering, for those who guessed 64 or 65 and not higher, was that based on what you saw, or what you think might be there, but that you didn't see?
Mark,
It looks like several proof coins that I have seen that had surface disturbances that are only clearly seen in hand, I don't like what I see in the right obverse field. OTOH, it could also be from the imaging, or the toning. If it's that nice in hand I could see a 66, but my gut is that we're not really seeing it. >>
Thank you for the explanation.
https://acoinshop.com/ —-> https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
<< <i>Guess old ANACS PR 63. That looks identical to a coin I sold a few years ago. >>
That would be a very strict grade. Thanks for sharing.
https://acoinshop.com/ —-> https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
"Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."
~Wayne
I can not see any hairlines - and - without the coin in hand - to check out the rims -
my gut grade is PR 64 CAM or MS 64PL... regardless...nice coin !!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
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<< <i>PR64 CAM... With a 50/50 chance of AT. >>
Wow, the color doesn't look at all suspicious to me.
if you have the coin in hand, I'd love to see images taken at an angle, with the coin tilted, and bright incandescent or halogen light bouncing off it (don't worry about the glare, just show a few angles to image all the surfaces)
the fields could be cloudy with hairlines that wouldn't show in the above pics ... if they're clean mirrors (if proof, I think it's proof?) or even relatively few hairlines, then could be choice to gem but not superb due to a few ticks here and there
but I'll go against the flow and say 61
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
<< <i>There's always that outside chance of an AT, even tho the coin looks natural or original from a stand point. >>
True, but to me, an "outside chance" is very different from your previous "With a 50/50 chance of AT."
As for grade, I'll sit back and learn...
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
Buying top quality Seated Dimes in Gem BU and Proof.
Buying great coins - monster eye appeal only.
and from the picture, appears quite lovely. If a Proof, coin Guy is quite correct, as
the lighting and angle of the picture would obscure any hairlines that would reduce
the grade of the proof coin to perhaps PR-63 or PR-64.If PR, it does not seem to make
a Cameo. All in all though, a lovely coin and I LIKE IT VERY MUCH.
Camelot
<< <i>I see nothing in the images that precludes a grade of 66. That said, if it is a proof, or even a PL business strike, it probably has hairlines/flaws which are not apparent from the pictures.
So, I'm wondering, for those who guessed 64 or 65 and not higher, was that based on what you saw, or what you think might be there, but that you didn't see?
I'm on the same train as Mark. I was first going to say 65 minimum, but after combing through the details more, I'm leaning towards 66. Could be proof or perhaps just PL. I had a 1885 that was a PL business strike that looked similar to this beauty.
PR-65.
1881 proof half reverse
I'd go with Mint State because the overall strike seems like it could be a tad stronger. The outlines to the obverse shield scroll for example are not complete. Star points are somewhat beveled. Liberty's right knee and central gown line look a bit flattened as well.
roadrunner
Camelot
As you can see it is in the very old ANA style of holder. I would cross this coin over if it was not in the old ANA holder which I find adds extra interest to this coin, it has been in that plastic for quite some time.
For the seated half specialist this is the 1/2 transitional reverse variety that was not originally listed in The Complete Guide to Liberty Seated Half Dollars by Randy Wiley and Bill Bugert. It has the split bud reverse from the original tail hub variety 1 with the more defined and slimmer leaf veins as exhibited on the closed bud tail hub variety 2. For a detailed view of this difference it is clearly pointed out on page 203 of Randy and Bill's book for the 1877 seated half but has since shown up in other places. This is the only proof seated half that I own, but my fascination with the 1/2 transitional varieties compelled the original purchase for my set.
The legend of the OGH, FATTY, and ANA holder lives on. In hand I don't see any of the characteristic hair lines that would limit the grade, just a super fun coin in a very conservative old holder.
Thank you to everyone who took a guess, I was glad I could finally get a decent enlarged photo.
These are my older photos.
Seated Dollar Collection
R.I.P. Bear