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Bashlow confederate half 'restrike' up on ebay (not my coin)

ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,949 ✭✭✭✭✭
Just a quick heads up, this is something not seen too often, a pretty nice piece at a pretty good price. If you dont want to spend $$$$$ for a 19th century restrike, this is the next best thing. These were made from transfer dies from an original piece and show the small rust patches that the original restrikes have. Quite a good copy. they are thicker than an original restrike, and the reverse is obviously different.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-Bashlow-Confederate-Silver-Half-Dollar-Restrike-/230475409615?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35a967a8cf

Comments

  • SaorAlbaSaorAlba Posts: 7,593 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Tir nam beann, nan gleann, s'nan gaisgeach ~ Saorstat Albanaich a nis!
  • braddickbraddick Posts: 24,818 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Times have changed.
    I remember you could (easily) pick these off a coin shop's bid board for about $15. without any effort.

    peacockcoins

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,736 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I've never owned one of these.
    TD
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • DMWJRDMWJR Posts: 6,042 ✭✭✭✭✭
    This is where I go bonkers with TPG grading. A 68??? pfft....

    Would they ignore die rust and damage on a Morgan dollar? I think not.

    Just give it what it really grades, and do likewise for the rest of them. Cut out the grade fabrication (read as "marketing gimmick")
    Doug
  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,949 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That grade of MS 68 is probably accurate. Understand the original confederate die was created in 1861 to strike four coins. The next use was in 1879 when the coins we know today as the confederate half and the Scott token were struck. The rust damage occured between these dates. These 1879 strikes show this exact same rust damage The bashlow restrike, using that word loosely since the other side was newly created used a transfer die made from the die in the same condition it was in when it was used for the 1879 strike. The rust damage was copied along with the other details found on the 1879 strikes Since this is now on the die it is in every sense of the word mint made. Ngc no doubt gave an accurate grade since these were not circulating coins. If between the time of striking in 1962 and today this piece recieved no wear or alteration from it's appearance when struck,,,,they just as well could have graded it MS 70.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,846 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Times have changed.
    I remember you could (easily) pick these off a coin shop's bid board for about $15. without any effort. >>



    Are you confusing this with the Confederate cent restrike which is considerably more common?

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,949 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Here are three images, the first is one of the four originals that were struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1861
    note especially the area under the cap above the shield, free of rust


    image


    This is one of the Restrikes, struck in 1879, using the original and now rusted in places die, note again the area under the cap, and also the rust on the shield and between the rim and AMERICA. Note how the sharpness of the strike, the clean angular breaks from the lettering into the fields....look different in textures. This is what a hubbed die makes.

    image




    This one is the Bashlow 'restrikes', which was made from a transfer die created from the original die, complete with rust patches that were on the die in 1879. When this piece is carefully examined the differenced in 'look' between a die made from a hub impression and a die made from a transfer are obvious. The lettering, devices and fields are all of the same texture, with the edges of everything somewhat rounded and blendingl Between the time of the 1879 striking to the time that AG Frank made the transfer dies for Bashlow, more rust had occured and been incorporated into the new die.

    image
  • braddickbraddick Posts: 24,818 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Times have changed.
    I remember you could (easily) pick these off a coin shop's bid board for about $15. without any effort. >>



    Are you confusing this with the Confederate cent restrike which is considerably more common? >>



    No, but those are cool and cheap coins too.
    Perhaps comparing bid board pricing of the 1970's in unfair under today's condition and climate.

    peacockcoins

  • WoodenJeffersonWoodenJefferson Posts: 6,491 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Times have changed.
    I remember you could (easily) pick these off a coin shop's bid board for about $15. without any effort. >>



    Yes, it was one of those image moments. At the time, I just thought they were cheap knock-offs.
    Chat Board Lingo

    "Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
  • IrishMikeyIrishMikey Posts: 1,561 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I've never owned one of these.
    TD >>



    This one could be yours for only $285! Go for it, Tom!
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,809 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>Times have changed.
    I remember you could (easily) pick these off a coin shop's bid board for about $15. without any effort. >>



    Are you confusing this with the Confederate cent restrike which is considerably more common? >>



    No, but those are cool and cheap coins too.
    Perhaps comparing bid board pricing of the 1970's in unfair under today's condition and climate. >>



    The obverse of this item makes it pretty boring IMO. I never cared for the Scott token that was struck in conjunction with the Scott "restrike" Confederate half dollar from the 1870s. I guess if you really want a "piece of history" that is pretty far removed from the history, this is okay, but not at prices like this. There are a number of "junk box" tokens that carry this design that can be had for a lot less money.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • DMWJRDMWJR Posts: 6,042 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Ambro, just because there is die rust on the original does not excuse this flaw from the grade in my opinion. A true 68 is not only exactly "as struck" but must show complete details as intended, and must be free of obvious imperfections (among other criteria such as luster). I haven't owned one of these, but did own an 1861 Scott restrike in 63. Traditionally only the reverse is graded on those. I do realize that different grading standards have been adopted by many for certain oddities and rarities, but it still bothers me to call a coin such as this an MS68. Other people may differ in their opinion, and that is fine too.
    Doug
  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,949 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yes Doug I understand what you are saying, and it seems to me that you are in essence agreeing with the grade that is given to this piece. Remember, they are NOT grading a scott token here, or an original CSA half, they are grading the Bashlow token as stuck in 1962. All that can be expected to be produced is what the die will give you, not what the original engraver intended the CSA half to look like as struck in 1861.

    The AG Frank transfer die does indeed have all the artifacts and defects that were on the original die when copied. If those surface imperfections exist as minted on the token, and are not abraded or degraded by circulation or handling, then it is possible not only to grade a piece MS68, but to even carry this further and providing the piece has been tenderly handled since 1962, and is in the as struck condition, it is even a candidate for MS70.

    I ask you, seriously, put on your graders hat and take a good hard look at my example posted earlier....and using accepted grading standards such as wear on high points, nicks and marks from circulation or handling, sharpness of strike and luster...and grade it.

  • My set graded by NGC TopPop. Can’t put a value because none similar sold

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Bootjack....Very nice set, and impressive grades....Thanks for showing us...Cheers, RickO

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