Sad...1806 Draped Bust Half Found in dad's stuff...pics

BigDaddyz · September 19, 2010 12:54PM

I found this awesome old coin in my dad's stuff...I've been liquidating a bunch of silver on ebay from his collection I inherited.
Its mostly been just average stuff, then tonight, I found this one. So close to being the most awesome discovery...if someone hadn't holed it.
Thoughts? Comments? Is it still valuable? Kind of a noob at this still myself...but I'd grade it an easy XF45 maybe 50. Does the hole make it worthless?

Thanks for the expertise you guys provide on this forum!
Matt

kevinstang · September 19, 2010 1:11PM

Definately not worthless, there are lots of holed coin collectors who would want such a piece in such good condition! I had oddly enough an 1806 holed half once myself, probably a strong VG to Fine example, think I sold it on ebay for around $70 and that was years ago- your fathers would definately be worth more to the right collector in my opinion.

RedTiger · September 19, 2010 1:14PM

Worthless? No, however, a good many collectors don't buy holed coins. The price will depend on finding a buyer that is interested. Most dealers will low ball these kind of coins, some might only offer silver melt value. Holed and repaired coins will be worth more than those with the hole intact, but still trade at a significant discount to no problem examples. Again, price will vary quite a bit depending on the buyer, and the venue. 20% of the regular price might be a ballpark retail with the hole, wholesale is a fraction of that, often a small fraction.

Zoins · September 19, 2010 1:16PM

<< Holed and repaired coins will be worth more than those with the hole intact >>

How would one go about finding someone to repair the hole?

BigDaddyz · September 19, 2010 1:18PM

Would pcgs still grade or at least authenticate it?

keyman64 · September 19, 2010 1:19PM

<< 

<< Holed and repaired coins will be worth more than those with the hole intact >>

How would one go about finding someone to repair the hole? >>

Sorry, this made me laugh. You need a good coin doctor of course...maybe one that isn't being sued right now.

notwilight · September 19, 2010 1:23PM

There is a guy who specialized in hole repair. He does a good job and I'm sure someone here has his contact info. He won't be sued unless he tries to pass his work fraudulently, which he doesn't.

--Jerry

OKbustchaser · September 19, 2010 1:24PM

It is the "no stem" variety. I "think" that it is the pointed 6 obverse rather than the knobbed 6, but before you do ANYTHING with this coin PM the board member Nysoto--one of the (actually, THE) board specialists on draped bust halves. If it is the knobbed 6 then this is a very high dollar coin even with the hole.

crazyhounddog · September 19, 2010 1:28PM

Super nice, hole and all! The hole will bring it down a bunch as far as value "$" but if you found it in your dads stuff maybe you should consider keeping it forever....I still treasure stuff that belonged to my dad.

BuckStopsHere · September 19, 2010 1:29PM

On a related note, I just bought a Seated Libery half dollar off of ebay that is holed. I have seen a number coins that have holes. What's up with the holes? Why did people do that?

Zoins · September 19, 2010 1:31PM

<< On a related note, I just bought a Seated Libery half dollar off of ebay that is holed. I have seen a number coins that have holes. What's up with the holes? Why did people do that? >>

Necklaces, key rings, etc?

Zoins · September 19, 2010 1:32PM

<< It is the "no stem" variety. I "think" that it is the pointed 6 obverse rather than the knobbed 6, but before you do ANYTHING with this coin PM the board member Nysoto--one of the (actually, THE) board specialists on draped bust halves. If it is the knobbed 6 then this is a very high dollar coin even with the hole. >>

Good info!

Nysoto · September 19, 2010 1:34PM

OK bustchaser beat me to it this time

If this was a knobbed six, no stem, it could be worth 10K or more with the hole, problem free examples go for 50K+ as there are 7 known. However, this is the pointed 6, no stem, which happens to be the most common of all draped bust half varieties. The other numbers in the date and the star 7 to L distance verify this.

It is a nice holed coin IMO, worth somewhere around $180-200, although I have not priced them recently. I would not get it plugged, just my opinion as I do not like plugged coins.

edit - the reverse is also different for the 1806 O109 pointed 6, no stem, which this matches. As an interesting note, there have been two new draped bust half die marriages discovered on this forum

BigDaddyz · September 19, 2010 1:37PM

wow, I appreciate all the info and fast responses. I was pretty floored when I found this coin and I was excited to see what you guys would say about it...Thanks again.

RedTiger · September 19, 2010 1:52PM

<< 

<< On a related note, I just bought a Seated Libery half dollar off of ebay that is holed. I have seen a number coins that have holes. What's up with the holes? Why did people do that? >>

Necklaces, key rings, etc? >>

Some coins were nailed to a post, or a wall, large cents in particular. Sometimes folks had no pockets or no secure pockets, so would hole their coins and and wear them around the neck. Pirate crews were said to be prone to this kind of behavior.

MidLifeCrisis · September 19, 2010 1:59PM

<< Super nice, hole and all! The hole will bring it down a bunch as far as value "$" but if you found it in your dads stuff maybe you should consider keeping it forever....I still treasure stuff that belonged to my dad. >>

Zoins · September 19, 2010 2:01PM

<< 

<< 

<< On a related note, I just bought a Seated Libery half dollar off of ebay that is holed. I have seen a number coins that have holes. What's up with the holes? Why did people do that? >>

Necklaces, key rings, etc? >>

Some coins were nailed to a post, or a wall, large cents in particular. Sometimes folks had no pockets or no secure pockets, so would hole their coins and and wear them around the neck. Pirate crews were said to be prone to this kind of behavior. >>

Great info. It really makes me think about how people lived back then, especially on the pirates. Thanks for posting

Swampboy · September 19, 2010 2:08PM

<< Pirate crews were said to be prone to this kind of behavior. >>

Cool thought.

This is the first holed coin I've purchased.
I'll always be wondering who and when.

Best of luck finding someone who'll appreciate your Dad's half BigDaddyz.

astrorat · September 19, 2010 2:14PM

Looks like the half is an O-109 (prime die state). This is the "pointed 6, no stem" variety, which is the common "no stem" variety. It was a bit difficult from the images, but the star placement on the obverse fits the O-109 and not the O-108 ("knob 6, no stem" - the really rare one!).

If you decided to part with it, it will make a nice addition to a "low budget" or "holed" collector. Then again, if you don't need the money...it would be a great coin to remember your dad. Once you sell it...it's gone forever.

Lane

TomB · September 19, 2010 2:15PM

It is very cool just the way it is now.

mr1931S · September 19, 2010 2:59PM

If the hole driller had put the hole right in the O in OF,then the date (1806) wouldn't have been affected by the hole.

AnkurJ · September 19, 2010 3:31PM

<< It is very cool just the way it is now. >>

Yup!

tresgatos · September 19, 2010 4:05PM

Keychain.

airplanenut · September 19, 2010 4:15PM

One thing to consider... that hole has been with the coin for a long time. Given how evenly the edges of the hole have worn down with the rest of the coin, it was likely put in the coin before it received much of its wear. Is it a problem coin in the numismatic world? Sure, but the coin balances being 204 years old with having some, but not much wear, and an issue that was likely not seen as a problem when it was imparted however many years ago. That's a neat little piece of history you've got there, not to mention potentially sentimentally valuable.

DUIGUY · September 19, 2010 4:55PM

<< One thing to consider... that hole has been with the coin for a long time. Given how evenly the edges of the hole have worn down with the rest of the coin, it was likely put in the coin before it received much of its wear. Is it a problem coin in the numismatic world? Sure, but the coin balances being 204 years old with having some, but not much wear, and an issue that was likely not seen as a problem when it was imparted however many years ago. That's a neat little piece of history you've got there, not to mention potentially sentimentally valuable. >>

Exactly! I would give my eye tooth before parting with this one!

HoledandCreative · September 19, 2010 4:58PM

PM sent.

ColonelJessup · September 19, 2010 10:48PM

Richard(?) Stockton advertises in Coin World classifieds. Ironically, the biggest problem will be that the rest of the coin is of such high quality and is so wholesome.

Fixed? Ebay with an honest description perhaps $200.

You've go kids? Grandpa's karma juice is all over this one.

PerryHall · September 19, 2010 11:12PM

<< Richard(?) Stockton advertises in Coin World classifieds. Ironically, the biggest problem will be that the rest of the coin is of such high quality and is so wholesome. >>

Allen Stockton does expert coin repairs. His website is crs-stockton.com

BillJones · September 19, 2010 11:17PM

I had one similar to that more than 30 years ago. It had wonderful original toning and graded EF-AU, but it had a hole just the right of the date. The date damage was not as bad as it is on this coin, and I imagine my coin has been repaired and is now sitting in a collection.

I bought it for $6.50 from Gimbels department store in Philadelphia in the late 1960s and sold it for $20 a few years later. It would probably bring close to $100 and probably $350 or so today if it was expertly repaired. Without the hole it would be worth three to four thousand today.

Bayard1908 · September 20, 2010 2:33AM

<< Richard(?) Stockton advertises in Coin World classifieds. Ironically, the biggest problem will be that the rest of the coin is of such high quality and is so wholesome.

Fixed? Ebay with an honest description perhaps $200. >>

I'd think about double that price.

jdillane · September 20, 2010 3:04AM

problem with an expert repair is that the surfaces will be adversely impacted by the heat applied to the coin. She looks best as she is.

Ebay is a bit of a crap shoot but is probably the best venue to let her go, if you aren't inclined to keep her....

BigDaddyz · September 20, 2010 3:10AM

I really appreciate all the great comments.

I'm not inclined to keep it...its not sentimental stuff. This 'collection' is just 'stuff' my dad came across in his restaurant and he knew it was silver or whatever so he threw it in a box.

Thanks again for all the info. I have some things to check on now.

Matt

garrynot · September 20, 2010 3:13AM

There are some holed Bust coins in the Stack's Americana Sale right now. You should see what kind of prices they bring before making a decision. JMHO.

Baley · September 20, 2010 3:17AM

Ya keep that and you give it to your kid or a niece or nephew.

what are you going to spend a couple hundred dollars on, that would be better than keeping something like this in the family?

JRocco · September 20, 2010 9:39AM

<< Ya keep that and you give it to your kid or a niece or nephew.

what are you going to spend a couple hundred dollars on, that would be better than keeping something like this in the family? >>

What a great reply Baley.
And so so true.

Sad...1806 Draped Bust Half Found in dad's stuff...pics

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