1904 Barber Half

cameron12x · April 25, 2011 11:32AM

She's dipped and I'm debating how to grade her...

Your impressions?

llafoe · April 25, 2011 11:36AM

61 or 62?

bidask · April 25, 2011 11:37AM

that coin looks no gradeable to me

keyman64 · April 25, 2011 11:37AM

With that type of look I think it would go genuine. The luster looks gone. The dirt/grime/skin that was on the coin is now gone and reveals the surface damage below. In my opinion... Maybe I am wrong and the photos just look strange? Hard to grade from photos.

dcarr · April 25, 2011 11:39AM

Dipped, and/or lightly cleaned, but not excessively polished. Still marketable at the right price.
AU-53 details. EF-45 value.

bidask · April 25, 2011 11:44AM

<< <i>Dipped, and/or lightly cleaned, but not excessively polished. Still marketable at the right price.
AU-53 details. EF-45 value. >>

I have to disagree that a au53 details 1904 barber half is worth the same value as a presumably original 1904 barber half in xf45.....if that is what you are saying.........I think its alot less.

TomB · April 25, 2011 11:45AM

I know you haven't stated your opinion, but there is no way, no how that the coin is MS. It is an obviously dipped AU that I bet quite a few folks would like, but of course not everyone.

DoubleEagle59 · April 25, 2011 11:45AM

au50 cleaned.

291fifth · April 25, 2011 11:46AM

XF details, harshly cleaned. Looks like a typical Sunday bourse BU.

TexasNationals · April 25, 2011 11:47AM

Yeah, that is definitely an AU coin cleaned/dipped too much. That is a strong bag

cameron12x · April 25, 2011 11:49AM

<< <i>I know you haven't stated your opinion, but there is no way, no how that the coin is MS. It is an obviously dipped AU that I bet quite a few folks would like, but of course not everyone. >>

I checked my coin spreadsheet and I have her listed at AU-50 details, dipped...

It's funny, as a novice collector I used to like dipped coins with a lot of detail.

No more...

TexasNationals · April 25, 2011 11:50AM

I would buy that coin as cleaned as it is at 10% back VF bid unless it is just so much nicer in hand.

SamByrd · April 25, 2011 12:05PM

AU50 details.

llafoe · April 25, 2011 12:06PM

I need new glasses!

Edscoin · April 25, 2011 12:34PM

Tote it in your pocket till it's a nice VF 35 coin.

Rob85635 · April 25, 2011 12:52PM

I need to take cleaning 101 class. How do you know it is dipped? Is there a website I can go and look at examples of dipped coins? Any education you can provide will help.

robkool · April 25, 2011 12:53PM

AU55 details...

RedTiger · April 25, 2011 1:52PM

<< <i>I need to take cleaning 101 class. How do you know it is dipped? Is there a website I can go and look at examples of dipped coins? Any education you can provide will help. >>

Any of the major auction sites, Teletrade, Heritage, eBay will have examples of coins that made it into holders, and coins that have a details grade or a genuine designation. That will be a decent start, but it something best learned in person with an expert telling you why this or that coin might be cleaned or otherwise enhanced.

coinlieutenant · April 25, 2011 2:22PM

I have always liked 1904 as a date in barber halves. It is an underrated P mint IMO. Yours IMO is a dipped AU. Bummer really as it isn't a bad coin, but would have been much better original most likely. Here is a PCGS VF35 for comparison.

PonyExpress8 · April 25, 2011 2:28PM

AU 50 details pretty harshly cleaned/dipped.

Rob85356, in an attempt to answer, the light should bounce off the surfaces and reflect back to the eye/camera. In the photo the reflective light just seems to sit on the coin and not bounce back to the lense/eye. The coin should have more even reflective luster on a brilliant technically high grade coin, whereas this example just doesn't have the reflective luster it should. There is also a ghosting look around the stars on the obverse and letters and other areas on the reverse.

As for the technical grade, the cheek, jaw, forehead and back of the cap appear to be slightly off color, indicating some probable rub. The hairlines and surface marks on the obverse, along with the minor rim nick above the "O" of of on the reverse draw down the technical grade further from mid-AU to low AU.

A few years back you might see valuation of a coin such as this the next grade lower. In today's market the value is closer to VF then XF, especially for this more common date.

The best advice I would give is akin to Redtiger's response. But seeing thousands of coins in person with someone that can share their knowledge is the best way to train you eye to spot a problem coin such as this.

I checked my coin spreadsheet and I have her listed at AU-50 details, dipped...

It's funny, as a novice collector I used to like dipped coins with a lot of detail.

No more...

The OP does a good job of confirming it.

GoldenEyeNumismatics · April 25, 2011 3:19PM

au50ish

WoodenJefferson · April 25, 2011 4:19PM

AU-53 lightly cleaned

1904 Barber Half

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