.

rhedden · January 10, 2012 2:49AM

I just bit on an ebay BIN listing for this beautiful, Unc.-looking 1847 half, which cost me $356 including shipping. The seller is located in the Philipines, so I took a risk with the shipping. The seller looks legit, but I do worry about the package getting lost in transit. How do you think I'll make out? Will the coin be a hairlined POS? Will I even get it? Will it be a MS64 bought for AU53 money? Will it be a deceptive Chinese fake from a genius counterfeiter who knows how to fake carbon spots? The last time I took a gamble like this, I got an Unc. 1872 quarter with original skin for $250; I have a good feeling about this one too. AU58's fetch about $600 to $800, while lower Unc. grades seem to be around $1,100, so I will make out great if I get it and it's not hairlined or messed with. Seller says 3 to 4 weeks for Registered mail, so we will have to wait a bit to find out.

Link to ebay auction

Billet7 · January 10, 2012 2:57AM

Looks like a good gamble!

bosco5041 · January 10, 2012 2:59AM

No guts no glory. Will the spots come off with conservation at NCS?

DoubleEagle59 · January 10, 2012 2:59AM

I think you're going to do great.

MS64!!

commoncents05 · January 10, 2012 3:04AM

Surfaces look flat and lackluster. I'm going to guess Unc Details, Cleaned/Altered Surfaces.

-Paul

Billet7 · January 10, 2012 3:19AM

<< <i>Surfaces look flat and lackluster. I'm going to guess Unc Details, Cleaned/Altered Surfaces.

-Paul >>

Sadly, even if that's true, I'll bet a quick dip will put it into an MS holder. I'm not a fan of dipping.

relicsncoins · January 10, 2012 3:26AM

The surfaces and strike look proof or PL to me.

chipper10 · January 10, 2012 3:28AM

My vote is that you'll be happy with the purchase. If I'd have seen it first you would not be getting it in the mail in 3 or 4 weeks.

STONE · January 10, 2012 3:44AM

My vote is -> Where is the rim?

I saw this coin, saw where it was coming from and didnt feel good about it

NewParadigm · January 10, 2012 3:53AM

From Philippines. Questionable, but without conclusion.

LindeDad · January 10, 2012 3:55AM

Too many red flags for me. I'll stick with letting a couple of pros look at mine before putting that kind of money in the pot.

Billet7 · January 10, 2012 4:07AM

Not my series...so I can't tell you if it's genuine or not...but if it's counterfeit we're all in a LOT of trouble. That's more than just very well done!

rhedden · January 10, 2012 4:10AM

The possibility of "filed rim" or "ex-jewelry" is indeed troubling. The rim is thinner than any other 1847 half I have seen in the Heritage archives or elsewhere. If the coin has a smooth edge when I get it, it's going back, obviously. Wouldn't that be a shame?

123cents · January 10, 2012 4:16AM

I have seen a couple of PCGS graded 1847 halves with rims like yours. I would be more concerned about the surfaces. Anyway, if it doesn't look right in hand, use the 7 day return privilege the seller offers.

relicsncoins · January 10, 2012 4:16AM

What about a spark erosion counterfiet?

rhedden · January 10, 2012 4:22AM

What about a spark erosion counterfeit?

That would suck. Something about the surfaces and the imperfections tells me it's authentic, though. Looks to be a late die state that was polished to the point of being prooflike, judging by the thin stars and thin reverse lettering. That might also explain the thin rim, come to think of it. The small contact marks under light toning, the carbon spots, and the overall appearance of the piece lead me to believe that if it's fake, it's a very old fake that was die-struck.

drwstr123 · January 10, 2012 4:29AM

My first reaction was 'Chinese counterfeit', but then again I've not been accused of being overly intelligent.

GoldenEyeNumismatics · January 10, 2012 4:36AM

Is doesn't look real to me.

ModernCoin · January 10, 2012 4:39AM

Good luck rhedden

. Obviously everyone here is rooting for you

guitarwes · January 10, 2012 4:43AM

Just to make you feel better, you gots bigger cajones than I do at the moment.

tightbudget · January 10, 2012 4:55AM

I think you've struck out. Look at the date; it just doesn't look right.

johnny9434 · January 10, 2012 5:31AM

nice looking coin. although i do not like the color of it, jmo

Spkrmakr · January 10, 2012 6:18AM

What's a nice girl like that doing in the Philippines? I suspect she migrated from China.....Hope I'm wrong and that you did good!

MFH · January 10, 2012 6:30AM

It doesn't sit right with me either
the HALF DOLLAR looks odd.

I just picked up an AU 58...

HA's images:

Messydesk's images:

rhedden · January 10, 2012 6:56AM

I still think it is a late die state coin with heavy basining of the die. A good example of the effect was the "small stars" 1838 half dime, which has a different appearance than the normal 1838, which has heavier, blocky stars. This piece seems to have the edges of the stars and lettering polished away to some extent. Of course, that could have been part of the counterfeiting process, too, so we shall find out soon enough.

CaptHenway · January 10, 2012 7:38AM

My first impression is Chinese counterfeit.

astrorat · January 10, 2012 7:46AM

It doesn't look right. I hope I am wrong.

roadrunner · January 10, 2012 7:55AM

Amazingly sharp strike which you don't normally see on the fakes. Denticles are bold but at the same time sort of pointy and odd looking.

I'm not normally used to see the edge reeding so sharp and pronounced from both sides. I'd almost think it was a proof from that feature alone.
Very strange. If the stars are slightly recut like the others shown, probably a positive sign.

kaz · January 10, 2012 8:06AM

I'm really worried about the rims.

coolest · January 10, 2012 8:07AM

Im a long way from an expert but my first thought was FAKE.

Please let us know.

pursuitofliberty · January 10, 2012 8:47AM

I read the responses first, but my take is also that it is a fake

I couldn't say exactly why ... rims, letters, etc

I hope I'm wrong, but would sure like to know either way

Manorcourtman · January 10, 2012 8:51AM

I say counterfeit also.

SUMORADA · January 10, 2012 8:53AM

Wow.....I don't know anything about these, but did you take a close look at the reverse under the shield???????

..........

......I could not help myself....

rhedden · January 10, 2012 9:01AM

LOL, made me say "gulp" for a second there. I am a little more concerned about this purchase than I was this morning because I could not find an image of another 1847 half dollar with thin lettering and rims. This might be a case where a little knowledge was a bad thing for me; knowing how late die states can affect the appearance of stars and lettering on Seated coins may have convinced me to buy something that isn't legit. For now, I will still stick with my original opinion that it's a very late die state of a common WB-101 coin that was struck from heavily polished dies, and sweat it out until it arrives.

crypto79 · January 10, 2012 9:19AM

Look how the olive branch is close to the wing on the PCGS one and how far it is on yours. Might be a different die but I would be worried.

PreTurb · January 10, 2012 9:57AM

ack...

DavidLawrence · January 10, 2012 10:39AM

Doesn't look real to me. Sorry.

Manorcourtman · January 10, 2012 9:27PM

For sale again! Not a good sign...Same coin pic

CaptHenway · January 10, 2012 11:16PM

<< <i>For sale again! Not a good sign...Same coin pic >>

A good sign for the OP. He must have been able to cancel the sale.

.

Comments

Leave a Comment