1819 Capped Bust Half

Congratulation, it's a magnificent looking coin!

Beautiful!

When you get the coin, have a look at the outer tips of Star 7, the upper left one. You should see recutting. It looks like O-110 to me, and the star is the best pickup point. On the reverse, an O-110a variety has a die crack at the top of UNITED; in later die states it extends almost fully around the reverse. It's tough to see clearly in the auction pics, but I don't think I see the crack. The second and third A's should also be nearly closed at the bottom serifs; I see this in the auction coin.

Only one Uncirculated and four (original surfaces) AU attributed examples of this variety have ever been offered at Heritage. All were O-110a. ANACS has graded 24 O-110a's and only 16 O-110's, none above AU55. A PCGS O-110A in AU55 went for over $800 a year ago. The coin you purchased is a slam dunk at AU55, more likely AU58 and I can't rule out Mint State without better pics. See where I'm going with this?

Let's just say, I'm of the opinion that you didn't overpay for this coin. It will likely change the Condition Census for the variety.

Yes, to an extent - one must consider obverse and reverse as a whole when deciding if the coin has circulated. The top of the eagle's head and wings show the classic "shelves" one sees on Bust Half strikes, making me ready to make a little allowance for this on other reverse features; I also see a little of it on the obverse at the top of the cap and in the hair directly under the "Y."

What I don't see is very much wear directly above the ear and heading towards the forehead, the first place you'd expect to see it. 1819's generally are struck well, and this one is, making it easier to note wear. I can't see much. It's very likely been circulated, but vanishingly little.

The strike and apparent detail level on the coin you've purchased is very close to that of the sole Mint State example appearing at Heritage.

Any thoughts here on it having been cleaned? Looks nice to me, btw. Greysheet price for AU is almost 300 but in MS60 that's 1000. Not taking into account rare die vatieties, of course - thank goodness for the experts on this forum, I know where to ask if I need assistance!

Thread Hijack Alert: What is considered 'suspicious' toning? Sorry :D

Enjoy the CB half...

Bruce

EDIT: Typo correction lol

Beautiful coin!!


I think you outbid me on this one!!


(Sorry for running up the price!)

Jaobler thanks for that reply and I didnt really want ot hijack the thread, lol.

Oh wait....kill me now...

http://www.coinfacts.com/half_dolla...arieties.htm