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 Replies: 21 / Views: 2,324 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4471 Posts |
A couple things for you do not clean or wipe the coin surface as the coin value will decrease from cleaning. It would be best to store the coin in a 2 x 2 coin flip and hold the coin by the edge and do not touch the coin surface with your fingers. The hit on the rim/edge in my opinion should not impact the grading on the coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6397 Posts |
The 1899 is one of the most common Liberty Half Eagles and makes a nice type coin. This example looks mint state or possibly slightly circulated with a touch of friction in the fields. Luster is present but doesn't appear very strong in these images. I see the slight edge issue at 4:00 on the obverse but that doesn't appear serious enough to hurt the grade. There are scattered small hits that combined with so-so luster should keep it out of gem contention IMO. It could grade anywhere from AU-58 to MS-64; I'd vote for MS-63. Retail price if you wanted to buy a coin like this might be $550 to $600. A dealer would pay less, perhaps much less if they assert the coin is not mint state. Certification with shipping will cost around $30-$55 depending on the service you choose. If the coin grades AU to MS-62 I don't think you will recover your certification cost upon sale. If it comes back MS-63 or better the certification cost will likely turn out to be a good investment. Thanks for sharing! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
I'm going to say AU-58, and a very choice one at that. A TPG might call it an MS-62/63. |
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New Member
 United States
6 Posts |
A big thank you to everyone that replied.
This is really helpful information and all of you wrote with incredible clarity that even someone like me who has only just started to learn can understand.
I promise to follow up with what I learn after taking it to a dealer. I am in New York City and I have heard less that favorable thing about dealers in general here. But I will stick to the list and check reviews of the same and let you all know how it goes.
Thanks again!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3546 Posts |
Gempy, welcome to CCF.
Just as an observation you've done a real decent job on your photos: more than good enough to show adequate detail to be able to convey its traits to the potential MS crowd.
Also, it looks authentic and as a rule to follow I personally 'always' weigh any and all gold coins acquired just for the record.
IMO,
mdpmedia
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
18717 Posts |
Appears to have light circulation attested to by rub areas in hair, around Liberty and the letter "L" as well as the hair around the profile. I'm at AU58
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Certainly no less. Still think a visit to a professional at a LCS would be a good idea.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4337 Posts |
 Condolences on your loss. If you're dead set on selling and getting the few hundred the coin is worth you should head to Westchester and if you take the henry hudson north into Elmsford after it connects to the Sawmill you'll find Great American Coins. I dealt with them for several years prior to moving from the area. You can book an appointment with them and from midtown its about 30 minutes by car. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8137 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
11922 Posts |
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New Member
United States
6 Posts |
Thanks for the additional replys. And for the condolences that someone offered. This really is a kind and generous place. I am new to coins but not new to forums, newsgroups, or Usenet (if any of you know what that is) and this place has the feeling of the good old days filled with the good and promise that the Internet can do, and not the delivery system of  and vapid reality personality news that it has become ;) I did reach out to one of the Westchester, NY dealers who gave a quick reply and offer off $400 pending seeing it in person. I understand that is a wholesale price, but selling on ebay these days has fat fees that take a chunk out of sales too, making selling there seem like more but in the end almost the same. I am curious about something that I don't understand... There are several graded versions of this coin on ebay that are in sealed grader boxes (or whatever they are called) and they look far worse to my untrained eye with lots of marks and scratches yet are rated well above the au-58 level... Some are ms-63 and yet look far worse than my example. What am I missing? Thanks again for you all being so kind and helpful. Edited by Gempy
07/07/2016 8:30 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3546 Posts |
Quote:
What am I missing? w/o seeing the exact coin you are referring to it's hard to give a 100% applicable response. Just remember the definition of an MS60: An often unattractive, possibly impaired coin with surface distractions and scuffed, heavily bagmarked surfaces. Yet, no signs of circulation. The key here is that once any area on the devices or fields shows the least amount of wearing down from circulation from handling (ie: exposure to incremental amino acid degradation etc.)it drops down from the MS to an AU level. Incidental dings on the coin from being hit up against adjacent coins in a bag or from being dropped on the floor do not DQ it from being an MS coin. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6397 Posts |
 ...with mpdmedia. It's often the case that an AU-58 coin has better eye appeal than coins that meet standards to be graded MS-63. Many collectors will opt for an attractive AU piece over a bag-marked and lackluster MS-60 to MS-63 piece, especially since the AU coin will theoretically be priced lower. The fact that your coin is relatively mark-free and attractive is why some of us are suggesting possible grades as high as MS-64. If a grading service decides it is lightly circulated, it should grade AU-58. If uncirculated, that MS-64 is possible. An objective dealer opinion about circulated status should help you decide whether it is worth investing the grading fee to find out. Good luck! |
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New Member
United States
6 Posts |
Thanks Mdpmedia and Jaobler. I think I understand what you are both saying. The Westchester dealer (found on the suggested PCGD list) that I had emailed said "It won't grade high enough to justify the expense." That suggests you all are spot on with your assessment of it being AU58. Perhaps when actually seeing the coin in person will garner a different opinion but I get the impression that experienced collectors such as yourselves can tell a lot from a photo. Still not exactly sure what you all see that I don't but I know I am a total novice.
Thanks again for the information. I will stop back and report what I sold it for is a couple of weeks (if that is ok to do).
I do have it listed on that auction site if anyone might be interested. You will see the same photos that were posted here.
Thank you.
Edited by Gempy
07/08/2016 12:50 am
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Valued Member
United States
213 Posts |
My first thought was AU-58, but regardless is a coin that needs to be sent in!
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Posted 07/05/2016 8:36 pm
