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1861 Liberty Half Dollar

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United States
23731 Posts
 Posted 12/31/2008  12:26 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add echizento to your friends list
I think this coin would grade VF-25 to VF-30.
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United States
365 Posts
 Posted 12/31/2008  2:08 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add SeriousCERES to your friends list
Just to add my 2 cents (I know they don't make a dollar)
I for one like prefer the 'browning' toning to the other possibilities on these circulated coins. Of course MS is a different story--that's where you most often find the rainbows. But on these guys the toning gives them an authentic feel and at the very least tells you the coins most likely haven't been messed with.
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United States
122 Posts
 Posted 12/31/2008  2:42 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add MrRick to your friends list
So Serious, what do you consider the grade to be?
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United States
10982 Posts
 Posted 12/31/2008  2:45 pm  Show Profile   Check BH1964's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add BH1964 to your friends list
Looks VF30 to me. The toning is natural - don't sweat it.

ANA #R3154474
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United States
3234 Posts
 Posted 12/31/2008  4:17 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Prethen to your friends list
VF25 - looks like an old time cleaning to me. Reverse hit hurts a bit too.
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United States
122 Posts
 Posted 12/31/2008  5:28 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add MrRick to your friends list
Hey Prethen. Not disagreeing with you, but what is it that points to an old cleaning?
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United States
6396 Posts
 Posted 12/31/2008  6:41 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Jaobler to your friends list
I suspect that the dark residue in the crook of Liberty's left arm and the similar spots in E of AMERICA and at the olive branch are old dirt that remained after a cleaning attempt. Gunk that builds up in such recesses is often not removed by casual cleaning. The obverse has toned nicely and looks pretty original now, but the reverse looks pale and unnatural considering the amount of wear. Overall I'd call it cleaned, but not harshly. Eye appeal is still pretty good.

Gradewise, I'd give it a VF-30. There is enough obvious wear on the high points and rims to keep it below the EF threshold.
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United States
812 Posts
 Posted 12/31/2008  7:41 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Bilbo to your friends list
I think the obverse would just make it as EF, but the reverse shows a bit more wear. Overall, I'll say VF-35.

(PS. I like the obverse toning.)
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United States
2797 Posts
 Posted 12/31/2008  8:45 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add SeatedNut to your friends list
VF30~35. I too see evidence of cleaning long ago and a smokey retone. It's hard to "tell" someone how to discern "an old cleaning". But you can almost bet on it when the toning doesn't lay down smoothly. Here's a bust half that's toned, see how it lays on the surface without the breaks in the accessible parts of the fields.

1861-Liberty-Half-Dollar

You can probably see fine hairline scratches on those areas with the least toning.


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United States
3234 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2009  12:40 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Prethen to your friends list
When you see enough coins like this that have similar wear, they just don't look like your if they are original. Your reverse is "white" with a teeny bit of dirt left. The obverse is largely "white" with a mottled, brownish toning coming from the edges which is very common for cleaned coins. I consider it "old-time", because the coin has had time to tone the way it has and almost seems to have a "skin" on it (especially the obverse). The coin would likely no-grade at all the major services unless you looking for ANACS to net grade it.

Look at SeatedNut's bust half as an example of what an original, crusty coin should look like...and it's in the XF category.
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United States
122 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2009  1:16 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add MrRick to your friends list
So, you're saying NGC or PCGS wouldn't even grade it? Wow
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United States
1691 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2009  1:31 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add atlashealth to your friends list
coin is harshly cleaned and has a gouge under the eagles talons...Net VF-25 at best
not worth TPG (in my opinion)...still a nice type coin...enjoy!
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United States
812 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2009  11:22 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Bilbo to your friends list
I have always assumed that significant variations in toning can occur based on how a coin is stored and/or displayed and it's environment.

Is it really true that "splotchy" toning and marked differences in the obverse vs reverse toning always indicates cleaning?
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United States
3234 Posts
 Posted 01/02/2009  12:22 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Prethen to your friends list
Mr. Rick - If cleaned, there's no way in heck NGC or PCGS will grade it. I've seen cleaned coins in their holders but only if the coin is something fairly rare or they made a mistake.

Bilbo - Splotchy toning is generally unattractive (at least to me) but not necessarily a cleaning indicator. The type of toning this has where there's none in the center (where it's basically white) and only at the edges is the cleaning indicator to me.
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United States
5375 Posts
 Posted 01/02/2009  5:30 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add coinguybrian to your friends list
Actually, if the cleaning isn't obvious or distracting and is very light, they might. I've seen it happen many times. This is the case here. I didn't really pick it up on the obverse, but the reverse does look suspect.

I'd say XF-45+. The front looks weakly struck.
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