1814 Capped Bust Half O-108A E Over A - Keep Or Return, What's Your Vote?

Strictly from an an appearance standpoint, not a fan.

i'd call it VF30 details (graffiti)

just a personal preference, I would not spend that kind of $$ on a graffiti coin if I could find a straight 30 for the same price. a straight 30 sold for $384 in august and if the coin came in at 25 then it was way overpriced imo. sorry, my vote is even if it was $100 less

the clashing is pretty wicked on it

Not a fan.

I'd say it falls on the 35/40 details range. For $400, in this grade with the graffiti, the patina needs to be stunning for the price to be justified. The fact it is bright/cleaned plus the graffiti, I would pass. This variety is available in eye appealing condition, but the examples are held in tight collector's hands. Patience is key with the O-108.

Here is my example:

Thanks for the feedback everyone. My feelings one way or another were pretty neural, given all of the coins, sold and unsold, that I've looked at.

However, the consensus here is unanimous, so going with that and will return it and keep hunting for a more appealing problem free example.

———-Large Edit————

A few more thoughts on this one as I re-read the feedback. Not sure how familiar everyone is with 1814 E/A pricing over generic 1814. Graysheet VF20 retail is $488 vs $273, and the sold listings at Heritage, ebay, Great Collections, and Graysheet marketplace back up the spread across the grading spectrum.

The VF30 Panzaldi referenced, assuming it was the same Stacks Bowers sale in August 2023 that I saw, is a non E/A 1814 in a PCGS holder. In E/A, it would probably sell in the $600+ range. What I would consider an ugly E/A VF20 that sold on GC went for $528. A cleaned XF details, early die state E/A, no clashing or die cracks, sold for $530.

Then there is an early die state E/A straight grade VF35 that sold for $660 in 2022 on Heritage that IMO is not attractive. And this well circulated flat grey example has almost no toning, how's that even possible? As I've looked at many dozens of example of this variety over the last few months, I've seen a good number of PCGS and NGC straight graded 1814 E/A that are suspect, IMO, and ugly. Jacrispies coin is an attractive XF40+ IMO and is easily a $1,000 coin in the current market.

So my overall ambivalence for this coin at the price paid is based on what I see in the market place. I also prefer raw coins. If the graffiti was instead just some random light scratches in that area, I wouldn't even be considering returning it. So finding what I desire is even more limited since so many have been holdered.

With that, if any of you have a lead on an unholdered straight gradable attractive 108a in high VF range for $400 to $500, hit me up!

Cheers!

Looks like graffiti on the obverse as well next to S4. Pass.

Frog, It's going back. No matter how slight the graffiti, it will always be graffiti.

You hit the nail right on the head. I haven't seen a choice XF example at a show for less than $1,000 raw. Your coin has decent luster and would probably grade 40 as well if the surfaces were choice. 35 details as it sits. The light cleaning could be a pass, but the graffiti is a hard killer at any deal price.