What Is Your Opinion On This 1838 Reeded Half

nice coin!
But I think its been clean before U got it

amac, I didn't buy it yet. Wanted the opinion of the experts here before I jump on it. Di you think its cleaned because of the dull color?

I don't know if its the metal composition or what about these coins but they tone like a gun metal grey and the toning can actually make it look like there is no luster left on the coin at all especially in photographs. But as I stated above I like this coin and if I thought the price was reasonable I would probably buy it

It would certainly be at least AU-50 Details. There could be hairline scratches in the field behind Liberty's head that might be evidence of a "harsh" cleaning at some time in the past. The dark spot just beyond the left wing also raises questions...I mean, "what is it?"

Overall, from the photo, a nice coin. I still think it is one you have to hold in your hand, with good light and magnification to truly judge.

I agree with fengk. It it wasn't cleaned, then it was over dipped. You can find better examples out there.

I bought it in the morning going by the morning posts. When I paid online he called me back and we talked for a while. Said this was part of a collection he bought from an 80 year old guy. He had stored the coins in envelopes. Dealer thinks that's why the coin is tarnished. He was thinking of dipping it himself but had been holding off since someone might like it for its originality. Said it hasn't been cleaned recently but also said that most bust halves had been cleaned at some point in the past. He has a 10 day return policy. And said since he already made money selling off this guys collection he'll sell this coin for $250 to me and he refunded the rest. Said he'll rather add a new customer rather than making a profit since he already made his money from the rest of the collection.

So right now I can't do anything. I'll post additional photos when I receive the coin and if not happy I can still return it. I definitely agree that a problem free lower grade is better than a problem coin. Let's see how this one goes.

You mean in a good way?

It could go either way. Maybe he felt it was cleaned so he lowered the price or not. We'll know soon enough. Even if its $250 and its cleaned I'm still going to need a problem free reeded half for my type set.

I received it today and this is the picture I took under natural lighting. Its cleaned for sure.





I'm no good at photographing but I feel the colors in my pictures are close to its actual colors. He wrote in the insert "possible old cleaning". I'll be returning it on Monday.