1899 Gold Half Eagle

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.

...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!

My first thought was AU-58, but regardless is a coin that needs to be sent in!