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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,531 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2362 Posts |
I just received this 1834 Bust Half Dollar O-118 R4 I think. I always look at new purchases with my digital microscope before removing them from the flip. This looks like a repair to me. I got it for a good price - a good price for a problem free coin but not for a repaired coin. Your opinions are important to me. It's my understanding that I can return the coin if necessary.  Member ANA and EAC "You got to lose to know how to win". Dream On by Aerosmith Edited by cipster
10/24/2016 10:01 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1119 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
34402 Posts |
Maybe the discoloration on the flat spot just above the eye? It doesn't look like a filled hole to me, but I'm interested to what others have to say.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4469 Posts |
The area that I am seeing that could be a repair is to the right of the eye.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2362 Posts |
It's the nose area. It appears filled at the side and there is an unfilled area at the tip of the nose.
Member ANA and EAC "You got to lose to know how to win". Dream On by Aerosmith |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
Are you talking about the slightly lighter area immediately to the right? I wouldn't know a repair if I saw one (unless it looked like a bandaid), but I'm trying to see what you see.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
We cross-posted. Anyway, now I see the chip at the tip of the nose. And a slightly lighter area to the right of the nose. If it IS a repair, you have great eyes! Can't wait to see what the experts say.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
Just for reference, I pulled out my 1832 Capped Bust. This one has considerably more wear than yours, but I liked the way the dark toning (is that what it's called, when its black?) made the other features stand out.  Anyway, here's a tight view of the same area. I see a lot of differences in a number of details. I'll be curious what people say.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
I see nothing wrong. The unfilled area on the tip of the nose appears to just be a hit.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
I am leaning to ...
The right side of the note took a hit that flatten that area.
Then the end of the nose has a hit /chip.
I am thinking in hand .. that area does not look bad.
Many of my coins would look very bad .. if I was looking through a microscope.
Edited by GR58
10/25/2016 10:29 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Good pics, @twslisa. To me, just some random circulation marks.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2362 Posts |
Thanks to all who responded as I'm feeling better about the perceived repair that is perhaps not a repair. Thanks GR58 for reminding me that I'm looking at a picture from a 100x microscope. Here's my original thinking - as flawed as it may have been.  I was looking at the area at the side of the nose with the red arrows. It looked like someone applied a tiny patch and didn't get it perfectly smooth to the coin surface. It also looked like the ding at the end of the nose (green arrow) was part of that damage and didn't get repaired. I have several other 1834 bust halfs and when I look at them through the microscope I'm seeing a similar situation where the side of the nose looks irregular. I'm no expert and am speaking beyond my knowledge.  Perhaps the master hub contained this supposed suspicious nose area - all my 1834's seem to look rather similar to the one I posted. Maybe all is well with this coin and it would grade problem free? Member ANA and EAC "You got to lose to know how to win". Dream On by Aerosmith |
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Poor thing took a hit right on the tip of her nose.
I was suspect of the red arrow area. It sort of looks like somebody tried to carve out a shape that had been flattened.
But why do that and leave the gouge at the tip of the nose?
Great pics.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2125 Posts |
Looks good to me. Perhaps it didn't get fullt struck up in that area. R4 excellent!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2362 Posts |
Quote:
BANDSDEAN: Looks good to me. Perhaps it didn't get fully struck up in that area. R4 excellent! I did some addition research this morning. In addition to the Parsley Die Varieties book I have a copy of Bust Half Fever by Souders. Souders talks about the transitional dies in 1834 (small letters) and does make a specific reference to this area of the obverse. Quote:
The nostril most often has a flat spot that appears to be wear - which in actuality never struck up and is very flat. The same is true of the end of the bust and the large curl above the eye. Member ANA and EAC "You got to lose to know how to win". Dream On by Aerosmith Edited by cipster
10/26/2016 6:56 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Well, that's an interesting bit of information.
This is one of those cases where it's hard for a collector to gather enough samples to compare.
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,531 |
Posted 10/24/2016 10:27 pm
