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 Replies: 9 / Views: 2,692 |
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Valued Member
United States
64 Posts |
Hi guys! First off if this is in the wrong forum please move to the appropriate spot. Here's an 1787 Mass Half Cent that I'm trying to come up with a value for. But first I need to know if it is real or a fake. If you feel like it toss out a condition and value because right now I'm in the dark. The color of the pic is a bit off. I'm still working on that problem. If more pics are needed I can keep trying.:) Thanks for your time and knowledge!   |
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Rest in Peace
United States
1501 Posts |
Have you compared it to hunter20ga coin posted a little farther down in the forum  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
812 Posts |
I'm not really sure how to grade this coin, but would guess that it would net grade as Good. Below are retail values from 'Coin Prices' for the most common variety of the 1787 Massachusetts Half Cent. AG: $30 G: $50 VG: $90 F: $175 VF: $350 EF: $800 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1173 Posts |
See the following for the coin I bought. https://goccf.com/t/28819&whichpage=1That Half Cent grades out a net VG because of porosity. I think I may have overpaid a bit for it at $195, but it's not easy to find good examples with eye appeal and original surfaces. I think the price list posted by Bilbo is optimistic; most of the time you will have to pay more to get something nice, IMHO. (But maybe I'm just justifying my penchant for overpaying. LOL |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
812 Posts |
I agree that the prices listed may be pretty inaccurate; but it's the only price guide I've got that lists the series (besides RedBook). Heritage Auction Galleries would be a good source for getting some ideas on the grade and more realistic values. |
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Valued Member
 United States
64 Posts |
Yep, I checked the coin against hunter20ga's coin...a lot. lol I found a site that has 9 different varieties listed! http://www.coinfacts.com/colonial_c..._variety.htmMine is most like the 5-A variety as far as I can tell by the date style, bow tip placement, double lines over the date. Most of the auction houses and dealer sites only show this coin in VF or better. Kind of difficult to tell but I think mine would grade out at good. What worries me the most tho is the fissure running from 9 o'clock to 5 o'clock. How did it get there. Is it a planchet defect, the die being cracked ...or something else I don't know about? So does everyone believe that this is an authentic coin? edit: I almost forgot. It smells of oil. What's with that? visual appeal or corrosion inhibitor? Thanks again, Edited by shappa
04/21/2008 2:53 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
812 Posts |
I believe the crack is a planchet defect, and was there when the coin was brand new.
I am by no means expert in authenticating this series, but figure if someone were to go to the trouble of making a fake, they'd make a higher grade example with fewer problems.
I don't have a guess about the oil smell.
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Valued Member
United States
64 Posts |
"I am by no means expert in authenticating this series, but figure if someone were to go to the trouble of making a fake, they'd make a higher grade example with fewer problems."
Now that was one of my thoughts also. Modern counterfiters would go for a higher grade for the higher profit. And in the 1780's who would counterfit the smallest denomination out there?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
You'd be surprised at the low grade modern fake colonials out there, not to mention the contemporary counterfeits from the 1780's. (But they are normally collected as part of the series as well.) I think this is a genuine piece from 1787. It does appear to have a coating of oil on it, probably put there aas a preservative by a collector and they had a bit of a heavy hand. I can't tell if the defect is a planchet crack or a die crack. We'd know more if the variety could be identified. Have you checked out Notre Dame's (sp) website? They have an extensive series of colonials pictured. Yep they had what I was looking for. Your coin is a Ryder 5A. Heres a plate of all of the Half Cent varieties. Don't see anything about the defect so I can't say anything for sure about it. http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/Col...Ahalfcnt.jpgEdited by Conder101
04/22/2008 8:28 pm
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Valued Member
United States
64 Posts |
I'm pretty sure it's a planchet defect. It runs from rim to rim. You can actually see it (faintly) on the rim itself.
Thanks for your replys guys!
Now I have to find one similar, so I can price it.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 2,692 |
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Posted 04/19/2008 5:39 pm
