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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,120 |
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Valued Member
United States
311 Posts |
Just wondering what the feeling was... On the surface, they're very appealing- attractive design, relatively inexpensive for the age and mintage, lettered rim (a plus for me)... But the die varieties are dizzying. I'm also concerned that I may have gotten conned on one  Here are the sellers pics through the 2x2... I can try taking better ones tonight. It was listed as an O-118, although I don't have the book to verify it.   The detail level is superb, but the thinness of the stars, and the very weak rim concern me... Are these the type of coins you just shouldn't buy without a microscope and four reference books at your side?  Does this one look legit? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
628 Posts |
What did you pay? What is the stated grade?
Yes, looks legit. Looks XF or better to me, maybe AU, based on the photos. Common date, very nice coin.
Google Overton.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
Are these the type of coins you just shouldn't buy without a microscope and four reference books at your side? That goes for every coin. There, now I've gotten that out of they way.  The photos aren't great, but it looks to attribute as O-118. That's R-1, pretty common. Although the coin might technically grade better, I wouldn't go higher than EF based on the photos, and no real way to tell if it's been cleaned or not. I would risk $100 on it, knowing it was a risk. If the risk panned out, I'd be rewarded with a $200 coin. If it didn't, I'd be out $90 of that $100. |
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Valued Member
United States
335 Posts |
Hey Superdave, I know nothing about these, can you tell me how this could be worth $10. Because it might be cleaned, or maybe not that variety. Or what?
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
can you tell me how this could be worth $10. Because it might be cleaned, or maybe not that variety. Or what? That was maybe a little exaggeration on my part - unless it's a counterfeit, even cleaned you'll get $70-80 on ebay for it. |
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Valued Member
 United States
311 Posts |
Hm, I was kinda thinking that if it were only worth $10 as a genuine coin, i'd start buying a lot more of them! Here are some better images. Price was $70, shipped. I assume it's been cleaned (dipped) at some point, just due to age... It bugs me that the four stars on the lower-right are much pointier than the rest of them. I tend to associate that with frauds, but I don't have a lot of experience with coins prior to the 1880s or so. I'm hoping that I'm just paranoid...   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:That was maybe a little exaggeration on my part - unless it's a counterfeit, even cleaned you'll get $70-80 on ebay for it. And if it's a contemporary counterfeit you may get even more. Quote:
Are these the type of coins you just shouldn't buy without a microscope and four reference books at your side? Not really unless you WANT to collect the die varieties. This is a great series for the date collector as well. There's only one really tough date. For this all you need is a grading guide and some kind of price guide. And then if you wish, along with the date set you can branch out and add some of the overdates, or some of the better known varieties. Now you may want to consider a couple of books, but you could probably get by with just adding the RedBook. You may find that one particular year interests you and you could decide to concentrate on just the varieties of that year, maybe adding another year or two later. Now you are going to need the standard Bust half reference book. And if the bug then bites hard and you want as many varieties as possible THEN you need all the different references. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Quote:
t bugs me that the four stars on the lower-right are much pointier than the rest of them. I tend to associate that with frauds, but I don't have a lot of experience with coins prior to the 1880s or so. I'm hoping that I'm just paranoid...
Minting technology was pretty crude at that point in history. The US Mint was using screw presses powered by either human or horse. The Bust halves were also struck without a collar so the coin tended to "spread" which is why you will see some distortion in the star points and uneven denticles on the rims. Steam presses were not introduced until 1836. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1083 Posts |
I'll give you $70 for it. Seriously it looks like a nice bustie to me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
Looked at one a couple of weeks ago........but didn't wait for it on the auction.
Might go to another one this weekend......they are advertising "one" of these.....no year listed ! Ha Ha.......not sure if I feel like gambling or not !
Plus, I certainly don't know enough about these yet........gotta git me sum o' that thar education on em' !
Edited by eaglefoot
07/02/2008 4:17 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Uneven die pressure or excesive die polishing can also result in "pointy" stars. Ed Souders overs that in Bust half Fever. (Surprise another reference book)
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,120 |
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Posted 07/01/2008 7:23 pm
