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Replies: 22 / Views: 2,568 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2335 Posts |
Edited by trdhrdr007 08/22/2008 4:21 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1130 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
812 Posts |
I would grade this EF-40.
I suspect some of what looks like wear is actually the result of a weak strike.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Hi, I'll just throw in that your coin is an important FE variety, with the big die chip in the wing as one marker  This is Snow-16, with a partial date double-punched in the head of the eagle. Here's Rick Snow's writeup for this particular coin: This is a very neat variety. There are two full bases of the date in the Eagles neck. There is also a significant die break in the center of the Eagle. click for detail
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2335 Posts |
It looks like the die chip is the same, or close to it. I don't have a microscope & have refused the eye doctors suggestion that I needed bifocals for the last few years, so I can't see any sign of the misplaced date(if it's there). I'm going to look at Rick Snow's site to see if there are any other markers I can look for.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
603 Posts |
Edited by cpfull 08/22/2008 3:17 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
trdhrdr007- At this magnification, I think I do see one lower loop of the 5 in the neck--a little flattened perhaps from wear?  The die chip is unmistakable, so I'm betting a detailed overlay would confirm the rest. I have no problem sounding confident here. Quote: I must say this is a fruit coin if there ever was.  agreed--congrats!  Btw, Rick Snow priced the MS62 at $1000. Update: granted, the markers on your coin are hard to see due to lighting, resolution, and some wear, but I noticed a few confirming details: 
Edited by KurtS 08/22/2008 3:48 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2335 Posts |
I just went to Snow's site & compared my coin to the Snow-16. I had to look at a few other coins to check the feather detail on the neck of a normal coin. There is some combination of wear, weak strike, and my eyesight that is limiting the match I can make with the misplaced date. However, with my loupe I can see what appears to be the bottom portion of both 5's. Based on that & the die chip I'm about 90% sure it's a Snow-16.
I bought this coin to go in my 7070, & now I almost feel bad about it. The seller had it marked at what I considered a reasonable price for what he graded it at, & when I first looked at it he offered a discount. I felt like it might be slightly under graded, but I still talked him down some more because of the slight scratch/nick coming off the tail.
Ironically, when we were wrapping up the transaction he said he didn't check to see if it was one of the clashed varieties. I told him I wasn't experienced enough to know about varieties, & was just looking for a decent type coin for my 7070. He responded that a regular customer had looked at it to see if it was a clashed variety & that he thought that customer would have known if it was clashed. I guess his customer didn't know about the Snow-16.
Does anyone have any idea what a Snow-16 might be worth in this grade? I have to admit that if it's worth a lot more than I paid I would be tempted to sell. My main focus right now is my 7070, & a good sale would help me fill a couple holes.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Rick Snow's retail price sheet puts a normal 1857 XF45 at $175. He values varieties in terms of multiples of the "normal" coin. Judging from his price for the MS62, I'd say 2X of the normal price is a safe bet for the S-16. Very nice coin for your 7070  .
Edited by KurtS 08/22/2008 5:14 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2335 Posts |
Here are two close shots of the head area. These are the best I can do & I think they clearly show the bottom curve of the 5.  
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Well, look at that? Sometimes hunches are right.  Congrats! Those last two pics are much more telling. I even see a remnant of the 8 adjacent to the eagle's mouth.  FYI, looking closer at grade, I'm now leaning towards EF45(obv)/40(rev)
Edited by KurtS 08/22/2008 4:45 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2335 Posts |
I know I'm a happy camper. The seller of this coin had it graded as a VF35 & had it priced at $46. I thought it was closer to an EF40 than it was to a VF35, but I pointed out the scratch/nick on the tail & he sold it to me at $38.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Quote: he sold it to me at $38. Wow...now that's my kind of purchase! A bargain for a normal coin, too. If you get it slabbed, I think you'd realize a nice markup on that one amongst variety collectors. Congrats again! 
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2335 Posts |
I should have bought a lottery ticket when I was in Atlanta because I think this might have been my week. Last Saturday I went to an auction & bought a Capitol Visitors Center proof set(3 coin, 1 gold) & 4 assorted 2000 unc/proof sets for $110. Bullion & face value was more than $240, without considering numismatic value. Then I luck out with this variety.
Now I have to make a decision. Do I put this one in my 7070, or send it to be slabbed for resale? If I slab it then I have to find another one for my 7070, & it hasn't been easy to find coins I like at a price I'm willing to pay.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Slab it with variety, sell it, and use the extra money to get an AU 
Edited by biokemist6 08/22/2008 6:37 pm
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Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
Scroll down to towards the bottom of these posts, and you will see one of my posts. 1857 FE. That is a classic XF40. Your coin has all the makings of an AU50 coin. Great pickup! Congrats 
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Replies: 22 / Views: 2,568 |