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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,183 |
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Valued Member
Canada
464 Posts |
I was looking at this coin on ebay, though when comparing it to another of roughly the same year (1830), it looks to be different: The Obverse: 1) The stars on the obverse look smaller 2) The eye looks to be different, with larger eyelids 3) The rim denticles look longer and more narrow 3) The top of the bonnet doesn't fold the same way 4) There are fewer folds in the clothing (would you call this a cape?) above the "1" The reverse (the first few): 1) The banner reading "E Pluriibus Unum" is missing 2) "50 cents" is written in its entirety, not "50 C." 3) "United States of America" is in a shorter and thicker font.   I collect Canadian coins, and have no experience with U.S. coins, so I am not sure if there is any difference in variety between the coin I was comparing it with. Edited by gawd0wns
01/28/2009 10:56 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1984 Posts |
The 1837 is a totally different design type from the 1830.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
You have a reeded edge Bust Half and you are comparing to a lettered edge Bust Half, you cannot do that as they are different types. Even comparing different years(or the same year for that matter) of the same type is dicey because they are so many die varieties as described by Overton and it only includes the lettered edge 1807-1836 coins. For instance, 1830 has 23 die marriages alone and this was back in the day when hand engraving/re-engraving was still done so that can produce dramatically different designs.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
Not only a different design, but a different size and method of striking. Sometime in 1836, the US Mint began using steam driven presses which necessitate that the planchet be held in a collar (like a circular ring) due to the higher pressure. So, the 50 cent piece was made slightly smaller and given a reeded edge while the old design had a lettered edge made possible by the open (i.e., no collar).
The 1837 is pretty neat in that I think it is the last (maybe only) regularly minted half dollar to spell out "50 cents" instead of "50 C." (which they went back to in 1838 I believe) or "Half Dollar" (which all of the recent ones say).
A neat coin to have - I just filled my Dansco 7070 reeded half slot with an 1837.
Ken
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
You never mentioned the price or last bidding price. That is a nice looking coin and appears to be real.
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Valued Member
 Canada
464 Posts |
The coin is being sold in a lot of 3 coins, the current bid is at $200 US dollars. I contacted the seller who indicated the coin MIGHT have been dipped, though does not know for sure (So I won't be bidding). After giving a second, long look at it, the higher points do appear shiny. Any thoughts?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
Before I start, I want to comment that what I am about to say is all very much just my opinion, but...here goes. I think most coins that are this old have been messed with (i.e. cleaned) in some way through their history. This includes at least some coins in holders from the TPG's like PCGS and NGC. Personally, I am ok with coins that have been lightly cleaned in the past and have retoned so long as they look nice. Others may not be and that's ok too. Some coins have been overdipped and are too white for my taste; some coins have been harshly cleaned and you can see the scratches. I avoid those. But, if you are wondering if the coin was dipped in the past and retoned or looking at it under a loupe and wondering "is that a hairline I see?" - I don't rule those out. This one looks like it has a nice tone to it to me. I don't know what the other two coins are in the lot, but this coin alone is probably worth $150-200 or more in my opinion. I paid $175 for the same coin, same year recently and was happy to get it for that price. This one looks to be in slightly better condition. If I could get it for $200, it'd be awfully tempting. Ken |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
750 Posts |
I see nothing alarming about the coin. Comparing it to an 1830 is like looking at a Canadian 1987 Loonie and a 1986 Dollar. Actually its a nice coin
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I spent a fair amount of time looking and thinking about this one. This is a scan, not a photo, so luster and "brightness" are going to be different. Luster darkens in a scan - on this coin, I'd expect to see shiny spots in real life below the chin and behind the hair, and at 10:00 on the reverse below the S in STATES. The porosity on the upper half of the obverse really bothers me. If that's not part of the planchet, this coin has been heavily cleaned. Consider what would create that porosity. All in all, this is technically a very nice AU coin, one which I would take a pass on. They're not that rare. Frankly, I'm just a little leery about the whole auction. I'm curious as to how a German seller gets such nice US coins. Most of them rarer varieties, to boot. |
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Valued Member
Canada
464 Posts |
I am really tempted to bid. There are three different type coins in the lot, a great way to start a collection. Passions aside, I'll let it pass. I don't know anything about U.S. coinage(as I have realized in the posting of this thread :) ), so my first purchases will be for a few books/guides to familiarize myself with U.S. coins. There is no point in gambling on ebay. The lot sold for $515 U.S., much more than I was willing to bid. - I hope the bidder gets their moneys worth. Edited by gawd0wns
01/29/2009 09:54 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
Can you post a link to the auction results now that it has ended? I'd be curious to see the other coins too.
$515 is a lot of money...
Ken
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Valued Member
Canada
464 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
Thanks. That is a strange auction. Both the 1837 half and the 1825 quarter are not all that common. The 1861 quarter is more common but still a nice coin. It seems like the seller should have broken these into separate auctions. I think they might have done better that way. It is unlikely that you are going to have someone looking for all three of those coins at the same time, so I think you are going to discourage some of your bidders who only want one of the three and don't want to pay for the others. Based on the fact that the winner bidder had over 3000+ feedback score, my guess is that they are going to break up the lot and resell at least one or two of them if not all. As an interesting aside, I mentioned I had an 1837 half in roughly the same condition (my only capped bust reeded half in my collection). I also have the 1825 quarter in roughly the same condition - my only capped bust large diameter quarter. I think I would have stayed away from this one also with the questions about cleaning, the strange combination, the Germany thing, etc. Being conservative on grading (i.e., going a little low which I usually do on ebay), this lot is worth (all just my opinion of course and based on Numismedia pricing) MAXIMUM: 1837 half - XF40 - $216 (if it's AU50, $372) 1825 qtr - F12 - $210 (I feel this one is a solid fine but no more) 1861 qtr - XF40 - $77 (maybe a stretch, VF20 is $39) So, this gets you to around $500. My guess is that the guy who bought the lot is hoping the 1837 half can pass off as an AU coin... Interesting - thanks! Ken |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,183 |
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Posted 01/26/2009 1:15 pm
