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 Replies: 14 / Views: 867 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
752 Posts |
Edited by Adam590
09/29/2024 3:29 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Way over my head, I'll just enjoy everyone else's comments.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10538 Posts |
Quote:
Way over my head, I'll just enjoy everyone else's comments. Ditto - a very tough decision on which one to prefer. I imagine it would be decided by if you like toning or not. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36745 Posts |
Both coins are AU. I like yours better as it has more detail in the strike.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
I like the OP's example best, agreed.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
599 Posts |
My guess is 58.
I prefer the first one.
Watch your top knot
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5671 Posts |
I'd say the first one is AU-58. They're both great, but I like the first one slightly more. It's a tad sharper with possibly more luster.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
Quote:
It's a tad sharper with possibly more luster.  The first brighter example is certainly sharper and looks to be at least a point or two higher in grade. I would say solid 58. No competition, I would choose the first example. I've seen generous grades on dead (terminal, no luster) AU Half Dimes from PCGS. The color can appear to be "baked on" and unnatural. The untouched, brighter, and lustrous surfaces on the first examples are tougher to preserve original for these small silver coins. The dark example has planchet streaks which aren't a huge distraction but they still are visible. Nevertheless, both examples are superior for the average, cleaned example. These are tough altogether. Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves. |
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Valued Member
United States
130 Posts |
Both coins a great, but I like the first one a little better: light golden toning vs more intense toning. Also, I always have a concern when I see a coin with even intense toning on the entire surface of both sides. While this frequently occurs naturally, when a coin is stored for a long time in yellow/brownish paper 2X2 coin envelope, same is sometimes done intentionally to hide cleaning/wiping traces from the surfaces.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
752 Posts |
Thanks for all of your answers so far! I will reveal the PCGS grade tomorrow--so far no one has guessed it, although you guys are right that PCGS calls it higher than AU(53). While any series is difficult to grade from photos, this one is especially so. It seems the first one does in fact have some luster to it, which is the a bit part of the draw. The eagle's eye seems to be there, but not quite as sharply as it is on mine. @Jacrispies, I appreciate your analysis, as always. I am sure many of these early US coins have been cleaned at some point--do you think both of these have been cleaned as well? |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1527 Posts |
 I'll say for the lighter one MS-61 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
Quote:
do you think both of these have been cleaned as well? I say the darker one has certainly been messed with in one way or another with the darker toning covering up a previous issue. The lighter one is hard to tell, perhaps dipped long ago at most. Leaning toward calling it "original" but would need to see it in hand to confirm. Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6505 Posts |
Speaking as someone who does not particularly enjoy strong toning, I would reflexively prefer the first coin.
Based on Photograde and faint denticle wear, I would call the first coin AU-55. But given the OP apparent disdain for the PCGS grade on that coin, I will speculate that it's something a bit outrageous like MS-64.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
752 Posts |
Thanks, everyone for your input. PCGS graded this coin as MS(61). The luster looks pretty good to me--I actually like the coin, I just wish the eye, specifically, and the strike more generally, was a little stronger.
I am sorry if I misled anyone into thinking I despised the grade PCGS gave this. I don't despise it. I have never seen this coin in hand. I posted this coin out of curiosity and desire to learn more about this amazing series of early dimes. Thanks to all of you who gave your opinions and engaged this discussion. As always, you are the ones who make this forum a community.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1773 Posts |
Late to the party. I had it at AU-58. I think yours should be a 55. I prefer yours.
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Replies: 14 / Views: 867 |
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Posted 09/29/2024 3:27 pm
