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 Replies: 20 / Views: 1,767 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4846 Posts |
Curious to know your thoughts on this coin. This is also out with PCGS now and I'm pretty sure I know what they're gonna call it.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
Fascinating coin... The obverse anomaly by the mouth and face looks like a strikethrough. Here is one with the same characteristic: https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/l...epaired-pcgsPerhaps the substance on the die was stuck and was struck through a multitude of coins. Never seen that before but definitely a possibility. The parallel obverse lines were there pre-strike so they are not an issue. Despite the couple distractions, this may straight grade at AU-55. 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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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
I have no earthly idea how to grade these (it's way more expensive than anything I've ever owned) but I think high AU seems right.
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Over my pay grade, standing by.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73844 Posts |
I'm thinking AU maybe? It's over my pay grade.
Errers and Varietys.
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5663 Posts |
Agree with @jacrispies that it looks like a strike through at the chin and cheek. It must have been something that was retained on the die. Looks like decent luster with perhaps some grease on the reverse. I'd say AU-53. Here's another example from Heritage. https://coins.ha.com/itm/early-half...ption-071515 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2333 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5663 Posts |
 I don't see any strike throughs in those listings at GC. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2023 Posts |
Out of my league but I don't see this getting anywhere near AU with the lack of detail on the reverse (particularly the missing lines on the shield). Did something other than circulation wear cause that?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6383 Posts |
Obverse dent might be due to a strike-thru event but that could be tough to distinguish from damage. There are also some horizontal scratches across the lower obverse.
The very soft reverse is not normal for these coins which usually have sharp eagle detail at least down to XF grade. Maybe there was grease on the die, or the coin was used in jewelry at some point. Seems to me this example has impaired eye appeal on both sides.
I'll want a Capped Bust half eagle for my type set someday but I would hold out for a problem-free piece. I'll be very interested in how PCGS grades this one.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5177 Posts |
Looks like someone hit it with a chisel.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
So, Adam (OP), what do you think they will call it?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4846 Posts |
This coin has a whole lot going on.
As several pointed out, the obverse flaws are definitely as minted, either by a die defect, or a strike through. I was leaning towards die defect but I could be wrong. The coin that jacrispies found was the first that I found as well with the same defect but I have found others.
This is clearly a very late die state of BD-1, and with that lower striking pressure to preserve the dies, grease, or some other anomaly prevented the reverse form getting fully struck up. This coin is unquestionably AU given the luster, but it's not an attractive example.
Unfortunately though, this coin has had some work done on the reverse above the eagle, it's very hard to tell in these photos, but as you twirl the coin in hand that spot jumps out as "off", and under magnification it's clear that the area was softened and worked over. Whether PCGS notices it or not is another story, but I would expect they do.
I graded the coin AU details, reverse tooled. Had the reverse not had work done I would have given it no better than a 53 due to the diminished eye appeal from the obverse flaw and weak reverse.
Edited by Adam_E
11/09/2024 6:34 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Thanks for that, most interesting.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36678 Posts |
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Replies: 20 / Views: 1,767 |
Posted 11/08/2024 7:13 pm
