1812 Capped Bust Half Dollar O-109A

VF30

I think it will make EF-40. Weak strike in spots but the center of the coin is strong.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

Jacrispies, I had to go back and take a second look after your comments about polishing. The coin looks like it is in the first pictures posted. Nothing hidden, IMO, and quite attractive in hand. The most significant marks on the coin are the light scratches on the cheek and the small ding on the reverse to the right of "TE." Otherwise it is remarkably free of the larger hits and scratches I see on most early CBH VF30/35 holdered coins. I did think the coin might have experienced some form of cleaning in its life, else I generally would have expected a darker tone. However, looking at it under multiple different magnifications and lighting, I don't see anything obvious, just the random circulation wear. As for price, I paid about half what a holdered VF35 with decent eye appeal seems to be selling for.

The additional pics below are with heavy direct lighting, which washes out the color but highlights all defects.




I would ask for any of you in the know, this die state experienced significant die lapping which erased a multitude of die defects on both the obverse and reverse. From what I've read, following die lapping, struck coins may reflect proof like surfaces initially. Do any of you think that might have contributed much to the look of this coin's surfaces? Below is a high grade example showing all of the defects that were mostly erased by the lapping.