Posted 02/09/2026 09:04 am
its a crusty one for sure. based on your photos the coin looks like it may have been improperly stored in a higher humidity environment. I think it may have been actually worse than what we are seeing and someone attempted to clean it up as much as they could. it's impossible to determine any luster remaining due to surfaces. I think you are seeing reflective light not cartwheel luster.
technically i'd call it AU55. however it may details for a cleaning.
here's the rub..in AU55 if the coin grades straight it would be in the $400 range. in fact, any barber half in AU has decent now.
i dont slab my coins but there are two reasons to slab. if you decide to send it in I wouldnt consider any TPG other than PCGS or NGC. if you decide to send it in I would suggest having it conserved.
1. its a rare coin that needs authenticated and preserved
2. you are planning on selling the coin and the cost of acquisition plus the grading fee's would warrant it without chewing up all your profit
if you are not familiar with grading here are the costs:
PCGS charges a minimum of $69 for a subscription other subscription levels include grading vouchers though so you could reduce these costs. add to the subscription cost, per coin grading cost which is a minimum of $23, shipping & ins both ways (1-4 coins is $27 if the total value is under $1000)
NGC - economy grading tier is $22, plus $10 handling fee, plus $28 for shipping (1-5 coins).
ANACS grading would be $16 but there's a 5 coin minimum. Shipping would be $29-35.
technically i'd call it AU55. however it may details for a cleaning.
here's the rub..in AU55 if the coin grades straight it would be in the $400 range. in fact, any barber half in AU has decent now.
i dont slab my coins but there are two reasons to slab. if you decide to send it in I wouldnt consider any TPG other than PCGS or NGC. if you decide to send it in I would suggest having it conserved.
1. its a rare coin that needs authenticated and preserved
2. you are planning on selling the coin and the cost of acquisition plus the grading fee's would warrant it without chewing up all your profit
if you are not familiar with grading here are the costs:
PCGS charges a minimum of $69 for a subscription other subscription levels include grading vouchers though so you could reduce these costs. add to the subscription cost, per coin grading cost which is a minimum of $23, shipping & ins both ways (1-4 coins is $27 if the total value is under $1000)
NGC - economy grading tier is $22, plus $10 handling fee, plus $28 for shipping (1-5 coins).
ANACS grading would be $16 but there's a 5 coin minimum. Shipping would be $29-35.
