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 Replies: 31 / Views: 4,277 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
While it's a pretty weak strike (note the stars did not even fill the die) this coin is in a pretty remarkable state of preservation for it's 188 years. You can still see the die polishing marks in the fields of the obverse. In hand it is an even steel gray color. What do you think? Chance   |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I think I'm a little overwhelmed.
Maybe the slightest bit of rub, maybe not - photographs make that distinction very difficult. These are rather scarce in Mint State - Heritage records only 9 sales, ever - and this one is an easy 62-63 if uncirculated.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1372 Posts |
The luster is just broken on Liberty's cheek, and in the field above the eagle on the reverse. There's the slightest rub on that rooster tail curl of hair over her ear. This was an ebay snag, a coin I bought from from bad pictures (on it's second listing) for the opening bid of 299.00. I am absolutely certain that this coin would slab. I think it'd go 58....maybe higher. Chance |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
It's certainly the type of coin which I'd dearly love to see under the lens of my camera. Bust Halves are wonderful photographic subjects - the design has unlimited character.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
Wow...That's a monster clash! Cool.
Chance
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Pillar of the Community
United States
851 Posts |
Beautiful even fields! Great deal too!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
Here's an obverse picture that better illustrates the original luster (I think), and a shot of the edge of the coin. Chance   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
A very nice cleaned AU piece. Only the slightest wear (53 or 55) but it looks stripped and lightly re-toned. It might slab, but not problem-free. $299 is a fair price but not a deal by any means.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
I cannot speak to whether or not it's been stripped, but no way an AU 53 or 55 still has raised die polishing marks in the fields. I think that what you percieve as wear, is just an incomplete strike.
Chance
Edited by Chancellor Sutler
03/20/2010 12:34 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
Look at where the drapery meets the bust. 53 at best.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
Look at the fact that 90+ percent of the original mint luster is still present. I will reiterate...what you are perceiving as wear...is the result of an incomplete strike. Look at the ridges on the incomplete stars on the right. Those are not worn, and the Luster is 100 percent intact on the headband. How is that possible on a 53?
Chance
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Beautiful coin, I agree there is a bit of a weak strike evident alone the the edge on the drapery and ST in states. I do see some light wear on the talons and hair behind the ear. I would grade this coin at AU-58. Wish I had it in my collection.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
Quote:
How is that possible on a 53?
I see a dipped AU coin. It could go AU55 details - Improperly cleaned. It's a nice coin but the drapery/bust area is clearly not incomplete striking. It's obvious wear. The coin has problems from cleaning and has re-toned a bit. I would net grade to EF and $299 is a full retail price. The 100% full mint luster comment is off base. A dipped AU piece like this one might appear to have full mint luster but don't kid yourself. That's not original mint luster. Just my opinion but every deal you get on ebay is not a winner. A lot of young numismatists peruse this forum and wouldn't want them to get the wrong ideas. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
We'll see what Dominion says in a couple weeks. I have collected coins for 40 years. I will propose that there's a difference between "original surfaces" and "mint luster". A coin that has been dipped can still exhibit mint luster (I present as evidence millions of slabbed Morgans), which to my mind is: striations in the metal caused by the metal essentially being "stretched", for want of a better term, into the die. Acid etching (dipping) does not mimic this phenomena to my knowledge. And no....not every ebay purchase is a real deal, but some are. I believe this one was a great deal. Not as good as the 1850 Seated dollar I picked up raw for 150 dollars, which was slabbed by NGC as AU58, but a decent deal using that one as a benchmark. Chance Edited by Chancellor Sutler
03/20/2010 7:01 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
851 Posts |
I'm going to have to agree with Chance and say that is at minimum AU58. This coin in the link doesn't come close to Chance's IMO. I would prefer Chance's hands down over the HA coin. http://coins.ha.com/common/view_ima...nly.php?img=http://images.ha.com/lf%3Fsource=url%5Bfile:images/inetpub/newnames/300/4/2/8/7/4287501.jpg%5D%2Ccontinueonerror%5Btrue%5D&source=url%5Bfile:images/inetpub/webuse/no_image_available.gif%5D%2Cif%5B('global.source.error')%5D&sink=preservemd%5Btrue%5D |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
Here's the lowermost curl details from that Heritage 53....right beside my coin. I see little similarity between the 2 in terms of wear. Chance  |
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Replies: 31 / Views: 4,277 |
Posted 03/20/2010 10:09 am
