Posted 07/04/2010 08:38 am
Not sure it will go higher than VF25 - maybe even VF20. The metal flow that you see running from the stars and edge lettering is very common among the capped bust halves and indicative of a late die strike. I don't believe that you'll be able to get this in a "graded slab" at either NGC or PCGS due to the deep scratch on the obverse. NGC might put it in a details holder, but it will only say "VF" detaiils if they agree on the comments above. My guess is that the scratch is a personal marker that people often put on their coins in those days to identify it as belonging to them. Some put scratches and others put "x"es, etc. If they put them in a hoard someplace, they would be able to know that someone had found their hoard if they later saw some of their "marked" coins circulating in commerce. Just an interesting note about the hoarders ("collectors"?) of the time. Nice coin!
VF-20 overall with a nice reverse!
