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 Replies: 23 / Views: 2,773 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
526 Posts |
I purchased this from a coin shop in my area on Friday. I believe the coin is under graded. The coin was in his vault for almost three years. I asked if he had any Seated half dollars that were above XF, said yes but he had to get them from his vault. That is when I spotted this coin. It appears that there is a die crack on the reverse. The difference between what I paid and what I think it should be graded at is almost $300.00. I would love to hear what everybody thinks. There is a huge coin show in Orlando coming up in two weeks and if this coin grades higher than what he had, I may just take it up there and have NGC/PCGS/ANACS look at it. They will all be represented there. This coin is in a flip, I don't want to run the chance of damaging it. This coin has not been cleaned. I am most interested to see what people think about the grade.     Edited by Freedom
06/26/2011 1:16 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2424 Posts |
what did you pay for it? if you dont mind me asking
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
526 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
366 Posts |
I'd go with AU-55. Not very knowledgeable on the series, but I know that die cracks are very common on Shield nickels. Looks like a nice one! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1745 Posts |
Mine has a die crack, although not that large. Nice, High AU seem about right.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
AU with a better-than-average strike, fully separated stars on the reverse can be quite tough to find on the Rays type.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1691 Posts |
Congrats! you just tripled your money...nice late die state type coin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6385 Posts |
 Mid-to-high AU with just a bit of wear on the leaf edges and some friction in the fields, good strike with sharp star and ray details, and (apparently) original surfaces. Nick pick! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
526 Posts |
Just sent the coin off to NGC for grading. Should know within the next two weeks. My coin dealer agreed with a high AU and even suggested that it be sent in, soooooo off it went.
I am hoping for an AU-55 at least, AU-58 at best. :FingersCrossed:
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Moderator
 United States
15441 Posts |
Fingers are crossed for you ... looking forward to the NGC opinion. Nice coin ... I agree with very well struck. Enjoy the 'mini-Cud' on the reverse at appx 5am ... appears the significant die cracks came together and that portion of the die just plain gave up.  I have very little knowledge of this series ... just general readings that lead me to believe the US Mint was having a dickens of a time producing coins with their new Cu-NI alloy ... and your lovely coin with the beautiful die cracks and mini-cud is a nice example of that historical challenge. David |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
817 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
This is a nice coin. Good find. I think you want a number with the AU so I'm going to give it a try. Now remember this is a guess. If I get it right no big deal just send me the graded coin and we will call it even.
About Uncirculated (AU-50)
Obverse: Besides wear, the presence of some luster is required for this grade. Very light wear will show on tips of leaves and on cross and shield. Reverse: Light wear on number and trace of wear on stars. Stars may be weakly struck.
About Uncirculated (AU 55-58)
AU-55: More luster than on the AU-50, less wear. Wear may show as a light ‘shine' or color change (grayish) on leaves, cross and numeral 5, reverse. Due to weakness of strike parts of the cross, shield lines (especially horizontal lines) may be unevenly struck. Check for luster on these areas.
AU-58: Full luster, except for highest points. Wear may not be visible without a loupe. Check high points...cross, leaves, (obverse) and numeral 5, (reverse) for color change, luster, and circulation/rub indicators. Open fields should not show circulation. Only highest point wear allowed for this grade.
OK well thats what I looked at.My final assesment(drum roll lease) AU-55
No all kiding aside like I said this is a nice coin and a good find. It has it all good strike and die crack. The only thing I found wrong with this coin was that it was not mine.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
526 Posts |
Thank you for your in-depth analysis. Your comments pretty much mimicked what my dealer said. He is expecting AU-55 to AU-58. Depending on the grader at NGC, it might make MS-60. Of course NGC is located in Sarasota and one of the graders there is part of our local coin club.  Not that I would expect it to make an impact on the grade. They studied the coin under a loop, computerized microscope and typical head gear. The owner. who I deal with, said that he has never seen this type of coin in this condition. Strong strike, Cud, stars are separate from the bars, uncommon for this year. He is hoping for AU-58, me, I would be happy with AU-55, smiling at AU-58 and epileptic at MS60.... Thanks for your kind words and I will post a pic of the slab when I get it back. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
526 Posts |
Still waiting. Haven't forgot because of age.... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
526 Posts |
Coin Shop just called, the coin is back and the guy wouldn't tell me the grade over the phone, chuckling at the same time.  Then I got the idea  that he had graded it at AU-58 and the way he was chuckling and wouldn't tell me, it might have hit an MS Grade!! I will know in about 1 1/2 hours..... I feel like a kid in a candy shop. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1151 Posts |
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Replies: 23 / Views: 2,773 |
Posted 06/26/2011 7:06 pm
