Love this bust half, but it's toned. How much does this take away in value?

Discussion in 'What's it Worth' started by JCB1983, Nov 7, 2011.

  1. JCB1983

    JCB1983 Learning

    I ran across this half bust on ebay. Absolutely love the coin. I rarely buy toned, or cleaned coins, but I found this coin especially beautiful. In your opinion what would you grade it, and how much would this tonnig take away in value? Would I be able to get it slabbed? Thank you kindly.
     

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    JCB1983, Nov 7, 2011
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  3. statequarterguy

    statequarterguy Love Pucks

    I'm not the Bust expert, but nice looking coin (AU?), maybe an old cleaning and retoned. If anything, nice toning like that should add to the value. But, my experience with eBay says ask the seller if the coin actually exhibits the toning you see in the pics. There are some Bust experts on the forum that should chime in and tell you what to look for, especially since there are some deceptive counterfeits out there.
     
    statequarterguy, Nov 8, 2011
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  4. JCB1983

    JCB1983 Learning

    Love the eye appeal. The guy wants 350 for this coin. If it is artificial toning, it looks like he did a great job. I see yellow, red, blue going outward. If it is for sure atificial toning, I was hoping that people from CT would jump all over the thread saying that it is artificial toning. The guy also has 100% positive feedback, but 350 is about half the value of an AU-55. Wish somone would give this a real close look. =]
     
    JCB1983, Nov 8, 2011
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  5. BUncirculated

    BUncirculated Well-Known Member

    JMHO, the toning on this half is attractive and adds to the beauty of the coin. Some people would pay a slight premium because of the toning on it.

    However, I notice from the pics it's not a slabbed piece, but in a 2x2, and I wouldn't touch it on eBay for any amount of money because it's not slabbed by either NGC or PCGS.

    Again, JMHO!
     
    BUncirculated, Nov 8, 2011
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  6. medoraman

    medoraman Supporter! Supporter

    I agree with SQG, I would guess old cleaning and retone. The old cleaning does not look harsh, but I would wish to see it in hand to make sure. The toning looks natural, since it shows up in the correct places. I have many similar pieces.

    I won't comment on price since I don't collect these anymore, and I bought all of my examples for $35-100. The one thing I would say is no one gives money away, and if the dealer is sure he could grade it and sell it for $700, why is he being so generous? Unlike ancients, there aren't as many sellers uninformed as to value of their coins in the US market.

    Chris
     
    medoraman, Nov 8, 2011
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  7. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Make that "somebody" did a great job and I'd agree. What I mean is you'd have no idea who did the doctor job. The coin could very easily have looked exactly like that when the current seller bought it.

    Anybody who would tell you that they can say with certainty that the coin is AT or NT is flat out wrong. They can't. And nobody can. Even seen in hand the foremost expert in the world cannot definitively tell a good AT job from NT. All anybody can do is guess.

    Personally, I think the toning looks be natural. But seeing as how the pictures were taken at such an extreme angle you can pretty much bet that the coins doesn't really look like that in hand. I'm not saying the color isn't there. I'm saying that you will only be able to see that color if you hold the coin at exactly that angle. If viewed straight on, the obv will look much like the rev color wise.


    Yes I'd agree the coin has AU details. And yes, it is possible the coin had an old harsh cleaning and has since re-toned. But I can't say that with any reasonable certainty based on those pictures. Meaning it is also possible it was never harshly cleaned.

    However, what I can see are two scratches on the reverse that are lessened in severity by the toning. To an astute collector that alone lessens the value and is probable reason for the seemingly low asking price.

    Or - it may well be that the seller knows the coin is AT, that it was done in an effort to hide or lessen the scratches, and is worried that an astute collector may also think so, and has thus priced the coin hoping some collector would get excited and jump on it.

    These are the problems you face every time you buy a coin on ebay.

    Now if I knew that seller, knew for a fact that he was reputable (and no I don't mean Feedback - Feeedback is worthless), and knew that if I was unhappy with the coin once I got to see it in hand that he would refund my money, then I might take a chance and buy the coin - assuming those scratches did not bother me. Personally they would bother me so that would never happen. But not everybody feels that way so I am just saying - if.

    I will repeat for the millionth time - it doesn't matter what venue you buy the coin in, as long as you know and trust your seller. But if you don't know and trust your seller, then you should never buy the coin - any coin !
     
    GDJMSP, Nov 8, 2011
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  8. JCB1983

    JCB1983 Learning

    Thank you very much. Greatly appreciated. I'm gonna hold off on that one. Got a small local show comming up tommorrow, and I am going to introduce myself to some of the local dealers. One in peticular lives right down the road from me, and has been dealing coins for 27 years.
     
    JCB1983, Nov 8, 2011
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  9. medoraman

    medoraman Supporter! Supporter

    The "one great truth" I can share with you about coin collecting is this:

    If you don't love the coin today, you won't love it tomorrow.

    The price you pay fades in memory, but the coin, (that you probably felt at the time you overpaid for), that you love will keep giving you pleasure for decades. The "decent deal" that you are ok with really doesn't. I find that most of those "good deal" coins get relegated to boxes, but my spectacular coins I keep pulling out and enjoying over and over.

    Unless you are buying it just to complete a set or something, if you always wait until you find a breath stopper to buy I think you will be pleased with your results.
    :)

    As always my humble opinion.

    Chris
     
    medoraman, Nov 8, 2011
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  10. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    You wanna say that about forty eleven more times ? :)
     
    GDJMSP, Nov 8, 2011
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