How in the world is this coin an XF40?! The lowest grade I could ever imagine a coin like this being is XF45, but XF40 just sounds like a slap in the face! Not too sure what the answer to your question regarding the small design may be, but I'd love to be enlightened! This is my series-of-choice. -Brian
You may be right. I try not to get too caught up in the TPG grade. If I like it and the price was fair I'm happy. Thanks for asking about the 1814 design change. No one guessed. Maybe it was a trick question. The change was to the third side. A star was added to the end of the inscription. 50 cents or a half dollar *. Here's another CBH, just for fun. Want to guess the variety? Lance.
Just 2 pieces, with counterstamps: First is an 1824 O-101 1824/1 Counterstamp: "TAMALLO' with the L's reversed.
next is an 1807 O-102 It includes a Mason symbol. The engraving is dated 1817, so it was done only 10 years after the coin was minted.
I may have posted this before: http://www.teletrade.com/coins/lot.asp?auction=3131&lot=1401 Anyone care to guess what the method was to "smooth" this otherwise MS coin?
Whizzing smoothes surfaces. Lots of folks think it creates swirl lines. Not so, if done skillfully. Whizzed coins look superb...clean fields, bright and ding-free...except for the loss of consistent luster and cartwheel. Under magnification some collection of debris near device edges can be seen. I don't know about this coin, Owle. But that's my guess. Lance.
Here are a couple of 1819's. The first is an O.107 R4 and the second is an O.113 R1. Any guesses on the grades? Lance.
I don't have any guess on the grade, Lance, but I wanted to say that these are beautiful 1819 bust halves! Awesome! Thank you. -L
I wanna say 55 and 58, though striking issues on these particular die states may just mimic the appearance of wear. Just a shot in the dark. Fantastic pieces, as always, Lance! -Brian