1853 Seated Half - how much do the details affect it?

I just pulled the trigger (somewhat impulsively) on this half. It has a details grade for "devices engraved" which seems to be because there are some gouges by the beak and beside the "DOL" and then, if you look closely, it looks like someone outlined the shield on the reverse. I personally don't find this terribly distracting and the coin looks pretty great to me. (But, please feel free to also tell me you agree!)

In comparing to the pics in the PCSG CoinFacts app, I'd guess it's a 50-53, which would be a $700 coin. What would be a reasonable price?

And instead of playing a game, I'll go ahead and say that I paid $200 for it. (Again, please feel free to tell me it was a steal for $200!)

 

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My favorite coins are those that had to work for a living and still have good eye appeal. I like this one. But, I have no idea about the value.

 

That is a popular year due to the arrows and rays so it does have that going for it. And yes, I do believe that $200.00 was a more than fair number. I paid a fair bit more than that for the example below and yours has worlds more eye appeal.... I don't think that engraved devices would refer to the hits on the reverse, though those are pretty dramatic hits.... I would take "engraved devices" to mean just that, though my eyes aren't sharp enough to see it..... And here's my deal... I own a lot of coins in holders that don't have glowing things to say about the coin inside. I don't care what the labels say. I like the coin inside, and if you like this coin, and she is a beauty, forget what that label says. Better yet, free the coin from the slab so you don't have to see it.

 

Randy, I know people say "buy the coin, not the grade (or slab)" and I have to say - sometimes I spot a coin and just go, "oh yeah - that's the one!" That's what this one did. And it will be free of the slab soon enough! It's going into my 7070 type set.

 

Just processed what you said about the "engraved devices" and did a little more digging. PCGS doesn't provide a description this designation on their website, but it sounds like an engraver went back and touched up some of the details to make it look like a higher grade. I wasn't even aware that was a thing! Regardless, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

 

Very nice details on that.
I am seeing a bit of Die Clash of the left arm area, both sides. do you see it?

 

Hmmm...do you mean what looks like a section of Liberty's arm under the right wing? Interesting!

 

The reference that I have seen used before is “tooled”. My best top shelf coin has a tooled designation……. I have seen coins with the devices engraved in an effort to amplify the grade and the labels that I have seen described these as tooled. Do you mind showing the label?

 

I don't have the coin in hand yet, but this is from the original listing.

 

If you look that label up on PCGS, it gives you a designation on “98” damage. You can click on that “98” and get a more thorough explanation….. I would do it and tell you but I gotta get my boy to practice and he is pulling me out the door!

 

And the arm cleft inside the eagles shield. Same area on the obverse. Shield lines and wing edge.

 

I'm liking this coin more and more!

 

Clashes are fun coins.

 

So - the 98: Damage covers a LOT of stuff. After watching their video on code 98, I am fairly certain this received that grade because it looks like someone scratched the outline of the shield on the reverse and they considered that damage consistent with trying to make the shield stand out. (They show an example in the video of where someone poorly re-engraved the hair on a $2.5 gold coin.)

...and I hope practice went well!

 

https://coinauctionshelp.com/halfdollar_overlays.html

 

I’m out here watching the boys now. This boy of mine is a 100% dedicated football player at 11 years old. This is flag foot season and he is the QB so he is feeling his oats…… Now PCGS will not slab a coin that they deem too damaged. It’s been a while since I have read what they put in those damage designations, but they felt that your coin was honest enough to be slabbed….. My life long dream coin was a 1784 USA Bar cent. I finally after a lifetime of dreaming bought mine three years ago. It is in a slab that says “tooled”…. The worst designation a label could have. That label was the only thing that made that coin affordable to me. And in the end, all it means is someone took a pocketknife a hundred years ago and scraped grime out of the reverse design. Take my coin away from that holder and it becomes a five figure coin! Far too much importance is placed on those labels in my mind. A beautiful coin (and yours is beautiful) is living history in your hands. If the sophisticated collectors want to shun a label that holds a nice coin…. Well that’s just one more nice coin for me.

 

I like the coin and $200 is about right. Both sides of the coin show clash marks. I like those as well. Code 98 is correct, the coin is damaged. I'm not seeing what PCGS called engraved.

 

If you look around the reverse shield, it looks like someone took a pocket knife and outlined the shield. I'd think it'd be some other designation than "devices engraved" but I am not wise in the ways of PCGS grading. I'll be curious to get it under the scope when I get it and see if I can spot anything more. When I see that designation, I think of someone reestablishing curls in hair or lines in the shield that have worn off. But, if I have to look that hard to spot anything, I'm not worrying about it!

 

Given what a VF looks like these days, $200 sounds about right

I sold this one over 20 years ago when I was dealer. If you held it at certain angles, you could see hairlines. It body bagged at the services for that reason. I got about $220 for it.

 

FTFY.

YW.