Hey folks. Looking for some input on the grade of these two better date/mm 1/2 marks. Mintage of just over 600,000. Only a few graded examples on the pop report at PCGS so finding comps is tough. I know the high point is the center shield which looks pretty good on both pieces. Thanks!
I don't see any obvious wear. Is there some green on the feathers of the top piece? If so it could get a details grade. If not I would put both in the 63 range. That said, I would be hesitant to assign a value based on current Krause pricing. I have not researched these but I would use actual sale information to determine the value. I'm only mentioning this because I have found large discrepancies in German pricing.
So I decided to list one of the 1/2 marks to eBay and see what it brought. I listed the top one in a no reserve auction and, needless to say, I think someone got a deal. I fully understand that a coin is worth what someone is willing to pay for it, but given the low mintage and catalog value of $500+ in MS63 the hammer price of $6.50 was certainly a steal. Here’s another photo of the one which remains. It is my favorite of the two because of the toning. I would send it off to be graded if it was possible to land at 65 or above but there is just no telling on these small German coins.
Check pricing on MA-Shops. Lots of German coins for sale. Granted, it’s asking price, but there may be multiple examples from different sellers and that can average out prices. It should give you a general idea of the prices European dealers are asking.
