1838 Capped Bust Half Dollar GTG

This picture clearly shows the cleaning. XF45 is more like a net grade for an AU Details coin.

 

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Yeah I don’t see the cleaning and I’m at 40. That was a good one to crack I’d say

 

The 1837 is graded MS-64, and the 1838 is graded MS-62.

 

About where I’d put them. Great luster in the 37 clean fields but the marks on the neck keep it from gem. The 38 has great color and luster put a fair amount of contact marks especially in the reverse fields. That being said they’re both pretty

 

I have had a couple of collectors asking me if I wanted to sell the 1838. There has been no interest in the 1837. That “old PCGS magic” comes shining through, despite the fact that the 1837 is a much nicer coin.

 

People putting together a type set need the reeded edge.

 

Go figure. I greatly prefer the 37. I find I run into a lot more of the 50 cents 1837 type than the 38-9 half dol type. Maybe it’s just me

 

The 1837 Reeded Half Dollar is a lot more common than the 1838, but you don't see very many 1837s that are as nice as the piece I posted. Here is the piece that it replaced. There were a number of people who liked this one too because they thought that it is a "naturrally white coin." I'm not so sure about that, but it's worth a debate.

 

Which is the real reason I bought mine. Although I really enjoy it.

 

I agree. They’re a lot scarcer especially nice The second 37 is nice but wouldn’t have been a coin I’d have kept as I like more color and crust

 

Funny though the survival numbers are within 1500 of each other estimated 7500-9000 between 37 and 38. And the mintages are both well over 3 million. Actually very close. 3.6million of the37 and 3.5 million of the 38. Add in the 1.39 million 1839s and they should be more common and they’re really not. I wonder if there was some major melting of them during the 19th c

 

Like the Lettered Edge Capped Bust Half Dollars, many of these coins were hoarded in banks to back their paper currency. That is why so many of them are available in the higher grades. I can't remember the last time I saw a really heavily circulated Reeded Edge Half Dollar.

A great many pre-1853 silver coins were exported and melted. The cause was the discovery of gold in California which upset the balance between gold and silver prices. The "With Arrows" and "Arrows and Rays" silver were a reflection of this. Those minor design changes indicated that the coins had less silver in them, and were therefore not worth melting.

More silver and gold coins left this country during the Civil War. Overall the survival rates for the Reeeded Edage half dollars are consistent with other issues. The limiting factor is that they were only issued for parts of a four year period.

 

I’m in agreement. I think the lowest grade I’ve seen was vf. I’m just curious why the 38-9 type with a higher overall mintage seems so much scarcer than the 37. I’ve not heard of any hoards of 37s in old bank bags though I know most capped bust halves were involved in bank commerce being the highest circulating current denomination of the period. It’s really got me thinking and curious that’s all. I think the amount of 37s to 38s I’ve had is about 10-1. I always buy nice examples in the xf- au range with nice surfaces and always find them easy to sell due to type demand. Is a coin I’ve had a lot of and look for.

 

Here’s a couple I’ve had first graded xf 45 second au 55

 

EF 45.5

 

Cleaned. Really. 1838. Not happy with that grade

 

I love seeing you type. Your one of my favorites. Interesting you are

 

Yikes. What he say?

 

Cleaned. LOL

 

Cuz it looks gold the 38. Had to look it up. Fooled me