Hi all, I am not too familiar with Draped 1/2 cents, but bought this one for my US type set. GTG and let me know if it CAC'ed. Pictures are not the PCGS glamour shots, so I hope it actually looks like this in hand. If you're really cool, tell us the variety, i.e. Cohen-number, link or description. Please don't mention anything about stolen coins, there are already a dozen other active threads -Mike @Eduard I think you know those early copper coins very well
Good point. I believe that CAC does not only look at the TPGS assigned grade, but also at a coin's surface preservation. In other words, they would not approve coins with light cleanings or other minor issues.
I voted 35. I'd say it's pretty close to 40, maybe. So I went with VF35 CAC green. By way of comparison below, here is a PCGS VF20 Spiked Chin I had. I used to think that was a fingerprint to the right of the bust. Turns out that's a common feature on the variety.
Thanks for posting your 1/2C for comparison - another "circcam" yay You can tell that the last digit of the date was added manually. What about the variety of my coin?
I'm afraid I know zip-o-lah about Cohen varieties. (As should be amply demonstrated by the fact that I thought those ridgey-things to the right of the bust on mine were a fingerprint.) Yes, I liked that Spiked Chin for its CircCam attributes, among other things. Yours I can't help with on the variety, but I know a good looking Type coin when I see one, and that's what you have there, regardless of the number on the label or whether or not it has a green bean sticker.
Nice 1806. It's the C-1 variety consisting of Obverse 1 and Reverse A. Rarity 1. The primary pickup is the stemless wreath, the only one of the three varieties that year. Other p'ups are the small high 6, leaf centered below D and the large close 200. You didn't ask for it but I'll give you my judgement of EAC grade anyway: VF-35, net 30. A few circulation marks on both sides (none bad and none really distracting except the two on the cheek and nose) and a little bit of porosity on the reverse knock it down a tad. Now, how did PCGS grade this nice coin? They are sometimes generous and sometimes harsh with old copper and you just never know how they're gonna swing. But in this case, I'd say they called this XF-40. They might have said 45 if there was still even a hint of luster remaining, but no. Now, did CAC give it a green bean at a XF-40 grade? I'd say not. While it's a nice coin, I don't think they thought it was bean-worthy at that grade. Here's my version of the same variety. Even though it's an OGH, an example of PCGS over-grading at least by EAC standards.
Thanks for participating… really good comments and guesses so far. I’ll give it one more day… reveal tomorrow
I believe the first explanation for the spiked chin and the curved lines came from Breen when he speculated that a bolt fell or landed on the die and clashed it. I haven't heard any later explanations for it.
I'm stretching for a win here: I guessed XF-40, No Bean. That's the same as VF-35 with a bean, isn't it? LOL
Since this is an older holder it’s likely the coin would upgrade when resubmitted, especially with the green sticker on the slab. CAC won’t approve it again, as XF is quite a stretch for this coin. So yes, you got it right :-D