I went to my coin store today and found a very nice looking 1827 half dollar. MS-61 for $895. Anyone think that's a bad deal? I thought it was a good deal, I'm going back Monday to buy it. Thoughts?
That's the only issue I'm having, the store graded it. The reason why I'm going back Monday is because I know someone much closer that works that day and he could tell me a lot more about it. He would probably even send it to NGC for free and get a more accurate grade. I thought it looked about MS-61, it was amazing. Very small scratches, great color, defined edges and what not.
Hard to say without seeing the coin in hand. If accurately graded and no problems (cleaned etc.) Sounds like a fair deal. If it is a slider, the deal is not quite as good....If it's been cleaned the deal is terrible. If you could get them to submit the coin and agree to purchase at a certain graded level, that would be the safest deal.
a slider is one that is an AU, but the dealer 'slides' it into an unc holder. okay, not really, but it is a very near unc. say AU-58+
Right, what Frank said...An AU 55-58 coin that is sold as an uncirculated coin. I think the term slider comes from wear marks put on a coin from the plastic slides on certain coin albums.
A picture would be nice! What's the attribution? If it's truely MS61, that's probably a nice deal...but I generally find dealers only give such deals to high volume customers. Without seeing the coin (and knowing dealers as I do), I will be surprised if it receives a grade greater than AU55 from NGC/PCGS. I've bought coins that don't look cleaned to me, but they come back from TPGs as such. Good Luck! Please keep us posted.
You asked for our thoughts, we're just trying to give you some unbiased opinions/thoughts....you saw it and thought it looked good, you should have bought it....did you put a glass on it and notice any luster breaks?
Thanks for the info everyone, unfortunately I can't supply a picture but ill keep everyone posted after going back.
The small scratches - that makes me wonder, but you saw the coin. How does it compare to some of the ones on heritage? Have you looked at some 61's or others there or teletrade?
I bought this PCGS graded AU-53 1827 Capped Bust Half for $355 last year. (Same date and type you are looking at.) This might help you make a comparison with the coin you see in the shop.
Thank you! I got lucky with a great ebay seller called BustHalfNut, who specialized in Bust Half Dollars. Highly recommended. This coin he has up for Auction right now ... I like it ... A PCGS graded AU-58 ... Current bidding just a bit over $150 ... but the auction has a ways to go ... http://cgi.ebay.com/1825-O-114-Bust-half-dollar-PCGS-AU-58-spectacular-/220742646989?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item3365497ccd Here is his inventory up for sale right now ... http://shop.ebay.com/busthalfnut/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686
WingedLiberty, love those pictures and yes that helps. After looking at yours, I still think the one I was looking at was Ms-61 maybe MS-60 but not AU. Thanks for pictures! By the way how do you photograph them like that?
Skyler, the image of the posted 1827 I created using Adobe Photoshop ... a good graphics package. All I needed to make that final image was a good (flat) photo of the front and back of coin and the PCGS sticker.
Hi everyone, I know I haven't talked to you guys about this for quite awhile. It turns out that I didn't buy this coin....I bought a much better one! Today I bought a 1913-S Variety 2 Buffalo Nickel MS-63. The plus side was that it was certified, and the 27 half was not.
61 is a dangerous grade. Often the sign of a "problematic" coin. Be careful, as the "problems" may not be obvious.