Hi all... I am new to this forum and to collecting. I have in my possession an 1824 half bust. On the reverse side, the letters TA in "STATES" are only half visible. Also, the letters directly underneath them ("ur" in "Pluribus") also appear to not have been fully struck.. They almost seem smudged. Has anyone ever heard of this? Would this make the coin more valuable? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Hello Rosalie. It's hard to say without seeing the coin, so it would depend on overall condition. As B12 mentioned, it does sound like wear, however what you described is also a common 'soft strike' area of bust half dollars. It does not really make the coin worth more, because it is so common. On the other hand, it does not generally hurt the value either. and welcome to the forum!
Agreed, it is a VERY common place for busties to exhibit a weak strike. When you see prices for busties listed the prices are for coins like yours with a weak strike since they are the norm. Well-struck pieces demand a premium usually. If you post a picture we could give you an estimated grade and value.
one more ques.... First, thanks for your help... One last thing...the 4 in 1824 was printed over twice (4 over4.) Does this increase the value? Roughly what is this coin worth? Thanks again, Ro
We would need a better photo to check out the 4/4....if it is really a 4/4 yes it could make the value go up. Speedy
New Photo... Not sure if this is such a great view...my nephew originally scanned it and I won't be able to take another scan for a few days...thanks again for your help. Rosalie
I can't tell for sure....but we have some Bust Half Nuts around here that should know better than I! Speedy
It is an O-110 which makes it an R2 coin which is nice, but there is really no premium for a 1824 O-110 until you get to AU or higher grades. What you have on the 4 in the date is NOT doubling, it is a recut date, meaning that the die was "repaired" or changed and what you see is the result. In that condition the coin is worth $40-$75 (retail) and if you were to offer it to a dealer you should expect an offer of about $25-$45 depending on how he grades it.
I love bust halves, but my collection is nowhere near advanced enough for me to be in the Bust Half Nut Club! The entry requirements are pretty high! For entry one must have 100 different Overton varieties that you have attributed and then you have to get a current member to sponsor your application and that member is responsible for verifying your attributions and only after that can you be accepted into the club! Someday though, I'll get in.
Thanks.... Thanks for all who helped me out on this one...unfortunately, the photo I posted does not show all of the detail on this coin...you don't see nearly as much detail in the hair as you do in person. Also, LIBERTY is very well struck and defined. I need to learn how to work my nephew's scanner. Also, I notice on E-bay that many people post coins that are in a white sleeve with a grade hand written on it. Can a dealer do that for me? How much does that generally cost? I live in New York City so I am sure there are places I can go to. Any help would be great... I have lots of Morgans I would like to have graded also. Thanks all for your help! Rosalie
I know a guy that is a member and is always adding to his collection....he has collected for years but just in the last few years has gotten into more of the Bustys....when you get ready to join let me know and I'll talk to the guy I know....I'm sure he would be glad to help out if he could. Speedy
You could do that yourself....but that isn't what most people think of when they say they want a coin graded. You see...grading is not something you pick up overnight....but with time you can grade coins yourself! I would suggest getting 2 books on grading..Photograde and the ANA grading guide....the reason people sometimes wants a coin graded and slabbed is becaue one person might say a coin is MS64 and someone else might say its only MS62....so you can see how this would mess people up. If you want your coins graded and SLABBED then that is what would cost a nice bit...sometimes $25 per coin. Speedy
I seriously doubt that a different photo/scan would change my opinion of the grade or value, your scan was adequate. Additionally, the strength of LIBERTY is irrelevant when grading busties, it is so deeplyimpressed by the die that it is sharp even into the lowest grades. Those white sleeves are called "two-by-twos" (referring to their 2x2 inch size). They cost about $3 for one hundred pieces. You could buy them and then "grade" your coins whatever you want, but be aware that unless you pay the fees to have it professionally graded by NGC, ANACS, ICG, or PCGS then your "grade" will be recognized by potential bidders for what it is, the opinion of someone the bidder doesn't know or respect, and it will be discounted in their minds. There are certainly dealers in NYC, but I don't know where they are, it's just been too long since I was there last. If you want to have a rough idea of grading then Speedy's recommendation of picking up the ANA grading Guide is a good one. You can get a used copy on eBay for about $10. A copy of the Red Book (Officail title is "A Guide Book of United States Coins") will give you a rough estimate of coin values (it is printed 18 months in advance, so be aware that the values can be rather inaccurate). If you really want to see a dealer then you could pay for an insurance appraisal from a dealer and in that you would receive his grades or you could ask for the dealer to make you an offer for the coins and have him let you know which coins are the most valuable individually. If you don't sell, though, you need to be aware that you may be burning a bridge with that dealer for future business. No Problem! good luck!
