1806 Bust Half Dollar freed from its cage

Just cracked this one out of its holder(Yellow ANACS slab). It came out relatively easy with some wire cutters. Any guesses as to what it graded or should have graded and attribution? Also, go ahead and post some crackouts. (Circulated coins that survived 200+ years don't deserve to be locked away in plastic, although I am a poor defender of that statement.)
Cheers,

Henry

 

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VG+ or maybe Fine tops. Detail lacks a lot on the feathers.

 

I have cracked many dozens of slabs. Mostly old copper and wheaties. But I don't think I would have cracked this one. I'm not sure it will ever get in another problem-free holder.
Lance.

 

I doubt it was in a problem free holder to begin
I guess VG details

 

Don't worry, it was in a details holder.

 

My last crack out:

Apply some small tools:

And into the album she goes:

 

Hello Mark

I'm not advocating cracking the coins out of the slab, but I like your album. It looks fun.

Amanda

 

It is a lot of fun Amanda. The problem I have is that I only need a few varieties and I try to get them where I can. I have found the raw ones on ebay are priced like they are graded - or just flat out over prices. So what I do is I wait for heritage or one of my dealers to get them in - raw or graded. If graded then I crack them out. Doing this some for my liberty nickels also. What I am not doing is buying high grade coins and cracking those out. This one was a G-6 and my liberty nickels run AU to low MS. Sometimes it is just easier to find them graded than raw. I think I have cracked maybe 5-8 coins for the bust album and 3-4 for the liberty nickels.

 

It actually makes good sense to by them graded and crack them out if you want to. You still get the benefit of being assured of the authenticity of the coin and a probable grade. Once you have that benefit, why not crack it out?

Amanda

 

Looks expensive to me (of course, I rarely spend more than $25 for a coin).

 

Here's my 1806 , now freed from it's slab and hopefully retoning , not that it really needs it .

 

I like that Bust, shame it was cleaned. I found this coin. I like VF Draped Busts like this one where the motto is readable.
http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1166&lotNo=11078

 

That reverse is amazing on that coin for a VF looks EF . To tell the truth there are no hairlines or signs of a harsh cleaning on mine . When you think of it , how many of these 200 year old coins haven't been cleaned .

 

I don't get cracking out high dollar coins like Draped Bust halves worth like $1,000 + to put them in an album.

I'm thinking for storage purposes. That album is going to take up a lot of room in a SDB or personal safe....and the coins themselves are more re-saleable in a PCGS or NGC slab, and better protected.

 

I understand your take on the situation. I also respect it, but these coins are not worth $1000, or even close, unless a rare variety. For the most part we are discussing coins under $200-$300, some as cleaned or damaged, that are not going to be endangered by being cracked out. Also, I can learn more about a coin by cracking it out. The only reason I collect coins is to learn, so that is worth far more than the $35 slab. In fact, I value that experience more than I value the coin. Just my opinion.

 

I've cracked quite a few out for my Morgan set. This is the most expensive one, so far. It was an NGC64.

 

As already mentioned these are not $1000 coins. Plus the albums take up a lot less room than slabs. You get to see the coins side by side with all of the varieties. It is much nicer than all those slabs. Besides my large cent album has more than a 1k coin in it - bought raw. I actually like my albums more than the slabbed coins.

There is actually a class of collectors who prefer their coins raw - will buy holders and crack them first thing. I believe part of the Holmes collection was graded, cracked and the re-graded before being sold. Also if you checked Heritage - you would see some chain cents getting ready to be auction that state - not yet graded. I would not be surprised if several were bought and cracked.

 

Very sweet pacecar. Bet that album looks great.

 

I'm with you, Mark. I crack almost all my large cents. I draw the line at around $2k, though. I'm only so brave.

Here's an old photo of the set. They're in a Dansco. i've upgraded a lot since then but you get the idea.
Lance.

 

200 years..Pfft....try 2000 years!