Hi folks. Bought this 1804 Draped Bust Half Cent on ebay for $45 shipped. It's the most problem-free early US coin I have and I would give it a G04-G06...what do you guys think? Good deal or no? Simon
This coin is far from "problem free". It has sustained serious damage to the edges and appears to have been cleaned, not to mention what looks like corrosion on the reverse over the wreath. The coin has F-Details. $45.00 is high retail.
Thanks for the help. It is probably the least problematic old coin in my collection, so I do not have much to compare it to. In hand the "corrosion" on the reverse appears to be more likely a stain, but you probably know better than I. I am still learning.
It may very well be a stain. It may have been full retail, but I suspect this lovely old copper will grow on you. Will you try to attribute it? That's what I recommend to truly appreciate it.
I agree with MS70, but also feel that any coin that inspires one to become interested in a series is a great coin! I really like collecting half cents and a great deal of my enjoyment has been due to "Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States Half Cents 1793-1857". If you don't own a copy, I highly suggest finding one. I recently purchased an XF40 1826 C2 "6 over Lazy 6" variety for $120. It's nearly impossible to see the overdate on late die state examples. However, you can identify the variety by the Reverse position of the highest leaf (not beyond STATE). It's fun cherry-picking rare die pair/state Half Cents off eBay using Walter Breen's encyclopedia as reference.
Plain 4, Stemless, R1...cleaned w/rim damage. Interesting piece of history...and nice focal point for further half cent collecting. :thumb:
As a side note: Many non-collectors, when viewing my collection, will gravitate to the older more worn pieces and ask questions about them. You could have an identicle piece in pristine condition, and it won't be readily noticed. Some will even think the worn piece may hold more value. So it is in "the eyes of the beholder" that value and desire exist. If you are pleased and happy with your purchase, my opinion should have little affect on you.
I try to think about the future. Mostly I try to buy a coin that I don't anticipate replacing down the line. Hence I may buy a coin graded Fine but with NO problems (at least none that would keep it from going into a graded slab). Upgrades will only occur when I get rich (can you spell "lottery")
That's because those are the ones most unfamiliar to them. Also we are a very young country so things that are over a hundred yeears old or getting "close" to being older than the country tend to hold a facination for Americans. One hundred or two hundred years old doesn't have nearly as much fascination because they have over a thousand years of local history and tend to have MANY things around them older than that. I mentioned this to a collector from England once and he agreed. His magnifying glass was over 150 years old, the pub he frequented has been in business for four hundred year, there are still buildings in London with windows bricked up that were sealed in protest a tax on windows when it was passed by Henry VIII in the 1500's.
Thanks for the help and discussion, Fellas. I have a soft spot for old US coins...and this one is no exception!
Sure, it's got a few issues, but it's still a neat coin. Something about a coin with character adds more personal value than a pristine coin with no history. I like it. Guy
Conder101; That's an interesting piece of information on the bricked up windows. I have several English friends and I will spring that on them. What you say about Europe is very true, that is the age of things. Many towns will have brick walls around the older part of town and the newer part will spread out from there. The walls were a deterrent against warring parties years ago. The streets in the old area are very narrow, built to accommodate foot traffic, horses and carts. They claim that's why the European cars are so small; to be able to get around the whole town.
