Has this 1837 Capped Bust Half Dollar been whizzed?

This is a beautiful Capped Bust Half Dollar, but I want to make sure it hasn't been whizzed or had its surfaces altered in any way. My eyes are quite untrained as to whether a coin has been whizzed, dipped, or altered, so I thought I would get your opinions. Also, if you could tell me what grade you think this would get if it were sent to PCGS, that would be awesome!

 

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I'm no expert on this series, but something just does not look right. Whizzed maybe? Fake maybe?

 

To address only one of your questions, if concerned about being "altered in any way", the color alone should tell you that it would not have original untouched surfaces.

 

I would like to get this coin graded. Do you think it would get a number grade if I sent it in?

 

Welcome to CoinTalk

For a coin of this age in mint state (as it appears to be), there's a strong probablity of its having been at least dipped to be that white. Can you share the backstory on it? The coin's source may bear on evaluating the possibilities, including the rather unpleasant one that it might not even be genuine.

 

This coin is from a trusted eBay seller who said to have bought it for his type set. In your opinion, if I sent it to PCGS, would this coin get a numerical grade or would it come back as cleaned?
Thanks for your help!

 

it looks way to shiny for that date. looks dipped. gorgeous grade by the way.

 

It's definitely been dipped I can't tell if it has the hairline scratches of an Impropler cleaning from the pics I feel it to be genuine but definitely cleaned in some way a coin from 1837 wouldn't be blast white without some type of cleaning over the years would it grade maybe if only dipped likely is impossible for me to tell without seeing in hand

 

Define trusted.

The coin as most certainly been dipped, so in this respect only, the question is if it was done properly and if the coin is market acceptable. However, buying raw to submit is not a game for the uninitiated, so at this point in time, I respectfully suggest that if you want slabbed, buy slabbed.

 

Post some larger pics.......blast if I can tell whether or not it's been whizzed. Cleaned maybe but from the small pics posted I can't see any movement of medal.

 

The seller has a 14 day return period. Buy it and see what you think.

 

By trusted the seller has 100% positive feedback with over 300 transactions done. I've always wanted a high grade Bust Half such as this one, but I couldn't find any I could afford that were graded. This one seems like a good price if it is mint state. I haven't purchased the coin yet, which is why I want everyone's opinion on it before I make the purchase.
I'm kind of new to coin collecting, so could you please explain how to properly dip a coin? I always thought that any type of cleaning was bad and automatically causes for the coin to be worth much less.
Thanks for the quick response.

 

I was thinking of doing that, but I want everyone's opinion first as I don't want to risk having to spend a fortune on return shipping.

 

A good rule of thumb for the uneducated is if you want a MS63 pay the money for a slabbed one. Buying a raw one for cheap and hoping it's a 63 will 99% of the time end up in disappointment.

 

I'm not risking much, as the seller would refund me if the coin came back as cleaned. The seller is aware that I want to send this to PCGS.

 

This might be one of those tricky risk versus reward calculations. Researching completed auctions for NGC/PCGS MS graded examples (needn't be the same exact year, as many from the 1820's and 30's are similarly valued) would give you some sort of baseline to work from. If this raw coin is priced pretty close to those certified comparables, you might as well go with the one of the latter.

 

If you do this, post some better pics when you get the coin. We could give you a better idea of what it might grade.

 

I just contacted the seller and he said tonight he will send me some more pictures. I will post them as soon as possible.

 

With all due respect, this is meaningless. Some of the biggest dreck peddlers on ebay have stellar feedback; remember that just because someone thinks they got a deal or thinks they know what they're doing, this doesn't make it so. While poor feedback can be an indicator of a questionable seller, good feedback does not automatically mean a seller should be trusted. Instead of concerning yourself with his feedback, take a look at his other offerings, compare photos (are his images uniform in style), look for questionable claims, etc, etc. Basically, just read between the lines and do not allow yourself to see only what you want to.

I understand your feelings, but the deal mentality, especially for new collectors, is a very dangerous thing. While there is nothing wrong with wanting to save money, trying to cut obvious corners is a fine way to unwittingly bury yourself. If you want to buy and possibly waste the time of both parties, and submission fees, while relying on someone else's opinion, that's fine, but keep in mind that it is your money at risk, and regardless of good intent, most free opinions are worth only what you've paid for them.

 

I did some research and I found that most graded Bust Halves with eye appeal like this one cost over $5,000. If I decide to purchase this coin, I will likely get a professional's opinion before I send it to PCGS.