Opines on Capped Bust Variety

So, in two weeks is the quarterly coin show in town. I have had my eyes focused on a capped bust variety coin. I have been collecting for about two years. This will be the largest sum I have budgeted for a coin yet. I am going to cap my self at 500 FRN's. I was looking at half dollar varieties. Mostly for the size of the coin and the multitude of dates in my budgeted range. I would really rather prefer something in the AU range. This will be the first coin for me of this variety. If a lower graded coin would be wiser, then I am also open to that. Just wanted some opinions.

 

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What do you mean by "varieties" in the context of this series? You have an awful lot of flexibility at $500.

 

If I were looking to add just one coin of this type to my collection, it would be one with great eye appeal. A no problem coin with a bit of nice toning. I would probably want something already graded by PCGS or NGC.

 

For $500, you can get a really nice CBH. The later dates (1829-1836) will be cheaper, and you can definitely get a nice EF-45 to AU-53 for your price range. Most dates can be had in EF-40 or above for $500.

Look for one already graded by NGC or PCGS. Look for a problem free coin, with smooth attractive surfaces (at the EF-45 range, you should definitely see traces of luster as well). Look for one with good original color (you don't want a white, pale, dipped out coin - you want nice even, grey color). If you can find one, get one with some attractive toning.

I don't know what show you are going to or how big it is, but many of the smaller local shows will have limited quantities of this type of material. Don't be disappointed if you can't find anything you like.

And as an example of what to look for, this EF-45 cost me $330 at FUN recently:

 

For that kind of money DON'T buy a slabbed coin that says "Genuine", "Details", or "Cleaned"

 

Varieties as in all capped bust in any denomination. I should have used capped bust type coin instead of "variety". The LCS had a 1836 capped bust dime (xf45) for $200. It was a nice coin, but I passed thinking I could get a better grade or in a different denomination at the coin show. More or less I wanted to look around for something better. I am not against the dime, just for a first coin of this type, I wanted something a little better grade wise. The LCS may have had another I just didn't have time. He will be at the show also.

The coin show is large enough to find what I am looking for. Like the coin physics fan posted is what I would be looking for. I don't want the coin just to say I have one. I have interests in this type coin.

Also, it has taken me two years to research and learn about coins that I even feel remotely comfortable about spending that much money on a coin. I may even find a coin at the show and not pull the benjamins out to buy it. Only so I can research what it was I was buying. I spook real easy. This is why I was asking.

Thanks for the replies and if anyone has any other pics that would be great.

 

Sure, I bought this 1836 AU bust half dollar recently and boy, I was surprised when it turned out to be a R4 (O-103) variety ;-)

 

Nice coin also micbraun.

Its the eagle design that I like about this coin. It just says "Don't Tread On Me" without the words. Bold feathers and talons really make it stand out.

Somehow I passed over the fact this type coin was in half dime denomination. I think its the half dime denomination is odd and therefore seems to slip my mind. For what I have budgeted a half dime in this type coin would be an MS grade. Maybe for the next coin of this type I will get a half dime.

 

I seriously doubt that you will get an attractive certified MS half dime for your stated budget. You can probably get a beat up MS 60 to 61, but I would recommend a strong AU 55 to 58 over a low grade MS in this series any day.

As for halves a late teens ('18, or '19) or early to mid '20s (not 1820, but 21 through '26) can be purchased in XF 45 to AU 50 in your price range and I believe it will hold its price better than a much more common later date from the late '20s through the '30s...usually much better looking from a strike standpoint than ones from the '30s as well.

 

I would agree with that assessment about the MS. I have seen coins in those grades that do not look good. Eye appeal is an important factor for me not just the grade of the coin.

Thanks for the tips on the halves also. And nice coins.

 

agreed, that is why I call them AU-63's.

The eye appeal of a 58 is far better (often) than a 60, 61 or 62

 

Thanks for the help everyone. I am like a kid waiting on christmas. I passed by the coin shop yesterday. It was everything I could do to not hit the blinker and turn in. I go into the LCS and I buy. I did visit 3 pawn stores and a Goodwill donation center yesterday. But, I do that everyday. I do service work so I drive all over town. We have a lot of pawn shops.

 

I really like that '25.

 

Be PATIENT when you go to the show. Make a quick once around to see which dealers are selling the type of material you're wanting. Then go to each one and look more closely at the inventory. If you buy without looking, you may miss the one you really want.

 

I knew I couldn't wait. I have no patience, sometimes. I am still going to the show and torture myself and surely find another coin that will appeal to me more. I paid less than I budgeted for the coin. So, that was sort of a plus. I like the coin its just a little off. I will say I don't feel the love for the coin. It most likely will not camp out in my collection long.

http://www.ngccoin.com/certlookup/index.aspx?CertNumber=3429889-006

 

I got the coin from the LCS I deal with.

 

At the coin show yesterday there were plenty of capped bust half dollars to be found in any grade raw or slabbed. After doing some comparison shopping, I feel like my LCS treated me more than fairly. Now if I decide to add more coins of this type and denomination the coin show will be the place for me to go.

After scoping out all of the half dollars my attention then turned towards the quarter dollar denomination capped bust. These coins are not so plentiful at the show or they are cost prohibitive for me at this time. I found one dealer which had just three days prior bought a 1935 XF-45 NGC graded quarter he was selling. The reverse was there but the obverse didn't make the grade. One other dealer we talked to bought an 1833 AU-50 NGC he says for 1100 FRN. It was a nice coin and really looked better than AU-50.

Last night I began doing more research on the capped bust type coins. I guess since I did not know and let it slip by me in one post I find there is an Overton number associated with each year in the half dollar denomination. I won't be buying more coins in this Type until I can get that book. I did not see an Overton number on any of the slabbed half dollars I saw at the show. Or I missed it. I do know NGC will attribute this for a $15 fee.

Here is a couple pics of the coin I bought.


Here is a couple pics of the coin I bought.

 

Here is the book I bought