It is a nice, wholesome example of a 19th century coin. The grade would in the VF-25 or 30 neighborhood. These coins generally come nice because the banks used them to back their currency.
VF20/$105...XF40/$205, as of 15APR19 (from NGC)... With a 30 grade, probably $155. However, on the reverse, the E/EPU has been worn away, otherwise a very nice coin...a solid $140 worth...imo. Spark
It was not worn away. The coin was flatly struck in the area because that part of the motto is opposite the end of the bust. There was not enough metal to fill the dies.
Learning...or trying, anyway. So, would this be a feature of this particular die pair or is this just considered a weak/poor strike? And, how does that affect the grade? Is it graded as an "as struck"?...Spark
Not unusual for this die pair, but not a feature of it either. As for affecting the grade, it doesn't. It does, however, affect the looks/value of the coin. In this case, IMO by about 10 to 15 percent. Not a fully struck one, but better struck than the OP's 103...
Are you sure? Usually it is the central part of the motto that is missing if it doesn't strike up, not the E.
It can be any part of the motto. On this particular DM it is almost always the E (PL) that doesn't strike up well.
Bust halves are fantastic. They're thick, juicy, old and affordable. How can you lose? The OP's coin looks perfectly nice and provides a decent example of this type. It still has a fair amount of detail in Liberty's flowing locks. For grade comparison, I have an NGC XF 45 example of, I think, the same year and variety (but please correct me if I'm wrong). It still has a decent amount of luster on it.
