1803 Half Dime

I am curious to hear how you guys would net grade this 1803 Half Dime, large 8 variety. Bought 22 years ago, it was bright silver when i bought it, but has since toned down naturally. It has several scratches and rim nicks, certainly a "problem' coin.
For once i will ask, how much do you guys think this coin is worth, in this condition?
Thanks and regards,
Eduard

 

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Nice coin that's had a tough life.
For a starting point, I see it as having XF details.
But the damage seems rather extensive.
Not sure you could even get a VF price for it.
From a dealer, IF they wanted it at all, maybe $1000.
On eBay, maybe $1500.
Get it into an ANACS slab, then maybe a bit higher.

 

I would give it a Net VF-20+ grade, considering the problems (some problems I attributed to minting deformaties by looking at few other examples) but overall it's a beautiful coin! :thumb:

Value should be $3,000.00, give-or-take, but getting it slabbed would be the only way to get anywhere near what it's worth and Heritage would probably be the best place to auction it through, if you are thinking of selling and I would suspect the minimum you'd obtain would be $1,800.00 (slabbed @ Net VF-20).

Ribbit

Ps: All of the above is nothing more than my humble opinion and although that's a given, some peeps don't think so. Hence, this disclaimer. :goof:

 

I'd net it down to VF or F.

The reverse looks odd.

I can't really comment on value as I don't follow the series closely.

 

Vf

 

I'm guessing that it has XF details (they come weakly struck) and would net grade it at VF20 or so.

 

In my experience the the LM-1(small 8) is weakly struck but the LM-2 & 3 (large 8) are typically well struck. I would do VG-F on this particular piece. Mr. Osburn has a few listed in his online inventory offerings with a similar look/condition and comparable to this piece selling for $800-1000.

This is pretty nice example, I like it...too bad there's a relatively fresh rim bump on the rev. @ 9. That is the only thing that I see as a distraction.

 

nice coin! great historical piece. i would be inclined to give it a net grade of vg10 to f-12, tho i am not especially knowledgeable in this series. this is based also mainly upon technical considerations. were the reverse a little stronger i might support xf (not netting this) but, even with the consideration of weak and uneven strikes for this series, i would go to vf 20 as a grade. the reason i would net it down to vg10 or f 12 is due to the weak reverse and the rim problems. i still think the coin is beautiful and has excellent detail on the obverse.....thank you for sharing a wonderful early half dime w/ us!!!!....steve

 

Thank you all for your comments. I think that i have to agree that this coin would net down to somewhere between VG and Fine. It does have some noticeable nicks and scratches, even if it has toned down. It was not the best coin purchase i ever made.... The reverse is better in-hand than on the photo though.

CappedBustDimes, yoiu mention Mr. Osburns web-site. He sure does have a lot of bust coinage listed. However, no pictures?
Does one have to sign on or something to view his coins?
Thanks again,
eduard

 

I like the coin eduard. Not sure how it would grade, but it is still nice.

I did not see a way to see his coins. I thought about asking for pictures, but since I was not in the market I passed. If you are not happy with this coin you can always send it too me - I will provide a nice home for it.

 

No - he is a two person operation (his wife being the other person). He turns over his inventory pretty fast and has said he doesn't have the time or the need for posting pictures. He is very pleasant to meet in person and is known mainly as a seated series dealer.

 

eduard:
Perhaps it is just me, but that reverse looks a little funky.
Is it typical for the variety for the cloud between the S of States and the OF to be weakly (to non existant) struck?

 

Frank,
I just looked at the coin as close as i can: that portion of the cloud is actually either very weakly impressed, or almost non-existant. But, i do vaguely recall reading that that is a particular peculiarity of some early half dimes. I don't recall if it applies also to 1803 dated coins though.
Eduard

 

Nice old coin Eduard! Thanks for sharing!

I am thinking that the area where the cloud is mssing is in fact a hit or a repair (possibly previously holed)! Note the raised area on Miss Liberty's shoulder. If these two areas correspond to each other (Obverse and Reverse), then the Reverse (or Obverse whichever way you look at it) is slightly rotated from the Obverse.


Frank

 

Frank
Good point, look at the area of the breast just above the drapery.
It does appear to be slightly indented, which MAY be a sign of repair.

 

it is hard to tell, tho if this coin has been holed and repaired, i will give credit to the silversmith as he did fine work. better magnification would tell if you have a microscope. regardless...it is still a nice old half dime!!

btw...you said it was a few "problems"... if it is causing you too many problems, i could lock it in my safe and keep it out of mischief!!!! thank you again for sharing your coin.....steve

 

Guys, here are some close-ups, as close-up as my eyes and my camera can get.
Can you guys detect any signs of repair in the aforementioned areas?

 

Eduard,

I can't tell as much from these pictures without doing some editing! I will copy and paste them to my PC later this evening, brighten them up and zoom in for a closer look to see if the areas look as if they were repaired.


Frank

 

Eduard,

I copied and pasted the picures to my PC, brightened them up and zoomed in for a closer look and it appears that the coin was repaired. Although I cannot be 100% certain of this without the coin in hand but if the missing cloud on the Reverse is in direct relation to the indentation on Miss Liberty's bossom, then that is probably the case. If so, then the Silversmith that repaired the hole, did an excellent job even if it is still detectable! I have seen some botched, mediocre and good repairs but if it is in fact a repair, then the person that did it, did and excellent job!

That is what I believe but please do not take my word for it and have it examined by a professional. Also, you might want to compare it with the one on Coinfacts at the following link.

http://www.coinfacts.com/half_dimes.../1803_half_dimes/1803_half_dime_varieties.htm


Frank

 

The weak/missing cloud on the reverse, which is opposite the corresponding weak bosom of Liberty is almost certainly due to the way the coin was struck, rather than a repair. That is not particularly uncommon on these coins. Also, I don't see any evidence of repair there.