One of my favorite dates, nice, Eduard. I am sure that there will be a bunch of AU-58's opined. But, I thnk it is unc. Aside from the cheek hit and a couple of marks, it look sgood. Question: What is that behind the head in the field? It could be dip that was improperly wiped off. [mood= cold!]
I'll be the first to say it gets AU from a TPG. I think it would get AU due to lack of luster & the very little hits/rub on the cheek & high points. Maybe dipped a few times. Do you think they would say low MS because of the date? Very best regards, collect89
I agree that the coin appears to have been dipped and there appears to be a rub from a cloth behind Liberty's head where something might have been wiped off. However, the Barber Series coins were very prone to wear and the Halfs like the Morgans were somewhat weakly struck at the New Orleans Mint. Therefore, when you find a Barber Half with a nice of details as this coin has, combined with the fact that it was struck at the New Orleans Mint and it is a Semi-Key Date, then wouldn't you think that a TPG (in this case I believe ANACS would be the best) would bump it up a few points grade-wise???!!! Also, the pictures appear to be slightly out of focus and it is possible the lighting distorts the true look of the coin. I edited and cropped the pictures and have attached them to this post and believe that they may better represent the coin as it is in hand. Eduard...Please let us know if the edited and cropped pictures better represents what the coin looks like in hand??!! Frank Ooops...I forgot to state what grade I thought it might get! I believe that it would get at least an MS-62 but this maybe even way too low.
Thank you guys. Frank, i think your pictures capture this coin better than mine! The surfaces are a bit reflective, and not as shiny as my original pictures shows, specially the reverse. There is a very slightly scuffed area behind the head, as you pointed out, and a mark on the cheek. What surprises me is that the arrow feathers, and the entire right talon holding the arrows are very weakly impressed. The rest of the design is much sharper. I am not familiar at all with the series. Is this common?
Eduard: Yes, the weak strikes are very common, especially for the New Orleans issues. This is a definite key date, in lower grades, and a nice example. As Frank stated, it may unc, and I agree with the MS-62 and use ANACS.
Besides the weak strike and even though the coin is a Semi-Key to the Series, it may have spent some time in someone's Barber Half Roll. Many Collectors would purchase Half Dollar rolls (in plastic) and keep the coins in the rolls for many, many years. Everytime you pull them out of the roll and put them back in, transport them (possibly to Coin Shows or Coin Club meetings) or just re-organize them in your Collection, you risk damaging some, if not all of the coins when they are jostled around. Many of them suffer impact damage from the coins on either side of them! Frank
From the pics, I would say high au. If it is MS I would venture maybey 63 plus. The fields look very clean for the most part. Nice coin, I would love to have one that nice. :thumb:
It's a great looking coin that anyone should be proud to own. I agree it's been dipped and I can't tell if it is AU58 or UNC. Either way you have a keeper.
I would probably grade it 55. The coin does have some wear. And don't anybody tell me it's weakly struck either - the coin has finning for God's sake. There are quite a few minor rim dings on the obverse rim and noticeable wear on the reverse, particularly the eagle's head and talons. Overall, a very nice coin.
Thanks all. This coin was graded EF in the Stacks sale whence i purchased it. It appears to grade a bit higher judging from the majority of opinions here. Thanks, Eduard
Eduard, There are several things to be considered here! How long ago did you make the purchase as this may effect what grade it would receive from a TPG? Many TPG's have either relaxed or toughened up on their' standards for grading and especially for grading Key-Date and Key Date coins, which may be to your advantage if the purchase was some time ago! Frank
