I recently picked up a type set folder. The seller's pics were lousy, so I paid based on VF grade for the two most valuable items (which seem nicer in hand). I was pleasantly surprised to find a bunch of semi-key dates where I expected basic placeholders (like a 1909 no-VDB Lincoln, a 1917 Buffalo, a 1908 Barber dime with mint luster & an AU 1938 nickel). Anyway, most of the value in the set was in an 1834 Bust Half & an 1892 Morgan. Now that I have the Bust Half in hand, the photogrades seem a lot more generous on this series than I expected. Am I falling into the trap of thinking it's nicer now that it's mine? Or am I accurate in estimating that this would grade between XF40 & XF45?
I think you're pretty close about the grade although it might get an "improperly cleaned" label if sent in to a TPG, from what I can see in the photo looks like there is quite a bit of hairline scratches on both sides, looks to me like someone ran over it with a very abrasive cloth. IDK, maybe thats just normal circulation wear... can't tell for sure.
You're thinking "cleaned"? What details grade would you assign? Also, is the 8 normal for these? It just looks wrong somehow. Like a knob to the upper right and lower left?
Looks like about a 40 to me. I agree that it looks like its been improperly cleaned. The obverse exhibits many parallel scratches on the fields and devices.
I used the CoinFacts app to pull up comps that have recently sold in slabs. The oddest bit of wear is on the reverse ribbon, as that isn't usually found above VF20. But, the cheek wear & wear on the eagle's wings seem to match EF45 examples. Very odd, as, without checking photograde, I would have bumped any wear in those areas down to VF30 at a minimum. Granted, standards on 180 year old coins are slightly different from the 80 year old coins that I come across more often! And, haven't almost all of the coins with "straight" grades of this age been cleaned to a lesser or greater degree? Even store tellers were likely to wipe dirt or grease off these with a pocket handkerchief, and customers likely kept them in pockets or pouches that even modern hobos would consider grossly unclean.
I would call it a VF O-103, Yes, the 8 in the date is normal for the die state. And, yes, while most bust halves have been cleaned--even those with straight grades from top level TPGs--this one appears too harshly cleaned to get a straight grade.
I would grade it as a 35, with a cleaned details grade. It has been cleaned in the middle, and there are some swirls there, indicating a circular wiping or polishing motion. In spite of that, I do think it a very nice coin.
In your opinion, is it worth submitting for grading even if it comes back without a straight grade? I'm not all that familiar with this series & finding that the rules are a bit different on pre-Civil War silver.
In my opinion? No, but then I don't think any late date bust half less than a straight grade AU is worth the extra expense. Unless it is an R-5 or better die marriage it will never recoup the added cost.
