I picked up this in a small size ANACS slab today. Thread like spots are due to small scratches on holder. Post your thoughts. I’ll post the full slab front tomorrow morning.
Hm. Yours looks a lot like mine graded NGC AU 50 BN/green CAC, except my slab is even more scuffed up. In hand, my coin looks very similar to your photo in detail, except mine doesn't have what look like multiple contact marks on the face and left field (I don't think those are on the slab), which, depending on their origin, may not reduce the grade but they do reduce the eye appeal somewhat. It's still a very nice 1835 half cent overall, regardless. Based on the photo, and comparison with the one I have, I'm having trouble deciding between XF45 and AU50, but I have a feeling it's graded AU50 or higher.
First, I had a start when I read “1836 Half Cent.” The 1836 is a very rare date. You have a far more common 1835. I am on an iPad, and the images are dark, but from what can see, it’s at least an AU-58. It might well be an MS-62 or 63. I”ll get back to you later.
Thats what I was thinking. I put the coin in the slider area. Without more light on the surfaces, it is hard to tell if it has been circulated. The hair curls and high point details look pretty sharp to me.
It’s graded XF 45. The wear says AU53-55 to me, but I think they were a bit tough on hits on the neck. Decent condition half cents have been hard to find around here, so I’m happy with it
I was leaning toward AU50 and think the XF45 is too low unless they're factoring in the marks on the cheek.
The marks on the cheek could be there on a low end graded Mint State piece, like an MS-61. Now that I can see it better, it's somewhere between AU-55 and MS-62. Here's one that is in an MS-63, Brown NGC holder. It should be MS-64 in my opinion, but that's a "so what?" since NGC stops backing copper coins after a coin has been in their holders for 10 years. The lines you see on the reverse on one the slab, not the coin. Voiding the certification is very unfair for Brown copper, but I don't run the company. I can agree with the policy for Red and R&B because time and storage conditions can change the delicate color.
I think the OP's coin would grade AU-50 today. The obverse shows some high point wear that is about a 55 but the marks on the cheek are significant enough to knock it down a grade to 53. The reverse, however, shows some significant wear on the leaves, particularly on the right side where the strike appears a bit weaker. The reverse can't help you but it can hurt you and in this case it knocks the grade down from 53 to 50. I am going by commercial grading standards here. I would call the coin EAC Sharpness 45 and Net 40.