Was out and about today taking my son to go get some comics seeing as I was off of work and he was out of school for the holiday. I thought I would take a quick drive by the local coin shop. There hasn't been much new there recently as the lousy weather has been keeping people in, or at least keeping people away from coins shops and other luxury stops in their days. But even with snow this morning the 50 degree day had people out and about. I asked what was new and was treated to this bust half, a selection of seated half dimes, three cent silvers, and two Trade Dollars. (and yes, the trade dollars looked good, weighed right, etc, but I already have two, one for my typeset and one box dollar so I passed on those. Anyway I took a look at the coin, knew I didn't have an 1822 at home and then we haggled over the price. Next thing I knew it was in my pocked. I just finished with the attribution and boy was I happy to find a R-4+ piece. This is an extremely late die state as noted by the crack from the 8 to the curl then from the curl through star 13, then a crack coming out of the other side of the 8 through the bust stopping in front of the chin and making a very shallow Y shape to the chin and through star 3 into the dentils. I provided a closeup of the 22 to see the break, extra bits under the second 2 with the very thick base, almost triangular, and a picture of star 12 with the rust spots between the upper points on the left side of the star. Yes, it has been cleaned, but even with that the coin is XF/AU and R4, wooo.
Not only a O.104 but a O.104'a', very nice find. Hermann calls this an R-6? (needs more investigation) die state and only lists 4 examples in his "Autumn 2013" AMBPR, though, as he states, there are likely more to be found. The prices realized do not such much of a premium for the die state but it still fetches a nice premium as an R-4+ die marriage. Either way it is a very cool VLDS. Jesse
I would have grabbed it, also. I have bought several 1832 CBH's that have been cleaned in similar condition, But I sent them in for grading & Overton numbers & to preserve in a slab. To me it was worth it even if the slab is marked "Details" . I am sure a lot of 180+ year old CBH's got cleaned sooner or later during their survival.
