1833 Half a Dollar

I bought this 1833 Half 10 or 15 years ago online. it is raw the way I bought it and I never got it graded. The question is this: is it worth the expense to grade it? I don't know if this could be a low end AU or perhaps an Extra Fine (these are my guesses) and I would like to see what others think.

 

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I don't like the looks of it makes me suspicious..

 

What are you seeing? Please expand your reasoning.

 

Would this coin fit as a circulated cameo, the devices stand out from the fields but I am not sure if the contrast is dramatic enough?

 

The fields are too perfect.

 

This is one nice genuine article...not suspicious and every bit legit, IMO. I'd love to be the owner. Can't speak for any cleaning at some point in the past but if so, appears gentle...shouldn't kill it to the "details" heap, not that it won't if the right (wrong) graders get it on a bad day. I'd submit it with a note/request, "do not holder if not a straight grade." I'd say it's AU50-53 all things considered.

 

I guess its just a much stronger and better strike than most.The rim for example just looks to perfect for an almost 200 year old coin to me.

 

There are a couple of things I wonder about: What's up with the top of the "S" in "Pluribus"? And the 5 looks wrong to me. I'm no expert on these but that's just my thought.

 

I see this as a really great-looking EF-45 although the reverse may drag it down to a 40. There is too much wear for an AU grade and I see no evidence of remaining luster. But it has really good obverse detail left, the reverse less so. What I find most attractive, though, are the incredibly clean fields and rims. There are a couple of small thin scratches on the obverse but not details-worthy. The only thing I see on the reverse worth noting are a couple of dings on the leaves.

 

XF coin...old light cleaning. IMO probably not worth the expense of slabbing

 

XF to me as well. I feel it would straight grade but not worth the fees.

 

I don't think it has enough contrast for a circcam.

 

Your response is most welcome Mac. Under a loupe there are some light scratches that appear to be some graffiti, perhaps initials. (blow up the image and you may detect them on the obverse)?? I cannot see any signs of whizzing or any other obvious abrasions. The coin may have been dipped? I have always suspected that, but even if it was I am not sure that would kill it with "details".

 

What makes you suspicious?

 

The fields are rather perfect, I must agree with you there. So do you think it has been cleaned? I have not been able to detect any abrasions that would indicate that. (even with a 10x loupe). I guess I'll just keep it raw.

 

I don't see any evidence of cleaning (other than than that's a damn clean looking coin).

 

The history of these Bust Half Dollars is that they spent most of their time in bank vaults as a back-up for the bank's currency. As such they did not circulate that much. Most are VF or better. It is perfectly conceivable that this coin would end up with smooth surfaces if it didn't get banged up by the other coins that were with it in the bag.

 

It's a nice coin, but, at least in these images, it looks like it may have been treated by an oil such as "Blue Ribbon" or "Care", or maybe just olive oil. This would not damage the coin, but it could prevent a straight grade.

 

looks like a nice xf40 to me. good buy.

 

To me it’s a nice looking circulation coin that hasn’t been circulated a like most of the others we see. Probably a strong 35, maybe a 40. I doubt it would be worth the grading costs.