1839 O Half Dollar

Good Morning CoinTalk friends,

Simple question for you guys: how would this 1839 O half grade today?

Bought long ago (in an ANACS slab) whilst on a trip to Dallas (i still remember the heat!)

Thank you all for your comments,

Eduard

 

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That's a nice example of the last year of issue and only real chance of owning a New Orleans minted CBH. I see just a bit of wear so I'll say it is AU, maybe AU-55 or so.

How do you like my 1838-O CBH? Only 20 1838-O CBHs were struck.

 

Hobo, why does it look like someone altered the mintmark area on your coin?

 

Hobo, that is really a lovely example of the VERY scarce 1838 O!

The mintmark does look rather too well impressed though?

Let me know if you ever want to sell it.

 

That's an easy one to answer. Because they DID alter it. Someone carved a trench and the center to leave what is supposed to look like a raised 'O' mintmark. It's a crude alteration that would fool no one.

Sorry. Didn't mean to hijack your thread, Eduard.

 

Back on track now that the really rare piece has been discussed:

Eduard:
Pretty coin.

I'd guess ANACS slabbed it as an AU-55.

The obverse looks a little weak, but it could be just the picture.
The reverse looks great.

nice coin.

 

It's subtle... but unmistakeable to the trained eye.

Don't think of it as an alteration. Think rare die variety.

Then think E-Bay.

 

I think it has very nice detail. However, the photo shows very litle luster.

In hand, does it retain any cartwheel ? A coin with that much detail should have wheel. Like almost all those old Busties, I'm sure it's taken a dip or two.

Nice grab !

...and yes... no one forgets the heat.

 

Eduard,

That is one, really nice old Half Dollar! Thanks for sharing! IMHO, ANACS probably net grade it as an AU-58/MS-60 "Cleaned" due to an old dipping.


Frank

 

Morning, Eduard! Another very attractive coin you have for us-- I think it has AU details, from where I sit there appears (emphasize uncertainty here) to be only a small amount of luster around the obv. devices, which leads me to think it was cleaned long ago and has retoned. Very nice, wish I had one!

 

Hard to tell from the photos but, I would say it is a solid AU58/MS63 and is really well struck for the series. It's always nice to see a branch mint bust.

Hard to tell without coin in hand and a reference handy but, I believe this is an early die stage of the JR-1e, which is an R7.

 

Unless I am mistaken I see just the tiniest bit of wear on miss liberty's nose and chin so I am going to have to say AU-58, and oh so quite beautiful at that. What a nice coin.

 

I would have to say AU58-Cleaned due to an old dipping. VERY nice coin. :thumb:

 

ANACS probably mint stated the coin knowing them... tho I would say 58

 

Guys, thanks you all for your comments. The ANACS slab says EF45. It is not netted or anything. This is one of the very early slabs, maybe the concept of net grading and details grade did not exist back then?

The pics don't do the coin justice though, and I don't have it in-hand now to comment on luster (my wife banned my coins from the house - i am only "allowed" to keep a few at home at any one time, the rest at the bank), but it does have some incredible breaks going all around, and very nice detail.

 

Eduard - yours is much nicer than mine. The die cracks I can see look the same on my coin over here. Very nice coin Eduard.

 

Mark, yours if very nice as well. I have confirmed that both are the JR-1e...R7...maybe someone needs to write a book on these and update Jules' manual, adjust the R ratings, and make it bit more user friendly.

 

Thanks for the attribution....Not sure about the reeded edge halves, but they do need to update the rarity ratings on the bust halves. I have been looking for a book on the reeded edge bust halves, but have not seen one yet.

 

Here is the only attribution guide to date. I recommend printing it off. It is not an easy manual to use. But, it is the one and only guide so, I guess it's better than nothing. There was talk awhile back that a few collectors were trying to get the OK to put together a synthesized version in .pdf format.

Jules Reiver's Variety Identification Manual for United States Reeded Halve Dollars 1836-1839
http://images.heritagecoin.com/images/hnai/reiver/page_01.htm