Bought a 1794 half dime to complete (finally!) my Dansco 6120 half dime album. Even though it's holed, it has great details (without the hole, VF or XF? I think XF when you compare it to the XF LM-1 sold at Heritage Auctions at https://coins.ha.com/itm/a/1251-3696.s). I think it's an LM-1 variety. I say "bittersweet" as I couldn't have afforded a 1794 half dime with that level of detail without being holed (so, sweet to me that someone holed it so I could afford it), but bitter in that someone ruined such a wonderful coin by drilling the hole in it. I'm going to try to have the hole professionally plugged (checking with Coin Restoration Service on the repair cost -- if you have any experiences with them, I'd appreciate the feedback). (Edit note: I have a "copy" coin in the 1802 half dime slot in the album, so technically, I guess I haven't "completed" the album. I'll never be able to afford an 1802 in my lifetime, unless I hit the lottery soon and if an 1802 was ever offered for sale. I don't think I've seen one for sale in a long, long while. Only 35 thought to exist.)
I suspect the coin will bother you after plugging it . . . it's got a wonderful natural look that you'll never get back once the work is done.
Getting it plugged well might cost as much as you paid for the coin. I would be careful about whom you have do it. It they do a poor job, it will make it worse. Speaking of the 1802 half dime, it’s the only piece I need to complete my Red Book listed set of early half dimes. The series has fascinated me since I was in high school. I couldn’t afford any of them then. I got my first early half dime, an 1800 “LIBEKTY,” after I landed my first job after college. There was a decent 1802 half dime which Northeast Numismatics had for over a year. It was graded VG, and they had it marked $155,000 which was too much. They would not budge much from that price. I figured its retail value was around $125,000. It finally came up in a Heritage auction. That was about what it sold for including the buyers fee.
I am a big fan of coins like this. Some of my finest pieces are coins with minor imperfections noted indelibly by a TPG label, snubbed by refined collectors and made quite affordable for me… I love your half dime.
