Capped Bust Half Dime-Is this bad enough for a Details Grade?

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by Publius2, Apr 3, 2021.

  1. Publius2

    Publius2 Well-Known Member

    I'm looking at this capped bust half dime offered for sale raw. I was wondering if, in your opinion, this rim ding/cut would be enough on its own to earn a details grade if it was submitted.

    Coin doesn't appear, from the cruddy seller's photos, to have suffered an improper cleaning or have any other defects.

    s-l1600 (1)-Cropped.jpg
     
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  3. cpm9ball

    cpm9ball CANNOT RE-MEMBER

    Can you back away and give us photos of both sides of the entire coin? TIA!
     
  4. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    Yeah, we need to see the whole coin - both sides.
     
  5. Mountain Man

    Mountain Man Well-Known Member

    I understand that you are probably using the sellers photo and are not able to give us better views. I think the edge damage, while obvious, might get it a details grade, it would depend on the TPG company. Some are more lenient than others. I would certainly not pass it up if I needed to fill a hole and the price was right. You can always up-grade later. Is it a special date or something about this coin that you want?
     
    GeorgeM likes this.
  6. Publius2

    Publius2 Well-Known Member

    I am not showing the entire coin because I don't want my potential competitors to compete with me for a more elusive die marriage. Besides, I'm not asking you to grade the coin, only to offer your opinion on whether the rim damage all by itself is enough to garner a Details grade.

    If I acquire the coin, I'll be happy to post full and much better photographs.

    Thanks, @Mountain Man, for a spot-on response.
     
    Beefer518, ldhair and GeorgeM like this.
  7. okbustchaser

    okbustchaser I may be old but I still appreciate a pretty bust Supporter

    Think for a second about the size of a half dime vs the size of the blown up picture...

    IMO, the rim ding is irrelevant.
     
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  8. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    From what I can see the details on the coin look good. That tends to make me think the right TPG would straight grade her but it would probably come back a point or two lower. If the price is right, I'd add her to my collection.
     
  9. Publius2

    Publius2 Well-Known Member

    Thanks to all for your opinions, which were highly valued. I put in an offer on the coin which was accepted. Here are the seller's photos.

    The coin is an 1829 LM-17, R-4. If you look closely, you can see the 1 in the date doubled at the top. Logan-McCloskey says examples above VF are "difficult to locate".

    The obverse is die 4 and is the fifth use of this die. The reverse is die J and is the fourth use of this die. So, tired dies although some (but not all) of the die cracks that develop for this die marriage are not apparent in these photos.

    Looks like clashes in the reverse shield.

    Until the coin is in hand, I'm calling this an EF-45 although there might some evidence of improper cleaning on the obverse. Ya know, you buy raw on the internet and you takes your chances!

    s-l1600 (1).jpg s-l1600.jpg
     
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  10. GeorgeM

    GeorgeM Well-Known Member

    Pretty coin! I don't think the rim ding alone will downgrade it to "details".
     
  11. Mountain Man

    Mountain Man Well-Known Member

    Nice buy. If/when you have it graded, please be sure to post the results so we can all learn.
     
    GeorgeM likes this.
  12. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    I think the rim ding would get a pass. Tiny hit on a tiny coin. I like the coin.
     
  13. TypeCoin971793

    TypeCoin971793 Just a random guy on the internet

    The rim ding, no. The obverse wiping, yes
     
    johnmilton likes this.
  14. ksparrow

    ksparrow Coin Hoarder Supporter

    It's a tiny coin so the tiny rim ding should not r/o a straight grade. If the obv looks too reflective or hairlined probably gets details.
     
  15. Publius2

    Publius2 Well-Known Member

    I just could not decide with any certainty if the obverse had been wiped or not. The coin was photographed inside some kind of a plastic container, like an AirTite, so what we're seeing in the left field in front of Liberty's face could just be an artifact of the holder and the photography and not a wipe. Or it could be a feature struck into the coin from these extremely hard-used old dies. I decided to take a chance since there isn't any big money in it.

    Once in hand with some good photos taken, if the coin looks good you'll see it. If I've made a fool of myself (again), then you'll see that too. 69 years of living has beaten most of the false pride out of me.

    Thanks again for everyone's input.
     
  16. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    I have a feeling the coin is going to look great in hand.
     
    GeorgeM likes this.
  17. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    I would have done the same based on what you just said. Please post when she's in your hands. :)
     
  18. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    I agree with @TypeCoin971793. The obverse is wiped, and the rim ding is a further distraction. I would only buy this if I were collecting these coins by die variety, and this was a tough one.
     
  19. Vertigo

    Vertigo Did someone say bust?

    I only buy things that are risky if I think I can get that money back. No idea what you paid. But even wiped and dinged with decent pictures, a proper attribution on the auction, and disclosing the possible cleaning sometimes one can make out better than the previous seller.
     
  20. Publius2

    Publius2 Well-Known Member

    I promised I would update you when I got this coin in hand. So, I've been photographing this coin and analyzing it today. My photos below.

    @TypeCoin971793 and @johnmilton have the right of it - the coin is definitely improperly cleaned with hairlines.

    But, I've decided to keep it because:

    - I am starting a die variety collection of the capped bust half dimes and this is an LM-17, R-4, not super rare but harder to find in better sharpness grades.

    - It is a cool re-punched date, clearly seen in the 1 and 8.

    - This is the 4th use of the obverse but an early die state since only one of the 4 die cracks can be seen on this coin and it is in the earliest of possible stages.

    - This is the 5th use of the reverse, with multiple clashes - through 5C, in the shield and above eagle and below eagle's wings.

    The 1829 slot for my Red Book set still has to be filled with a slabbed straight-grade coin in AU-55 to MS-63.

    Thanks for everyone's thoughts and opinions.

    DSC_1106.jpg DSC_1107.jpg Obv-Date Repunch & Alignment.jpg Obv-Die Crack on Neck.jpg Rev-5C Alignment and Die Crack.jpg Rev-Serifs of S1 Doubled.jpg
     
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  21. ksparrow

    ksparrow Coin Hoarder Supporter

    Thanks for the update, great closeups with annotation!
     
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