How would you grade this Capped Bust Half?

Here is the OBV:
http://s1262.photobucket.com/user/russ1709/media/IMG_6292_zpshy5gcez8.jpg.html?sort=4&o=0

Here is the REV:
http://s1262.photobucket.com/user/russ1709/media/IMG_6293_zpsnnml7ad0.jpg.html?sort=4&o=1

And do you think it has been cleaned. I can't tell from the photos. Am I imaging hair line on the obverse?

 

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Since it is a 200+ year old blast white coin it has definitely been cleaned. Whether it has been improperly (abrasively) cleaned is hard to tell from the photos but I would strongly suspect that it has. It has at least AU details but I wouldn't buy a coin like that. There is probably a good reason why it doesn't reside in a slab.

 

Looks like a fantasy piece to me. Body bag, is my guess. better luck next time.

 

"Better luck next time".
What does that mean?

 

I'd give it an AU , it's been dipped but since I really can't make out the luster or see the surface condition I can't tell if it will straight grade or get a detail grade . I'd put it in a manila envelope and let it retone and get some color back as there's nothing more out of place looking than a blast white Bust half .

 

I don't own this coin. I was just polling for some of out members thoughts. It is so hard for me to tell if a coin has been dipped or not. I can usually tell if there is hair lines or dark areas around the devices. I can also tell if something has been polished. But a dipped coin is a little harder for me to detect via pictures.

In this era coins was not struck consistent because the mint didn't have there steam press until some time in the 1830s. This could account for the flow lines.

I don't know how it was photographed. So it could be a "Blast White".
Just because a coin such as this is not in a TPG holder doesn't make it suspect. I have coins in my collection for over 30 years that aren't holders.

The owner claims it to be an "overton 105a." Since I am not into the different verities I don't know much about that.

 

I collect Bust halves by Overton #s , and believe me this coin was cleaned . These didn't lay around for years in bags like Morgan dollars . So a 200 year old blast white coin isn't the norm . If there is luster and no hairlines you have a very nice coin there , especially if it retones . The flow lines are caused because these were struck in an open collar not because it wasn't struck with a steam press . Though when the steam press was first used on the half dollar in late 1836 it did come with a closed collar and reeded edges . That's why we have lettered edge 1836 and 1200 1836 reeded edge halves .

 

I grade it ugly

 

Yes, it is an O-108a, and a very late die state of it.

However, it has been harshly polished or cleaned. The easy way to tell is that it is blast white! That thing is *ugly*.

I would grade it high EF details. Don't buy this coin.

 

Definitely dipped to remove all patina, and cleaned as well (hairlines right obv field). As pointed out by rzage, any "white" 150+ year old coin must have been dipped and/or scrubbed to look that way. May I suggest you go to collectivecoin.com and look at some of the CB halves there to get an idea of the wide range of original surfaces? Then compare with much of what is offered raw on eBay. You will learn quickly.

 

O-105a, AU50 details, dipped and stripped.

 

Cleaned, polished. Is it struck slightly off center, or is that a casting edge showing?

 

Nothing to add except agreement to the above.........

 

Not polished, but dipped to death.
Too bad.

 

Okay, thanks for all of your comments. The coin looked strange to me too.

 

Not necessarily dipped. there are some coins of that age with blast white color. I can't tell from the pictures though. Sure wish I could hold it in my hand.
The die is very late state. About worn out. I like it. Just judging from the pic, I would say AU.

 

I am with you. I would like to see it in hand as well.
It just looked different to me from all the rest that I have seen. That is what made it stand out.
Not willing to put out the money for something I am not sure about.
Thanks, David for your comment.

 

While that may possibly be true, I've certainly never seen one. And I've seen thousands of coins.

Any white capped bust coin I've seen has been mistreated in some way or another. If you disagree, then you go ahead and buy it. I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.