Several months ago I picked up this 1861 Seated Liberty Half Dollar in Gettysburg on a trip. After putting it aside for several months, due to more important issues, into the Dansco it went. However, sometime between July and now the coin must have been rubbing against something. I'm guessing that it fell out of its slip and rubbed against the bottom of my suitcase. Dissapointing, to say the least, but do you think it still has a change of straight grading? The scratches are mainly on the reverse. I know grading is extremely subjective, but I would like to hear some thoughts. In the spirit of war, do you think it would receive a details grade Over There?
THE BOOK VALUE FOR A VG-8 - F-12, 1861 HALF DOLLAR IS BETWEEN $60.00-$75.00. YOU HAVE TO DECIDE IF ITS WORTH THE GRADING FEES! HOPE THIS HELPS YOU A LITTLE!
I would grade your coin vf 35. It has a full liberty but lacks some dress detail. Spotting on obverse near head could be problematic. so I don't know if it would straight grade
I would be concerned about the rim damage at 12, 4, and 7 o'clock. In addition to the other issues already mentioned... Well, I won't tell you what to do, but if it were mine I wouldn't think it would straight grade and the value of the coin just isn't worth it (unless I could get it graded for $8-10, so maybe as part of an ANACS Insider deal?) But spending $20-30 plus shipping both ways probably kills the value of getting it graded (for me, anyway.)
