My latest bust half addition!

[jtryka]

At long last, here is my latest bust half, an 1810, and also my first colorfully toned bust half! I am not sure, the toning could be completely fake, but I still like this coin. It actually has a lot of luster but it doesn't show up well in the photos (at least I got some of the colors to show up!) Enjoy!

[Wihlborg]

Hey Jtryka,

I like it! It's not that often you find bust half's with tone like that.

 

John

 

[EVillageProwler]

Very nice coin. If you want the luster to come out better, try tilting the coin ever so slightly and see if that helps...

 

EVP

 

[jtryka]

Here's a couple more pictures, but they still aren't that great.

[Wihlborg]

jtryka,

What would you say the grade is? It looks like a nice fine to me.

 

John

 

[EVillageProwler]

It's been a while since I've graded these coins at this grade level, but I'd say VF. I would doubt there's much price difference at that level...

 

EVP

 

[jtryka]

I'd grade it a very strong VF, it has a nice solid strike, but there is a good bit of wear on the high points.

[Wihlborg]

I can see that the right wing seemed to have a good amount of feather detail and there is good hair detail, but I was not sure if there was enough for it to make VF. I am not really familiar with grading these that's why I asked.

 

Thanks

John

 

[coinman1794]

That coin should grade at least XF40-45 at NGC, assuming it's problem free. He said it has a lot of luster, which is one characteristic of an XF grade. Also, the wear is very light over the high points of the design. The lack of fine detail in the hair and drapery folds of the obverse is caused by striking and does not effect the grade of a nice bust half like this. The weakness of the eagles wing is also strike related and also should not effect the grade.

 

Bust halves must be graded by luster and wear, with striking characteristics of the die variety considered. One cannot rely on detail. It also helps to have encyclopedic knowlegde of striking characteristics of every overton variety in your head (although just opening the book might be easier ).

 

That coin looks nice and I would recommend sending it in to NGC!

 

 

[keithdagen]

I've seen many AU pieces with toning similar to that. Many of these coins were stored in slbums that have imparted this kind of toning.

[TomB]

The toning appears to be real as that color pattern and intensity is not uncommon on Capped Bust halves that have been in albums for many years. The year you have, 1810, is notorious for having a weak strike. So much so that the 1810 often lacks a good portion of the eagle's right wing even in MS grades. I think the coin is EF. Please keep in mind this grade guess is strictly from the images.

[hughesm1-migration]

I concur Tom, nice XF.

 

What's going on with the 0, is that an 1810/9? I've not heard of that variety, though I don't have my Overton book handy to check. In any case, very nice coin.

[jtryka]

I don't believe it's an overdate, but I will try to take a close up tonight and post it.

[coinman1794]

I haven't looked it up so I don't know the variety, but there is no 1810/9 overdate. It is probably a die crack.

[Nysoto]

Looks like an 1810 O-108. No 1810/09 overdates have been found (yet!). I concur with others this is an EF, it looks similar to the Overton example, 108's have weak rims and eagle's right wing. I can't see the die cracks, 108's should have some on the reverse. Note how the 5 is tipped towards the 0 and nearly touches it.

 

Nice coin with great album toning, I thought it had the luster of an EF45 when I saw the coin at an earlier show. I posted a question on weakly struck bust halves in the Q&A forum, this is a good example of a bust half that can be difficult to grade, hence the wide range in opinions on grade. The year 1810 is an earlier year capped half that is more difficult to find in higher grades.

 

Bill

[jtryka]

Bill, were you at the show on Saturday in Tacoma? I had a nice chat with John when I picked up this coin, and he has some pretty amazing stories! I may have to see if he picks up any new coins by the Kent show in a few weeks. He doesn't necessarily have the best coins, but they are always nice and fairly priced.

[jtryka]

Ok, I really don't know what is going on with the 0 in the date, I don't think it's an overdate, but is looks like a defect of some sort at the top half of the digit. Here are a few closeups, any opinions would be appreciated!

[Nysoto]

I did not go to the Tacoma show. I believe John is a retired teacher, an interesting person who has years of experience in numismatics. The next show I will attend is the PNNA in April, the largest show in the Northwest. Mark Entman of B.U.S.T. Coinage will be there, he has an excellent reputation and a large inventory of Bust halves.

 

I do not have an explanation for the 0 in your 1810, possibly just a circulation mark. O-108 does exist in an early die state without reverse die cracks, known as O-108 prime or O-108'.

[coinman1794]

It is hard to tell. It could be anything from a mark, to a die crack, to a piece of dirt.

[mrkelso]

Almost looks like the 0 was over a 9