What do you think about this half dime?

[RGT]

Here's a relatively new purchase that I picked up on ebay. It's another that I bid on based on a poor picture. So, what's your opinion? Is this an attractive coin, an ugly coin, or just an interesting coin?

 

I shouldn't have to say this, but that scuff running down across the shin and over the 8 in the date is on the slab. I should have noticed it before I took the pics and polished it away.

 

Feel free to comment on your guesstimate of grade if you wish.

 

[supertooth]

Hello RGT-----I hate pictures----But I have to say I might change my mind if the coin was in my hand. The coin is a high grade Au--Ms grade. The toning is "natural" but may not be "original" due to an old wiping of some sort. Looks like hairlines in the fields and down the legs that have toned over very nicely. I could be all wet about the hairlines but that is what I think that I see. What does the holder say?? Bob [supertooth]

[Hoot]

That's a great looking coin that should only be graded in-hand and out of the slab. A wild guess would be Ms62-63ish, but truly, the photo is nothing to judge this piece by. Looks like a great snag!

 

Hoot

[toyonakataro]

My guess is 64 and if it's very lusterous in person, I'll change my guess to 65.

I like the obverse toning, reverse isn't bad at all, but not as nice as obverse.

Is it lusterous in person?

[RGT]

Bob, I can't see anything that looks like hairlines on this coin. I've rotated all over and they just aren't there. It may be an artifact of the picture that you are seeing.

 

The luster is nice, but somewhat hidden under the dark tone. There are a few light marks in the fields that are also well hidden by the tone. The leg and knee are fairly clean (I've got NGC MS64s with legs more marked up than this).

 

It's a bit hard to see, but there is a small die crack running from Liberty's heel to the rim. I always find cracks very interesting.

 

It's in an older, small size ANACS holder graded MS61. Hoot says he can't grade worth a hoot from pictures, but I would expect to see this coin in an MS62 or possibly MS63 holder today, just as he estimated.

 

I think I got it at a good price, but there is very little price history on this date, especially in this grade. I wish it was an MS64 or MS65, but I wouldn't risk that kind of money on a lousy ebay image. Just to show you what kind of fool I am, here's the ebay picture I took a chance on.

 

 

I've done better from bad pictures, but I could have done a lot worse this time.

[IGWT]

I think it's a very attractive coin for the grade, RGT.

[toyonakataro]

Ummm. Seems like my guess was optimistic, but it sure looks much nicer than usual 61s.

The mosaic blue toning on Liberty's face makes her look a bit scary....that's why only 61?

[Mozin]

I like the toning and the coin at the given grade.

[James_OldeTowne]

It's a great coin. Before seeing the image of the slab, I would have guessed MS-62.

 

James

[supertooth]

Hello Again RGT-----If no hairlines are present, then I say the toning is indeed "original" and the coin is MS. The letter "D" on the reverse gives that originality away. I am usually a Walker person. But I just love old coins in general----especially those with toning. My experience has been that ANACS gets very tight on Walkers in MS grades. It would seem that your coin has been graded fairly. Most people, including myself, generally deduct about 5 points off of an ANACS graded coin [sight unseen]. But I am here to tell everyone that "many" times they are just plain "dead on" with their grading. This makes things difficult when grading ANACS coins on occasion----so it will always be to grade the coin yourself and avoid worrying about what the holder might say. A crossover attempt to NGC would be my next step. Bob [supertooth]

[Bruceswar]

Most people, including myself, generally deduct about 5 points off of an ANACS graded coin [sight unseen].

I have not heard of this practice.... but then again I am not into buying sight unseen coins. I have some coins graded by ANACS and I think they got them all right on. The Saying still goes.... "Buy the coin, Not the holder!" oh nice coin RGT

[BankNote1]

RGT the coin looks OK to me! I also like the photo as well! I wish I could get blues to come out as well as you did.

[Coinbuf]

I really do not like that toining but it looks NT and I'll give the coin a for originality.

 

Chris

[RGT]

I've seen a few overgraded and a few undergraded coins in ANACS holders, but most of them seem pretty much right on to me. I do generally pay a little less for them simply because I know I will get less if I sell or else I will have the expense of crossing them to get their full value.

 

I like this coin but I probably put it closer to the "interesting" category instead of the "attractive" or "ugly" categories. If the obverse was covered more completely in blue like the reverse I would like it more.