I have the ancient collecting syndrome... ugh, it's driving me nuts.
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user_7057
10 Posts
Hi Aidan!
My name's Savannah, I'm 14, and am also a member of CoinTalk with the username "Savy". I collect US coins, typically high grade, with great eye appeal. Most of the coins in my collection are toned coins, as I like that each coin is toned uniquely and two coins of the same type and grade can look completely different. Attached are a couple of my favourite coins, to give an idea of what I like to collect.
Steven Roach
19 Posts
Welcome Savannah,
It sounds like you're collecting the right way! For you and to the others here is the application of the 2015 Summer Seminar: https://www.money.org/summer-seminar. Also what is the grade of that 1836 half dime, certainly a nice specimen. I collect prooflike coins other than pl Morgan dollars, also early American coinage: coppers and silver. I have been privileged to handle some of my dream coins though such as the Brasher Doubloon, the Norweb MS65+ 1797 half dollar, the only specimen graded half disme, some 1796 quarters, a 1922 matte proof high relief Peace Dollar, an au55 1793 Liberty Cap cent, the 1861 paquet reverse double eagle, and some other fun stuff! This leaves me to ask everyone else of their dreams coins.
user_7057
10 Posts
Hello Steven,
The grade of the 1836 Bust Half Dime is AU58. In my, and many others' opinion, it should be graded higher. I believe it could either be graded Mint State, or it could stay a premium quality AU coin, as I am not sure whether the lack of detail on the hair over the ear is wear, a weak strike, or cabinet friction. Most of the members on the CoinTalk forum agree that it is not wear, and it should be graded Mint State. What do you think? As well, it is the "Inverted 3" variety, which gets very expensive in Mint State. PCGS prices it at $5,500 in Gem condition and almost $10,000 in MS66!
Any chance you can post some photos of your favourite Prooflike coins? I am a big fan of coins with cameo contrast. In fact, for a while I was saving up for a Gem Cameo Proof Barber Half. It was my dream coin for a while, but then I fell in love with toned coins.
It's amazing you were able to handle such great coins! I haven't ever seen extremely valuable coins in person, as I live in Canada, and all the good US coins are at US coin shows. Hopefully one day I'll be able to travel to the US to hold my dream coins, but for now, I can only see them through my computer.
7 years ago
Steven Roach
19 Posts
Judging by the
picture of the obverse, that coin is certainly a low mint state
grade; the hair above Liberty's ear certainly shows sign of a weak
strike. My initial reaction was that the grade perhaps is an ms61,
now that is see it resides in an older PCGS holder, that grade could
be right. However I don't see the coin in hand so it very well maybe
a solid au58.
Also here is a video of my prooflike 1878
quarter, many highly regarded professional numismatist have called it
a proof however I know its a proof because certain die
characteristics show that it was struck from business struck dies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYEGcMYg4no
user_7057
10 Posts
Wow, that 1878 is a stunning coin. Congratulations on owning such a remarkable piece.
In my opinion, the 1836 is a MS64/65. There aren't nearly enough hits for it to be low MS. Attached is an image of a MS65 1836 Half Dime, which has many more hits than the coin in question. To be fair, I would say the attached coin is slightly overgraded, but it gives a general idea of what a MS64/65 could look like.
7 years ago
Steven Roach
19 Posts
Perhaps the coin could be an ms62/3 however I cannot fully grade the coin because its not in hand, don't forget that grading coins are broken up into parts: Luster, strike, eye appeal, and surface preservation. Your coin doesn't appear to have full luster leaving my grade to be around ms62 ish. The prime focal area appears to have a lack of luster, though I could be wrong. Never the less that is a nice coin that is a low unc in my opinion. Do you have any photos of the reverse. Also the example you show is nice however it doesn't compare to your nice specimen though.
user_7057
10 Posts
I haven't yet received this piece in hand, but once I receive the coin I will let you know if it is in fact lustrous. In my opinion, surface preservation is weighed most heavily in grading coins, which is why I was focusing on that aspect. And as for luster, these pictures were taken in low light, so I can't be sure if it is lustrous or not. As well, the eye appeal is above average. May I ask what you mean when you say the specimens "don't compare"? Also, I have attached a photo of both sides of the coin.
7 years ago
Aidan
51 Posts
@user_7057 Hi Aidan! My name's Savannah, I'm 14, and am also a member of CoinTalk with the username "Savy". I collect US coins, typically high grade, with great eye appeal. Most of the coins in my collection are toned coins, as I like that each coin is toned uniquely and two coins of the same type and grade can look completely different. Attached are a couple of my favourite coins, to give an idea of what I like to collect.
Howdy Savannah! Nice area of numismatics your collecting, and welcome to the forums.
Man, I'm having a hard time believing if the quarter is real or not Steven. :P
user_7057
10 Posts
Thanks for welcoming me, Aidan! I really love that there are parts of the forum just for us YN. I had no idea there were so many of us :)
7 years ago