Nice 1806 half at flea market...opinions?

[Gridwalker306]

I went to the local flea market today and bought 2 coins. I got a very smooth, yet date readable 1794 large cent, and this 1806 draped bust half. I asked the price on the half dollar, and he said 40 bucks. I had no real idea on value, but the price sounded good to me. I will never be able to dig coins that old here, so why not buy a few?

Any thoughts on grade/value?

 

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[Pokeplayer101]

WOW! Nice. Has to be worth at least a couple hundred. Nice Score.

 

[mainer]

Almost looks too good to be true. If its real you got a heck of a deal. Some others will chime in I'm sure.

 

[l.cutler]

Does it have a lettered edge? Have you checked the weight? I would be a little leary of a coin like that for only forty dollars.

 

[Gold Maven]

has to be a copy.....still probably worth a little something.

 

[Gridwalker306]

Yes the edge is lettered.

Ok, please don't shoot me lol--It came in a coin flip certified by ICCS. I opened it to better photograph it and have a good look. I'll never sell it, so it's ok with me. The grade seems to be too low IMHO, and I've heard ICCS grades low. And what the hell, it was 40 bucks...

Man, I have been looking up info on the coin, and it looks like it is probably worth waaay more than I paid. The seller is a really nice older guy, he really knows his stuff on Canadian coins. My brother has bought a lot of antique paper money from him. I have seen him at several flea markets etc, today he even gave my little daughter a nice big old cats eye marble.

He must have been mistaken when he checked his book for price. He even said "40 bucks I guess, thought it would have been more, oh well".

Feeling like maybe I should try to find him and give him some more money...

 

[mainer]

Do you have a scale you could weigh it on? Should weigh 13.48 grams.

 

[l.cutler]

I guess you were in the right place at the right time! Probably cleaned, but worth a lot more than $40 if genuine, I'd guess it to be around a $250 to $300 coin.

 

[stonehenge]

Hold on. It came in a graded "coin flip?"

Something you could just remove and pull out a coin and replace with another? That's not graded. That's a recipe or fraud.

I'm sure the guy is a real nice guy as you say and would try to screw you over, but before you start calculations your profit, weigh it, look at it with a loupe and then have it SLABBED.

 

[Gridwalker306]

Hold on. It came in a graded "coin flip?"

Something you could just remove and pull out a coin and replace with another? That's not graded. That's a recipe or fraud.

I'm sure the guy is a real nice guy as you say and would try to screw you over, but before you start calculations your profit, weigh it, look at it with a loupe and then have it SLABBED.

It was totally sealed, I carefully cut it with an exacto knife to get it out. I've had the loupe out, it looks totally legit. And I know the seller enough to know he is totally honest, not even a question in my mind.

 

[Iron Patch]

The thing I question is it definitely looks cleaned, and if I can tell just from the picture why does it not say this on the grading card.

 

[Gridwalker306]

The thing I question is it definitely looks cleaned, and if I can tell just from the picture why does it not say this on the grading card.

Yeah, I suspect it may have been cleaned as well. However, knowing the seller, and the coin looking genuine to me, I thought I'd chance it for 40 dollars.

I am going to call ICCS and give them the info on the grading card, they must have a record of the coin if they graded it right?

I have never sent a coin for grading before, and I want to send this coin to a US grading service. What do you expert coin folks regard as the best grading company?

 

[Mackaydon]

Totally suspect IMO. A clear field on the obverse, not even a scratch, yet graded G-4 without comment; red flag is flying for me.
Don...

 

[Gridwalker306]

Totally suspect IMO. A clear field on the obverse, not even a scratch, yet graded G-4 without comment; red flag is flying for me.
Don...

It was graded VG-8 don, not G-4. The ICCS packaging appears identical to the ones I have seen online, and they are a Canadian grading company, only occasionally grading coins from other countries. Also, I have heard that they are extremely conservative with grades.

Thanks for the honest opinions everybody. I guess all I can do is investigate further, and send to be graded again.

I'm thinking PCGS?

 

[Mackaydon]

VG-8; I stand corrected--and blame my bad eyes for not reading the slab.

 

[sagittarius98]

Why did you take it out of the "slab"?

 

[smokeythecat]

Very nice coin. Looks genuine. I bought an 1823 half for $125 last year. Way under value too. Sometimes it's just what the seller needs for it.

 

[jerseyben]

Appears genuine to me. 1806 Pointed 6 with Stem variety. Possibly cleaned but I do agree with upper VG on the grade. ICCS is a reputable grading company typically used for Canadian coins.

 

[Gridwalker306]

After doing more research, I do believe the coin is genuine. On the upper right corner of the shield is a small line trailing off of the corner. Also the bottom right part of the base of the "F" in "OF" is missing. These are both traits of the1806 Overton 120 variety. If someone was going to fake the coin, why would they pay such attention to minor detail, and then NOT mention it on the grading info? Curious...

I can not get ICCS on the phone.

Best part: this is fun!

 

[waseeker]

i shared this link with another forum that has some pretty knowledgeable draped bust half folks. The general consensus is that it is genuine but cleaned.