Found 1839 Half Dollar

mexicoted

Newbie
Jul 19, 2017
3
32
San Diego, CA
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Clearing out some boxes in an old house I found this 1839 coin. I’ve never found anything even close to this old so pretty excited. Can anyone give me information on the coin?
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Upvote 28

pepperj

Gold Member
Feb 3, 2009
37,032
137,024
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Deus, Deus 2, Minelab 3030, E-Trac,
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
That silver is in really fine shape.
The value is higher than one that is in very good condition.
More experienced folks will chime in on the grading.
I'd say this one would be in EF (probably higher)and a value of $300.00.
Congrats on your discovery.
 

pepperj

Gold Member
Feb 3, 2009
37,032
137,024
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Deus, Deus 2, Minelab 3030, E-Trac,
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
There's a couple of varieties to the 1839
Sm/large letters
Though I have looked at a lot of images and there is an extra leaf on this coin. :dontknow:
I must be missing something here.
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Richard Guy

VETERAN
Dec 19, 2019
661
1,299
Virginia
Detector(s) used
Whites Coinmaster
Bounty Hunter 202
Nokta Simplex +
Nokta Legend
Nokta PulseDive
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
That silver is in really fine shape.
The value is higher than one that is in very good condition.
More experienced folks will chime in on the grading.
I'd say this one would be in EF (probably higher)and a value of $300.00.
Congrats on your discovery.
Look at the curls on the obverse, if you do a comparison with a near mint coin, you will see the wear on the higher relief of the coin. It is in very nice shape. Grading is tricky without the coin being physically in-hand.
 

pepperj

Gold Member
Feb 3, 2009
37,032
137,024
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Deus, Deus 2, Minelab 3030, E-Trac,
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Look at the curls on the obverse, if you do a comparison with a near mint coin, you will see the wear on the higher relief of the coin. It is in very nice shape. Grading is tricky without the coin being physically in-hand.
What do think about this extra leaf?
 

OP
OP
M

mexicoted

Newbie
Jul 19, 2017
3
32
San Diego, CA
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Sorry to keep asking questions, and I appreciate everyone’s knowledge, but is my next step to take it to a coin expert? Anyone know of one in San Diego?
 

Chilli

Hero Member
Feb 10, 2022
775
2,604
OZ
Detector(s) used
Xterra 705
Garrett 24k
Clearing out some boxes in an old house I found this 1839 coin. I’ve never found anything even close to this old so pretty excited. Can anyone give me information on the coin? View attachment 2070157
Lovely condition. So many of our coins because of mineralisation on our goldfields ruin them ruin them. To see the date so clear...I wish!
 

jgoetz4

Full Member
Dec 31, 2014
124
197
Baltimore, Md
Detector(s) used
White's 5000D (40 yrs) and Bounty Hunter 3300 (8 yrs)
Primary Interest:
Other
It looks like the large letter variety. The lettering of the large variety is closer to the rim of the coin then the small letters. Probably somewhere between EF-40 & 45.
Jim
 

jgoetz4

Full Member
Dec 31, 2014
124
197
Baltimore, Md
Detector(s) used
White's 5000D (40 yrs) and Bounty Hunter 3300 (8 yrs)
Primary Interest:
Other
Sorry to keep asking questions, and I appreciate everyone’s knowledge, but is my next step to take it to a coin expert? Anyone know of one in San Diego area?>
After further review :) that 1/2 dollar is the last in the Bust series. The Seated Liberty 1/2 also started in the year 1839. Your coin could be worth as much as $400. Google coin dealers in the San Diego area. BTW, if that 1/2 had an O (New Orleans mint) above the date, you're probably looking at a $2000 coin, give or take. Good luck :)
Jim
 

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