Found 1839 Half Dollar

mexicoted

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Jul 19, 2017
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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?
0BD7A1DE-F0AF-4B37-9236-1A5D6360933A.jpeg
 

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Upvote 28

luke_00

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ARC

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Very nice! They made 1.3 million of them, not very many by today's standards. Approx value is $100.
You are way off.
The value of this coin is exponentially more than that.
In fact a minimum of TEN times that.
 

Richard Guy

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You are way off.
The value of this coin is exponentially more than that.
In fact a minimum of TEN times that.
Your assessment, not mine.
 

glass half fool

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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
I am not sure of the background concerning the house cleaning you where doing when you found the coin .But there is no doubt it was your lucky day It looks like a really nice coin in excellent condition . Thanks for posting .
 

ARC

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After further review this morning ... I have come to the conclusion.
This is a copy /fake.
It must be weighed.

The proper weight should be 13.36 gr to 13.4
 

ARC

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Your assessment, not mine.
If this were real... the condition would have dictated a LOW end of MS58 - which which in current market (what they are selling for TODAY and have been recently) value of $1,100.

And IMO... this would grade higher than that.
$3,350 IF touched into an MS63... which possibly would have been seeable by SOME graders.

MS62 = $2,000
MS61 = $1,500
MS60 = $1,350

Don't fret... there are collectors of these copies /fakes as well.
Click here -
 

Last edited:

pepperj

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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.
View attachment 2070232 View attachment 2070233 View attachment 2070236
I looked at this once again, and I'm going with a COPY.
My reasons:

1) Left wing there seems to be an partial imprint of letters as a CO
2) The extra leaf above the H (now look at the Large letters example)
3) The reeding on the OP's coin are separated as they would be on a SMALL LETTERS example
4) The shield on the OPs coin has 13 bars the actual coin have 6 bars
5) The top of the lettering in STATES OF the T & F are sloped away not a crisp square cut as in a what the minted coin has.
These are just the observations on the one side of the coin.
 

Richard Guy

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If this were real... the condition would have dictated a LOW end of MS58 - which which in current market (what they are selling for TODAY and have been recently) value of $1,100.

And IMO... this would grade higher than that.
$3,350 IF touched into an MS63... which possibly would have been seeable by SOME graders.

MS62 = $2,000
MS61 = $1,500
MS60 = $1,350

Don't fret... there are collectors of these copies /fakes as well.
Click here -
It is no way a MS58. I think you are looking at the values of a seated half of the same year. Believe what you want
 

Gare

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AMAZING FIND !!1 Thanks for SHARING WELCOME to one of the FINNER WEB SITES :)
 

Last edited:

ken135

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There are at least three varieties of this coin. I agree there are some items of suspicion but maybe you found a fourth variety.
 

ARC

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It is no way a MS58. I think you are looking at the values of a seated half of the same year. Believe what you want
lol... not what i think... its what i know.
These prices are CURRENT COIN INDUSTRY SELLING VALUES.
up to date.
And yes..... thats for a Capped Bust Reeded Edge Half Dollar (1836-1839)
 

ARC

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BUT... all of the above is moot since i am skeptical on the coins authenticity.
 

Richard Guy

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lol... not what i think... its what i know.
These prices are CURRENT COIN INDUSTRY SELLING VALUES.
up to date.
And yes..... thats for a Capped Bust Reeded Edge Half Dollar (1836-1839)
I'd love for you to grade and value my collection
 

ARC

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I'd love for you to grade and value my collection
Beings i have a have a good friend who is a grader for the top grading companies... and another great friend who is the largest coin buyer in our area... who taught me what i know...
no problem.
But you can grade them for yourself VIA Photograde... but being your a coin guy you already know that correct ?
 

Hunter1805

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I agree its a fake.... Liberty Is To Strong Color is typical of fakes with shaded areas around letters. Weight needs to be right on for condition.. ... Magnetic ? .. Weight. Color, strike.. All look suspicious.. I would not buy it if I had the opportunity
 

pepperj

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Well the OP hasn't been around for 3 months, hasn't posted for 4 months.
One wonders even if they brought it to a coin shop for authentication.
 

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