5 Cents Liberty Cap Half Dime 1832

[redwine]

1.31g
15.3mm
Coin aligned

Your indulgence please.
Is this coin real?
If so, would you mind grading it for me.
Many thanks 

[Kopper Ken]

I don't see any indication that the coin is fake, however the pictures are not that clear.  I graded it VF because the pics were blurry.  The hair above the forehead looks too worn to be EF, but a clearer picture could sway me to VF-EF.

KK

[Quant.Geek]

Great grading KK!  That is exactly what I would grade it.  But as you indicated, the pictures are too small to give a more accurate grading and authentication....

[redwine]

Sorry about the quality, my scanner and I aren't getting on............

[Alan Glasser]

Hello redwine.

Nice half dime there.

I just voted vf/xf but I am not really a fan of "split grades". I would rather say VF-35 or XF 40. The photos are not great (I can definitely relate when it comes to less than ideal scans!!!!) but I whipped out 3 grading books: American Numismatic Association Grading Standards (my personal favorite and this book USED to be widely accepted until the slabbers came along), Grading Coins by Photographs, and Photograde.

ANA Grading standards: I'd go with VF 30, perhaps 35 mainly because of the wear on hair above ear and the curl immediately to the right

Grading Coins by Photographs, again, VF 30...maybe 35. Unfortunately, the example photographed at the VF 30 level is toned and details are difficult to see clearly.

Photograde (also a popular book a good number of years ago but I don't think it is in use much any more), again I would go with VF-30-35 and clearly short of XF 40. There are no photos of VF 35 but I believe your piece is a bit better than the VF-30 level. So overall, I'd go with VF 35 but that grade is not commonly in use.

In years past, grading U.S early type coins was a passion of mine and I devoted countless numbers of hours studying and grading examples that I used to own and photos that people posted. I still LOVE doing it but time is a bit more limited now that I'm retired. (Something is wrong there???)

Another passion of mine is (was) determining "varieties" in early type coins...very much fun and challenging...The 1832 has 14 distinct known varieties and to the best of my figuring with the photos you provided, your piece is a LM-4 with a rarity of 4 in a 1-8 scale, 1 being common and 8 being unique or nearly unique, "A scarce die marriage" or "very scarce". Between 76-200 are known (as of publication of "Federal Half Dimes, 1792-1837" in 1998). The book is by Russell J. Logan and John W. McCloskey.

On your coin, note the filled S on the reverse (second S in STATES) and on the obverse, the "die break or crack" at the top of Liberty's head (looks like a scratch but is in fact a minting issue). Nice coin!  Alan



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[redwine]

Many thanks Alan. Superb job! 
You have addressed all of my doubts about this piece! 
I was unaware of this varietal not being a collector of US pieces.  It just happened to come along as with the rest of my collections....
I shall attempt to photograph it properly.................

[Prosit]

One of the diagonistic features in circulated coins of this type is the ear and shoulder clasp.
For VF-20...the description says Ear, Clasp and Star centers are clearly visible.

The images have a little blur but I would guess VF-20. Since it is an old US coin and these are not graded to the same standard as modern coins I think a possipility of VF-30. I don't think XF (EF) is likely at all.
Dale

[redwine]

I've tried but it's such a grim day today, the natural light isn't good 

[Prosit]

With those images I would go with F-12.

Nice coin!

Dale

[redwine]

Funny thing grading 

[Alan Glasser]

Hello Redwine.

The new photos are much improved. I am going to lower my grade estimate to VF 20-25 as a result of the clearer image. Still, a very nice coin and a great piece of early Americana.

Alan

[Prosit]

What is funny about grading is that it is mysterious until you collect that series and learn its pecularities. Then the grades become obvious. I am not familiar with this series and I don't see the shoulder clasp hence my lower grade. If I was familiar with the series I might know better.

Dale

Funny thing grading 

[redwine]

What is funny about grading is that it is mysterious until you collect that series and learn its pecularities. Then the grades become obvious. I am not familiar with this series and I don't see the shoulder clasp hence my lower grade. If I was familiar with the series I might know better.

Dale

And I haven't got a clue!
Appreciate everyone's thoughts.