You can join either the PCGS or NGC Collectors Clubs and submit the coin directly yourself for certification and grading. This is the approach that I would recommend. You just need to make sure that your package is insured at all stages. You could probably have the coin certified for less than a $125 round trip including the certification fees and postage/insurance. This is for the express coin, meaning that you'll have you coin returned quickly.
#5760902 - 06/11/1203:49 AMRe: 1840 Gold Half Eagle ($5) New Orleans
[Re: Mark T]
x2riderx2rider
Up 20 words per minute since I signed up
Registered: 06/14/08
Posts: 1340
Loc: new zealand
Hi There
If you didn't want to join the boards and just wanted it graded and then maybe sold , there are a couple of dealers on the boards here that I would have no problem recommending to you .
Welcome to the forum. Looks like you have a rare coin here. I am a PCGS submitter and would be happy to send in the coin for you at my cost. For one coin I would not spend the money it cost to join the club. Let me know.
Thanks for everyones warm welcome and opinions. Thanks also Bruceswar and x2rider for your kind offers of help - I may well be private messaging you guys soon!
I took the coin to two local auction houses today (not Coins specialists) and both think its quality is not that special appraising it at c. $4,000. I guess pictures can be deceptive. Still a lovely gift
FishyOneFishyOne
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Registered: 09/24/10
Posts: 1018
Loc: Iowa
Originally Posted By: sticklebrick
Thanks for everyones warm welcome and opinions. Thanks also Bruceswar and x2rider for your kind offers of help - I may well be private messaging you guys soon!
I took the coin to two local auction houses today (not Coins specialists) and both think its quality is not that special appraising it at c. $4,000. I guess pictures can be deceptive. Still a lovely gift
Cheers all, Richard
They must have thought it was pretty good to offer $4k! My guess is they thought it was a problem free low MS piece and they offered you half it's market value.
In AU this date falls under $4k retail, that should tell you you've got (what the auction houses thought was) a damn nice piece.
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Hard TimesHard Times
The Post-man always rings twice. Uhm... ring ring?
Registered: 01/16/10
Posts: 1602
Loc: Tejas
It really depends on what the hairlines in the fields are and what the luster flow is like when you rotate it under the light. If the luster is impeded, it won't grade MS, if it flashes through, including no break through Miss Liberty, it will grade MS, but, the hairlines observed in these photos to me make it look AU58 - that is still at least $2K.
Here is an AU55 (loosely graded probably really an AU50 by stringent standards) 1840-O for comparision and a correctly graded AU58 1844-O with original surfaces of thick patina. As you can see, yours is likely at least an AU58 and possibly MS as noted above.
Best, HT
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