I have an 1857 seated liberty half dime, could this be worth anything?

Question

I came accross this coin while working for a bank, and this guy needed a coint that the coke machine would take... dummy lol, i tried looking it up but i see different values variyng from $600.00 - $3,500.00, Im very confused... Where can I go to get the right value of it, or if anyone can tell me aproximately how much this can be worth? I got this coin 6 years ago, it's in an awsome condition! Thank you :)

Answer 1

Here's what The Red Book says.

For no mint mark (plain):
G-4: $16
F-12: $20
VF-20: $30
EF-40: $50
AU-50: $130
MS-60: $300
MS-63: $700
PF-63: $3750

For an "O" mint mark:
G-4: $18
F-12: $25
VF-20: $35
EF-40: $70
AU-50: $200
MS-60: $425
MS-63: $750

Things you should know:
G-4: Good
F-12:Fine
VF-20: Very Fine
EF-40: Extra Fine
AU-50: About Uncirculated
MS-60: Uncirculated
MS-63: Choice Uncirculated
PF-63: Proof

Red book prices tend to run a bit on the high end.

Mint marks on Liberty Seated dimes are on the reverse, within or below the wreath. Size of the mint mark varies depending on date.

1 - Take your coin to a local coin dealer (trustworthy ones can be found - shop around). It never hurts to get a second opinion. They will be able to tell you so much more by evaluation the condition of the coins. They will also know the amount minted and what it is going for in today's market.

2 - Try posting pictures on this website (there are many experts here that can help you evaluate it - there also may be people willing to buy if you are trying to sell):
http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/default.asp

3 - Repost this question and include pictures. You can use websites like http://www.photobucket.com and include the link in your question.

Good luck!

P.S. You should not clean your coins. Most coin collectors see cleaning a coin as the equivalent of stripping down antique furniture and refinishing it.

When cleaning, the surface metal of the coin is often stripped. Anything used to scrub the coin will leave scratches (even 100% pure silk will leave hairline scratches). Most cleaning products will have some type of reaction with the coin's metal and the surface metal can also be removed in this manner.

Your best bet is to leave the coins alone. Cleaning the coin will leave traces - which can be found by the knowledgeable collector - who in turn will not buy the cleaned coin. Also if you ever wanted to send your coin into a grading company, they can recognize signs of cleaning and will send your coin back in a "cleaned" slab (also called a "body bag" in the coin world) - which is usually a greatly decreased value.

If you absolutely must must must clean your coins do not use the method described above as it will react with the metal in your coin. Use 100% acetone (do not use fingernail polish remover!). It must be 100% pure because other additives will react with the coin metal. Place your coin(s) in the solution for several minutes (do not leave in for long periods of time). Rinse your coin(s) in distilled water. Next remove your coins and either pat dry with a soft cloth or allow the coin to air dry (air drying is better as you don't risk scratching the coin with the cloth). NEVER scrub your coins!

I would still advise you to leave your coins as they are. They may not be bright and shiny but that is what most collectors prefer.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
I have an 1857 seated liberty half dime, could this be worth anything?
I came accross this coin while working for a bank, and this guy needed a coint that the coke machine would take... dummy lol, i tried looking it up but i see different values variyng from $600.00 - $3,500.00, Im very confused... Where can I go to get the right value of it, or if anyone can tell me...

Answer 3

.The 1857 1/2 dime in grade good - the word liberty on shield smooth, date and legends legible. $11 In grade fine-entire liberty visible with weak spots $16. In grade very fine-entire liberty y strong and even $20. In grade extra fine-liberty and scroll edges distinct $42. In mints state-64 $480 no wear and only a couple of marks in the fields, attractive with lots of mint luster. The above values are about what a dealer would pay. If the coin has an O mint mark on the reverse near the bottom then it is worth more but not much.

Answer 4

Coin dealers usually do not plug holes. There are people out there that do conserve coins, that is try to fix them. They however are not cheap and repairs are done to only coins worth in the thousands of dollars. The coins value in the grade you state is only around $10 and with the hole it is worth only the silver value and it has to be weighed for the hole removed some of the silver, That value is only for the coin weighs only 1.24 grams and only 90% of that is silver. Since it had a mintage of 1,380,000 which is about average for the New Orleans mint, still not a lot of years were struck there, so I would just hold onto it for a while and keep checking values.

Answer 5

Half Dime

Answer 6

You can see what they are selling for on Ebay. It really makes a difference what the condition is. There are a lot of them for sale, with their pictures, so you can compare yours to the pictures maybe and see what condition yours is in. Otherwise you'd have to find a coin shop nearby and go there.