Pennywise Rare Coins
Here we feature an item that embodies our goal to find outstanding coins that represent a good value. We will explain why the coin is interesting and we think it stands out among others. These are one of a kind coins and have been selected from our inventory to illustrate a particular point. Please feel free to send us any questions about this coin or any other question you may have. Part of our mission is to help collectors become more knowledgeable so they can better enjoy the hobby.
The latest featured coin showcases the value of buying an AU58 rather than paying the premium for a mint-state coin. Most coins have a substantial jump in price once graded above the MS60 level. Many low-end uncirculated coins have numerous marks and are not as attractive as a mark-free coin that may show the slightest amount of wear. We believe that AU58 coins should trade higher than MS61-62 coins because they usually look nicer. We are willing to pay more for a nice AU58, especially when there is a big jump in price to a mint-state coin.
This 1853 Arrows and Rays Half is a perfect example. It is a very popular one-year type coin, and gets very expensive at the mint-state level. This coin has beautiful surfaces that rival any mint-state coin and also has the luster of a mint-state coin. The strike is incredibly strong, and we don’t see any wear on the coin. A few hairlines in the obverse fields probably caused the grading service to give this an AU58, but surely whoever sent it in for grading was disappointed. With the look of an MS63 that sells for over $3000, this represents a great value at $1500.
