1921 Pilgrim Tercentenary Half Dollar

Howdy Pilgrim.
Whats the verdict on MS grade for the 1921 Pilgrim?
Thanks in advance.

 

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64 nice coin.

 

What's going on with the arm and the book?

 

AU Details - Cleaned

Z

 

Whats the weight and diameter? For some reason that has fake written all over it. Weak devices no metal flow, the bubbles on the arm and book.
@Beefer518 @leeg

 

I am sure you all know the luster of these coins is notoriously of the frosty type. Not cleaned sorry.

 

The surfaces look grainy to me, and that does not seem right. I don't have a 1921 Pilgrim, but the 1920 version had brilliant fields not matte surfaces.

I think that the coin has been way over dipped. The acid has taken away the top surface layer.

 

Also most BU Pilgrims such as this one usually always grade between MS 63 and MS 65. Potty Dollar was right again!

 

Unless APMEX is dipping coins. I say not dipped.

 

I don't have a 1920 Pilgrim but I just ordered one and another 1921 Pilgrim. I'll compare them to see whats up. Thanks all.

 

If any of the other coins from this vendor even look suspicious I will spend my money elsewhere Thanks everyone. Maybe the new coins will be in a little better shape. Also can't what to see the Stone Mountain Half Dollar.

 

I have one of these. Sorry I Was too lazy to take it out of the flip.
While mine is not "circulated" it was not protected. Since they only made 20,000 of these (and they were almost all saved as special commems) the price/value is not as high as other rarities. Although, when you consider how many collectors there are, most people do not have this coin.

 

Beautiful coin Michael. Thanks for posting.

 

I don't why you folks are buying these coins raw unless you are filling an album and don't like to crack out slabs. I don't care for the 1921 Pilgrim that was pictured in the palm of someone's hand at all. At the best, it's been cooked in acid. At the worst it's a counterfeit. I don't like fields on that coin at all.

There are large numbers of these coins that have been certified in MS-64 holders. The "old" or "classic" commemorative market has been dead for years. I know because I put together a type set at wholesale prices 10 to 20 years ago when I was dealer, and I'm buried in them.

The grade "BU" (Brilliant Uncirculated) does not mean anything in today's market. It's the Sheldon grading numbers that count. Even if the coin is Mint State, "BU" could be anything from MS-60 to 64. MS-65 or better would be called "Gem Uncirculated" in the old days.

Using Grey Sheet numbers, $129 would buy a Stone Mountain commemorative half dollar in certified MS-64 quite easily because "bid" is only $85. The MS-65 is now down to $135. I paid over $200 (ouch!) for this one that is graded MS-65 and "all there."

 

Thanks John I do not doubt your experience.
I will probably just buy from Heritage etc from now on. Its hard to trust anyone in the coin market. Where are some respectable places to nice coins? Much appreciated.

 

I don't always buy slabbed coins but for the coins your buying raw i wouldn't and heritage is great.

 

Looks legit to me, but...

First set of images looked polished (which is bad enough) to me, but the newer images look horrendous. I personally would return the coin with those surfaces. That graininess is not natural, normal, or how it left the mint IMO. My guess is it was heavily toned, and some previous owner dipped the living daylights out of it to remove said toning. What also bugs me is the way its trying to appear to have luster, but there isn't any, and the pattern isn't consistent with the typical luster seen on this coin.

OP, if you like the coin, and decide to keep it, I would have it graded. I think it'll come back as a details coin from any of the 4 majors. Send it to ICG on the CT special or ANACS if your not a member of NGC/PCGS.

The prices you're showing in your cart are way out of line in my opinion. the Stone Mountain can be had all day long certified 64 - 65 for less then that price. Stone Mountains are one of the easiest and most affordable of the series to get, and based on the Pilgrim you got from them, I wouldn't complete that cart.

As for the 2 Pilgrims in the cart, I feel for raw coins they are considerably over-priced as well. I have many Pilgrims, and the 2 that are slabbed (1921 NGC65, 1920 PCGS65+CAC) cost me less (including shipping, etc) then what you're paying for those 2 before and added fees.

If I'm not mistaken, APMEX uses a representative coin image for their website, so it's a crapshoot as to what you'll actually get when it comes to their raw coins. I don't buy from them, so I may be mistaken on that, but I think I read that here at some point.

Great Collections is another great place!


Here are my Pilgrims, and my Stone;

 

Heritage is a good place to go for coins that are really tough to find. If you are buying "widgets" I'd give some other places a try because it might be cheaper. Have a look a David Lawrence, U.S. Coins in Houston or Northeast Numismatics.