I purchased a Draped Bust Half-Dime from a fellow metal detectorist (we met on another forum). I paid $500 for it, and felt it was a fair deal. I got a decent coin at a decent price, and he didn't have to pay eBay fees.
Win-win.
My point is only this, though. A coin is only worth what someone will spend on it.
If you can find a buyer, awesome. If not, then you're up a creek holding 5 cents worth of half-dime.
Whether a coin is dug or not doesn't matter to some folks. How the coin LOOKS, and whether they WANT it, does. I have some extra fine detailed coins that have a hole in them. I LOVE the coins. I bought them for the details, couldn't care less about getting them graded. It's always funny when a coin snob comes in and says, "oh, that's too bad it's got a hole in it." Why? I ask. I love to see their responses... "uhh... because it's got a HOLE."
"So." I say, "why does that matter."
"It's not worth as much to people who collect coins."
"Doesn't matter to me, I LOVE the coin."
"Oh."
"Do you have one?"
"Oh, no, I couldn't afford one."
"I bought mine for $40."
"WHOA! I should get one!"
Yeah... ya think?
Cracks me up. Same conversation, everytime.
Buy the coins you want for why you want them... If you're interested in an investment, go for it. If you want the history, get a dug coin, and find out where it was dug! If you want the details, you might pick one with a rim ding, or hole. If you're looking to fill a hole for a date year, a slick AG coin with a barely readable date might be the trick.
Value is in the eye of the beholder. Last coin I bought, I paid $101 for it. A Draped Bust Large cent. I love it. Every bit of it. But you know what? I love my 1945 Walking Liberty even more (that's worth about $12). Why? I dug it up myself.
BTW, all my hobby coins, with the exception of 2, I've purchased with money procured through my metal detecting. Pretty cool, that. I'm converting clad to an 1800's coin type set! Down to just three coins left. Draped bust quarter, Draped bust Half, and Draped bust Dollar. Anyone have a dug coin with decent details they'd like to sell? LOL
Cheers!
Skippy