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01-07-2009, 11:18 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Forever the Student
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: 41.69 (41°41') | -83.61 (-83°36')
Posts: 973
My Mood: | Exhibit: 1840 (O) 50C Reverse of 1838 ,A date without a home.
A hard to come by issue, the 1840 Medium Letters Seated Liberty Half was struck at the New Orleans Mint without a mintmark , using an old open claws reverse die intended & possibly used for 1839 O Capped Bust Reeded Edge Half Dollar.
The John Reich obverse & reverse designed dies & of the Capped Bust Half had been sent to New Orleans in 1839 . The only mint marked Capped Bust halves had the “O” mintmark on the obverses of the coins.
One of the reverse dies in New Orleans was saved for use in 1840.Back then the goverment was a bit more cost concious with the tax payers money & did not like to waste perfetly good dies.The old-style reverse die was paired with the newly designed but 2nd year Seated Liberty obverses.
What came of this new pairing was a new obverse that carried the mint marks on the reverse; but an older reverse die that put the mint marks on the obverse. Thus flip flopping where the mint marks should have been.
The result is refered to as the type III, 1840 (O) with no mintmark.
The noticeable difference is not that it doesn’t have a mintmark since the coins minted in Philadelphia that didnt have a mint mark . But by the size of the Eagle & letters on the reverse.Another way to identify this type is by the reverse having multiple die breaks that are always seen on this type & the open claws of the eagle.
This unique year has halves with the reverse of coinage like that of 1838 & is usually referred to as the reverse of 1838 even though the coins came from 1839 dated dies.
One of my favorite varieties & always a joy to come across.
__________________
"Take an honest look at your willingness - or lack of willingness - to make some very great sacrifices with the hope of future benefit. Then make your decision, go forward with it, and never, never look back.
Good luck my young friend.- Roy
Last edited by budgood; 01-08-2009 at 12:22 AM.
Reason: Spelling
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01-08-2009, 12:06 AM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Coin Collector
Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Posts: 2,040
My Mood: |
great post and coin |
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01-08-2009, 12:54 AM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Numismatist In Training
Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,027
My Mood: |
Very interesting!! I learned something today. Thanks. (And I voted for this thread.)
__________________ No state shall emit bills of credit, make any thing but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts, coin money . . . - US Constitution, Article 1, Section 10 ANA LM-3799; OHNS LM-59; SUSCC R-4005. All coins stored in bank safe deposit box. |
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01-08-2009, 01:08 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: United States of America
Posts: 3,378
My Mood: |
Budgood throwing down! Great info! Thanks.
__________________ "These are the times that try men's' souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." Thomas Paine, Intro to the The Crisis, December 19, 1776 |
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01-08-2009, 01:19 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Supporter**
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,931
My Mood: |
Nice Coin. Thanks for the post!
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01-08-2009, 01:23 AM
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#6 (permalink)
| | The Lincoln-ator
Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dry Heat USA
Posts: 6,754
My Mood: |
Ahhhh, Budgood pulls yet another trick from his sleeve.
Nice one Jason !!
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W.I.N.S / ANA / SLCC / Mesa Coin Club
I am a poker player ..."thats beyond trailer trash"
Joan Rivers on Celebrity Apprentice, 4/09
Hot Sauce Fanatic !!!
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01-08-2009, 08:15 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | ANA# R3129541
Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 5,902
My Mood: |
Great info.....
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They also serve who only stand and wait....John Milton
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01-08-2009, 09:59 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Sometimes Coins Arouse Me
Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 1,151
My Mood: |
Thats cool. One Ive never heard of before.
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01-08-2009, 12:58 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Numismatist
Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: PA
Posts: 23,513
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Excellent post
The variety is listed in the Red Book for those who haven't heard of it. Truly a scarce issue too.
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knowledge ..... share it
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01-08-2009, 02:56 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Numismatist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,446
| Quote: |
using an old open claws reverse die intended & possibly used for 1839 O Capped Bust Reeded Edge Half Dollar.
| That reverse die DOES come paired with an 1839 O obverse.
__________________
Slab collector and researcher
reported as of 12/29/06
132 companies 332 production varieties
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01-08-2009, 04:04 PM
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#11 (permalink)
| | CEO of Brooklyn
Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 10,092
My Mood: |
Boy - I must have really been sleep walking when I missed this. Great Thread. The data on the dies is very facinating. Thanks for adding this!
BTW - Grear Shot. Camera and Software?
Ruben
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01-08-2009, 04:28 PM
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#12 (permalink)
| | CEO of Brooklyn
Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 10,092
My Mood: |
why is this not showing up as new posts?
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01-08-2009, 04:32 PM
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#13 (permalink)
| | Custom User Title
Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nova Caesarea
Posts: 875
My Mood: |
Awesome coin and great post!
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01-08-2009, 05:29 PM
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#14 (permalink)
| | Akiba haiozi
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Western hemisphere
Posts: 1,822
My Mood: |
Excellent post and history!
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'The vanquished always seek to imitate their conquerors in their dress, insignia, beliefs, and other customs and usages...' - Ibn Khaldun, c. 1380
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01-08-2009, 05:49 PM
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#15 (permalink)
| | CEO of Brooklyn
Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 10,092
My Mood: |
I have a couple of questions on this coin. First, what exactly is a "open claws reverse die". Why is it called "Open Claws". My second question seems obvious to me, but must have a similarly obvious answer. How does anyone know when looking at a 1840 without a mint mark that the coin wasn't from Philidelphia?
Ruben
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