1818 Capped Bust Half. O-104b Rarity 6?

Just got this one. I'm 90% sure it's the rarity 6 104b and not the O-104a. Any opinions. (I know pics aren't perfect).

 

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The 104a is listed as an R-3 in Parsleys 4th Edition . Still a beautiful example of the 104a .

 

My bad , but my book doesn't list an 104b . Hope it is . Where did you get your info ?

 

It sure seems to be a later die stage than just the 104a , but what criteria is needed for a 104b I don't know .

 

I am away from my books, so don't quote me on this but I believe that for the coin to be considered a 104b it would have to have the crack from S7, the crack across the bust, the crack through the drapery near the curls, crack through 8 in date and the crack from S8 to S13. It's hard to make out the final two in your photos, can you see them in hand?

 

Could you tell me what book you got this info from ? Looks like I need to upgrade .

 

Yes, the 8 has a crack thru it as do the right side stars, though it is fainter than the other cracks.

 

I'm not with my books at the moment, die states aren't covered very well in any of the Bust half books I can think of, though I'm sure Hermann mentions this one in his AMBPR. I did a Google search and those were the die cracks that all pieces described as 104b by dealers who specialize in early coinage have. It is also pretty well covered in an article on another forum.

http://half-dimes.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=228

 

The die states of 1818 O-104 are also covered in these JR Journal articles:

Die State Study of the 1818 O104/104a by Mike Marker 30:23
A Very Late Die State: Report of the 8th Known Example of the 1818 O.104b Bust Half by Michael S. Fey 58:23
Letter to the Editor — 1818 O-104b Half Dollar Late Die State by John Knabe 59:4

Again, I wont be back to my library until Thursday, but I'll be happy to let you guys know what they say then.

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Nice find, but I don't see the die crack thru the right side stars.

 

I'll post better pics tomorrow.

 

Frank and Rusty will get this detail your asking for.
They have never failed me on Bust half O #

 

New pics showing all die cracks for the O-104b!!! My second ever rarity 6 found!

 

R 6
1818 Bust half ? Frank and Rusty will make the right call for sure.

 

Nice pickup.

 

Tough call , as I can see the crack starting at star 8 , but don't see it going down to star 13 , So I'd say 104a . Unless you can see the break in hand all the way through star 13 . Since you have it in hand , if you can see it then 104b . Beautiful coin either way .

 

Let there be no doubt...

 

This makes the crack much easier to see, very nice find, I guess this would make the 9th or 10th known, very cool. I'll take a shot at the grade and say VF30-35, alot of the "wear" in the curls is actually weakness from the die crack.

 

Wow! 9th or 10th known?!?! I didn't realize the number was so low. I had read that the weakness of Ms. Liberty was due to the awful state of the die used in striking. Thank you so much for all your help and your confirmation!

 

There are 8 reported in Herrman's Autumn 2012 AMBPR, and here is a quote from JR Journal Whole #58, page 23, "Based on the description in Downey MB33 and my recent discovery, it appears there are at least 8 pieces known. I and Mr Herrman suspect there are a few more, so you might want to check those 1818 BHD's carefully." This article was written in 2009.

Hope this helps,
Jesse