I recently acquired this 1812 Bust Half which came from an old collection. I didn't notice anything unusual until I tried to put it in my Dansco 7070 album and....it wouldn't fit. It was just a bit too big. That started me on a mission to find out why. According to PCGS, it should be 32.5mm, but my calipers show it's actually 33.1mm, with one small area measuring 33mm. It looks a little off-center as well. The lettering on the edge is intact and it weighs right, at 13.5 grams. I tried to find an Overton variety to match, but online info on Overton varieties seems scarce. I would love to hear your thoughts on this coin. Thanks!
Even though I know little to nothing about those, that one looks fake to me. I think I see a casting seam, too.
That is very odd. Especially the lower reverse rim. But the coin shows appropriate die wear, and it has been polished. Oversize planchet, maybe? Could also be fake.
The Redbook happens to have a great image of both types of 8 in the date, especially the 1812 2-over-1 large 8. On the OP's coin, the 8 and the second 1 are too close together, and the second 1 and the 2 are the same size, neither of which matches the Redbook illustration.
My thoughts as well. It came from an old type set that was put together in the 1960s-70s and the other coins in the set were mid to high grade so, only because of that context, I'm leaning toward an oversized planchet. If it's a fake, it's a good one.
This is a middle die state of O-105 - you can see the characteristic obverse cracks. One starts on the 8, through the second 1, and curves through the bust before exiting the forehead and reaching the rim through Star 6. A second goes counterclockwise up through the left stars from the first 1. A little diameter variation in a coin struck without a collar isn't out of the ordinary.
I had wondered about the weird area around her forehead. I never considered it was a die crack. I just presumed the diameter was standard, so the discrepancy threw me off. Great info, thanks for sharing
This one's a later die state, O-105a, but it'll give you an idea: https://coins.ha.com/itm/bust-half-...6-3217.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515
I'll second the O-105 attribution. Here's my favorite online capped bust half attribution site: http://bustieguide.com/attribute.php At the very least it helps to greatly narrow down the possible die pairings and is worth checking out!
Authentic, but altered surfaces IMO. A little diameter variation on pre-1838 coins is nothing to be concerned about. What do the rest of the coins in the type set look like?
