I Picked up 4 more half dimes today posted them ,but wanted to share a little more then an photo. The first was another 1838 for my collection ,the second year of the seated series . A new variety. The series evevolution moved along with quite a few changes from 1837 to 1873. The 1838 was one of those transitions...mintaged was up there 1,992,500,that broke down to small stars,large stars,partial drapery. The first specimen is an example of the 1838 small star half dime...it is an Valentine #2 ,and a DDO for having repunched stars. The 1838 is also known for being struck with really bad rusted dies. I will always be in the market for a coin in a transition year even if I have that date....reason well diferent die marriages and perhaps a new variety find. There's 9 DDO's known for the 1838 h-10 , all offer something different to the variety collectors interest.... Next up is the 1840 O This date and mm has 1 known variety the 1840 o rpd 1840/840. It is also known to have an no drapery variety. As the Philly int has strikes with both drapery variety and a no drapery variety. The mintage of the New Orleans mint was 1,175,000 sort of high when you consider the Philly mintages with no drapery at 981,500,and with at 377,500. So again the seated half dime just a few years into production and yet more design changes to the series. Makes one wonder if the public ever noticed the changes...I would guess the everyday citizens did not.... but consider this the half dime had the buying power of $1.26 in 2018 money! Now by todays standards that doesn't sound like a lot....but link that with wages the average Joe did not make $1,26 @ week! Or month!! Tnis specimen is a Valentine # 5 and quess what? Again a transition die with some drapery shown! The next is an 1857 O no variety known except for mm size all but 1 die marriage were medium o's the Valentine #3 has the Large O. So this was quite easy to determine the die marriage. Next up the 1872 S near the end of the series life span,however still changing in many ways. There's several varieties known this one a rarer S mm above the wreath and one below. There are mpd known as well as doubled dies for this date. This example is an Valentine #1 large mm above ...however there's a small s above,and both a small and large below the wreath mm varieties. So maybe one can under stand the variety hunter snatching up different varieties in hopes to complete all the different die marrages. A stock image showing a 1872 S below wreath reverse so one can see the difference. Well the set is coming together as the numbers of needs get lower the difficulty as well cost grows.... at some point some tough decisions will be made trying to nail down those low mintages as well hard to find die marrages and varieties......the hunt continues...
Well yeah I purchased them from you lol....very pleased...still a long ways to go to ci ish this up....trying to hunt down both Bust half dimes and Seated half dimes it going to be fun....what I really need is the winning numbers to power ball....
There's quite a few I can't wait til the day I post lol... not sure if other members have any clue of some of the mintages....? I will say if they were Morgans we be looking at 7 figures in Au or better no doupt.
Very nice, all of them. I love these early 1840's half dimes (just wished they weren't so tiny!). The 1840 varieties have always interested me and your 1840-O N.D looks great.
Nice coins and great write up Paddy I would like to add a few to my collection, it's just that I would really enjoy a high end Au + or better. I can't seem to find any that are better than F or Vf but rarely anything that would straight grade.
To find what you're looking for one must hunt each show....pretty much forget searching any dealers binders. Look for stacked 2x2's in the dealers case. Most of these will be common dates 57,58, 54 of course examime the 58 for the in verted date. The coins in binders for the most part are roached out. Damaged etc... remember there are 6 obv.s and 3 types of reverses between 1837 and 1873. Next mint marks buy them....! These were minted in Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco. If theres a toss up between an O and a Philly coin go for the o. Same for the S. Look at mintages know your key dates. And remember 2 out of the 4 coins above are detailed coins! Correct won't grade however in the last 10 years of hunting these I have not found a 1838 small star peroid...more or less one with meat on the bone.. I have ssen other here buy coppers just about void of any details and have asked myself why? Collecting H/10's I am begining to understand why.....mintages and survivors....1862 mintage 1,492,000 1 year later 1863 18,000! 1866 10,000, 1867 8000. To believe that I am going to finish my collection ,plus varieties, in a average grade of vf or better then I would also believe that there's an Easter Bunny! I have walked away from low mintages in the past because I didn't want to go down the damaged rabbit hole.... I don't just settle for anything but do consult my notes as to when , where, and price and grade the last 1865 I saw was over 2 yeRs ago at the Gettysburg show it was roached and asking price was $250! Mintage 13,000! So that said... one needs to weight the decision process and choose hopefully correct.
Very nice write-up and coins! I have a "type" set of liberty seated half dimes that follows the major design changes in the series... 1838-O (no stars, no drapery, 1.34g) 1840-O (stars, no drapery, 1.34g) 1851-O (stars, drapery, 1.34g) 1853-O (stars, drapery, arrows, 1.24g) 1858-O (stars, drapery, no arrows, 1.24g) 1860-O (legend, 1.24g)
Good choice since theres so many changes for this series...makes for an interesting series to collect. And as stated you see less and less of mid grade coins in the market. Your choice was very wise. I still tempted to buy even common dated coins to either up grade or different die marriage,variety. These are habit forming... especially the CBH half dimes... again I buy as many as I can afford that are f and above.....and still pay near $100 +/- @ that grade....
