Cool Half Dime variety found!

PCGS has a total pop of 1 coin in AU55 for the variety. I nabbed this one, an MS63 for $375 today. Better pics to come later. This is the FS-901 Rusted Reverse Die variety. It also has boldly doubled stars and date. @Paddy54 gave me lots of info about this coin today via email.

 

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Make sure you enlarge the image and check out the stars..... you'll see what makes it a ddo.
And John lol I'm so hating you ... about now lol....just kidding ....great find, and finds as such is what makes collecting half dimes so interesting and fun !

 

I guess the more coins you look at, the better your chances! I first saw the double date and stars. Flipped it over and saw the rusted die. That's when the bell went off in my head. I knew what it was. Didn't know the pop was 1 coin, though!

 

It is unusual that 19th century coinage to find coins from working dies that were severely damaged by rust or corrosion. But in 1838 it happen twice. This specimen is the prime example of damaged dies being used ,a major finger print to the die marrage.
Plus you have stars punched over stars to create the doubling seen on its obv.

 

What a beauty!!

 

PADDY! Are you stabbing me?!?! Cuz my back hurts!

 

Just kidding

 

I would have bought that in a heart beat.
So that's a rusted interior die break?
Sweet coin!

 

I'm not seeing a DDO, I'm seeing strong machine doubling damage.You'll see the same doubling appears not only on the stars, but also on liberty's arm, the rock, and even the date. Since the date is not part originally part of the creation of the die, it would not be doubled from a DDO.

 

Good point!

 

Nice pickup! Are you going to resubmit for variety attribution?

 

Understanding your point...however the experts refer to this as an ddo! The dies of 1837 were reworked and both large and small stars were cut into the working die not the hub. Some cut lg some cut small some cut small over the large.
This series was a piece of work in transition, the exact numbers of working dies are not known.... perhasp due to either poor record keeping or the changes being made durring 1837 and 38 into 1839.
What is known that some 1837 coins were struck in 1838.
There's several variety of the 38 with rusted dies used on the obv. As well as the rev.
No matter what you want to call it.....one must admit very interesting specimen as well very historic in great condition....good call John and catch most would of passed on a series most know or care little about.

 

Your butt should be hurting with that horeshoe in there....

 

Very nice

 

May as well since it will blow the current top pop out of the water. Plus it'll be the plate coin since there are no pics on Coinfacts.

 

Anyone who says luck isn't a part of coin collecting (or dealing) is lying to you. We like to think we have the the knowledge we need, but sometimes they fall right into our laps.

 

So.........
Did @Paddy54 offer you one of his ligaments from the right side of his body or the left??