Got this in the mail a little while ago. Makes the day so much better when you get a new coin, don't you think so? This old timer (cleaned I'm sure) is an 1836 Capped Bust Half Dollar (O-112, R1), but even though it's a common date/variety she still will fit into the BCBHDC nicely. Looks like a pretty good VF/EF coin. Take Care Ben
Nice coin - I like the color. Am I missing something - in this case the obverse seems to be stronger than the reverse. It seems usually it is reversed. I looked at a bunch today, but only 1 fit in the under $100. They had sold the book I wanted on CBH varieties, so I bought a coin.
You can see this on many CBHs. The Bust being directly over the E PLURIBUS UNUM and the HAIR/LIBERTY is directly over the Claws, Arrows, Olive leaves. That being the thick portions of the coin, many times these are the weakest areas on the either the obverse or reverse of the coin. One side is always more "struck Up" than the other because there just wasn't enough metal to flow into the dies when it was struck. This coin was listed as a FINE as well. Good buys can be found still... Take Care Ben
As a matter of fact I was just talking to the guys at the local shop today, except we talked more about the obverses. He said it was very common for the obverse to be weakly struck with the hand presses versus the 1830's when the steam press started being used, but you would still see coins weakly struck. I don't know why but that coin reminds me of the 1825 I picked up today. The color just attracks me - don't get me wrong, the XF's and AU's are nice; but I like the colors of the f/vf better. Something about the wear attracks me.
I saw those coins. Very nice 1825 you've got there as well. Believe it or not the 'steam press" implementation began in 1817, by 1836 it was totally complete. Majority of collectors swear by the 1836 date, but it took a few years #1. to build and install the machinery, and #2. to instruct the staff in it's use... I'd venture to say they used Train Engineers at the beginning to control the steam. Makes Sense... Ben
