This isn't my coin or my photos, but I was wondering what everyone thought caused the extreme wear on center of the obverse of this coin....die bulge?
I guess it could have been a "pocket piece" that someone kept rubbing back and forth against the material with their hand. Chris
Don't discard it, you were correct. Maybe someone religious praid a lot while rubbing the heck out of that sweet coin.....LOL
Alternative theories: It was slightly bulged at the mint. It was slightly bulged post mint. There was a shallow countermark early in it's existence which wore faster. There was a coin or object smaller than the half which was below the Half and was covered by a heavy object...which moved.
Overton-103; fairly distinctive reverse diagnostics for this date. From Overton, 3rd edition: "...in this marriage the die crack is bold to the right from date on all specimens observed and all show considerable weakness around the chin." That's enough in and of itself to cause this pattern, I think. Chances are that it was a slight die bulge.
I am agreeing with this assessment. I know on bust half series you will see this on some coins - usually not to this extent. Still an interesting coin.
At the coin club last Thursday, there was a 1806 Half with the same wear pattern and a die crack that circled around the stars/date perimeter. I remembered te OP coin, and examined the 1806 very carefully, and I would have to agree with the die bulge theory above. Would have purchased it except for damage in one area and priced as if none. I don't want to rip the thread, but it had a doubled "TY" in LIBERTY. Several of us got into a small argument as to whether the lettering was gang struck into the die or individual letter punches. I was on the side of "Gang". Does anyone have good referencing on the subject? Jim
