Attributing capped 50c practice

Hey all!

Last week I needed some (online) retail therapy and purchased the fifth edition of the Overton listings. Not sure if another one is in the works, but if so, I really cant bear to wait any longer.

These are TrueView images from PCGS, which I am using to try and make attributions for myself. However, to make sure I have these right, I hope you can share your experience and insight. I do not have any of the coins in hand.

First, I think this is an 1812/11, O-101, which is an R5 die marriage. This one is graded F15.

I think it is the O-101 because of the distinguishing die crack through the left stars, starting at star 7 and moving through the stars until it gets to the 8 in the date. The later die state is the 101A, but this crack has not developed enough for that variety.

the reverse is tougher. I think I see the AM 'joined at the base', and the recut N in United, but I have little experience with that, so I am less confident in the attribution of the reverse die than I am with the obverse.

 

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I'll work on it @Evan Saltis Good luck.

 

Nice catch...the 101 is tough as a die marriage...and a RedBook entry as well.

 

If you collect these coins get The Ultimate Guide to Attributing BHD by Dr. Peterson

 

An 1812 bust half was my 1st coin, nice find.

 

Overton/Parsley is being replaced. Steve Tompkins is working on a completely new book. Volume 1 covered flowing and draped halves, and 2 more volumes are coming soon for capped.

 

Lovely!! I will be practicing more using other coins from PCGS that are not attributed. This way I can get experience I can bring into the real world!

 

Hopefully he'll ask some folks who attribute hundreds of these coins a week for some input to improve the process! His Early Quarter book is easy to use.

 

Well, maybe eventually I will buy that one too.

 

I don't quite collect them yet, but I have long aspired to.

I got my first capped bust half as a love token, for less than 10 dollars at the shady pawn shop in town when I was about 14. My Memere bought me a cheap baggie, and that coin was the crown jewel. I sold it to LordM for some cash and a different CB half. I've been hooked ever since.

Just needed the confidence to pull the trigger. My budget is larger now, and I have the book to help me learn to attribute more effectively. I am so very excited to get some more capped bust halves.

Here was my first. However, it is very common and incredibly easy to attribute. Probably the most obvious of any CB halves.

O-108. Got this for $90 on ebay. I don't mind the damage.

 

Here is another one, from PCGS photograde I think I have attributed. Pretty easy one, I see a very key characteristic.

It appears that the reverse die is reverse A - only listed with O-101. It was graded VF25.

I see the inverted UNI down by the 50 C.

The images aren't as good as the first set, but still attributable due to the very obvious reverse.

 

This one wasn't so easy for me. I think it is O-107, based on the obverse which I believe to be obverse 5.

However, the reverse doesn't seem to have the right characteristics for O-107. Any insight on this?

The book says "most specimens show a die crack" but I'm just not seeing it.

 

I think you got it right, it appears to be an early die state without cracks but a recut C in 50C. Ignore the crack and look at the base of the C. It’s not O-110 which would have been the only other option considering the T/I alignment.

 

Yes, the alignment was another key to deciphering this. Thank you for your reply.

I'm browsing a few sites to see if anything piques my interest, very excited to jump in to this avenue of collecting.

 

I'm not really seeing the recut C

 

I think I mixed up the diagnostic from another variety, I was looking at the C in America.

 

No problem. Good luck building your Bustie set.

 

Well @Evan Saltis Most beat me to the answer. You did very well, that is a very nice VF-35. Thanks for sharing your win-win.

 

I will be working on more CB halves soon. Now, I finally have the budgetary means and the confidence to attribute and pull the trigger. I expect these to become my main collecting focus in the coming years.