My Half Dime Type Set

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by johnmilton, Jan 25, 2021.

  1. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    Since others have posted parts of their type sets, I have decided to post my half dimes. I have been a huge fan of the early half dimes since I saw my first one, an 1800, when I was Junior in college. That coin was priced at $300, which was way over my coin budget, but I was hooked.

    1792 Half Disme

    1792 Half Disme All.jpg

    This coin was not made from Martha Washington's silver tableware, but it was made from silver owned by Thomas Jefferson which is almost as good.

    Flowing Hair Half Dime

    1795 Half Dime All.jpg

    The 1795 half dime is the most common date among the early half dimes from 1792 to 1805. That tells you something about how scarce these coins are.

    Draped Bust, Small Eagle

    1797 16 Star HD All.jpg

    This is a very scarce type in all grades. This piece is unusually well struck. The grade is AU-53. Take is that the grade is AU-58, minus 5 points for the scratch on the bust.

    Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle

    1800 Half Dime 64 All.jpg

    This wonderful little coin came from Sarasota Rare Coin. They had purchased a collection which also included Mint State examples of the previous two types. It is graded MS-64.

    Capped Bust Type

    1833 Half Dime All.jpg

    The mint did not issue any half dimes from 1806 to 1828. When the half dime was resumed, the Capped Bust design from the larger silver coins was adapted to it.

    No Stars Obverse

    1837 Half Dime All.jpg

    Christian Gobrecht reduced his dollar design for the half dime and the dime. Many people like the clean, uncomplicated design.

    No Drapery with Stars Type

    1838 Half Dime All.jpg

    Gobrecht probably had to bow to political pressure and add stars to the obverse of his design. The resulting coins were not as sharply struck.

    With Drapery, Stars Type

    1856 Half Dime All.jpg

    In 1840 Robert Ball Hughes redid the artwork on all of the Liberty Seated silver coinage. The designs were not as artfully rendered, in my opinion. His trade mark, a drapery from Ms. Liberty's left elbow, is the most obvious change in the type. Many collectors ignore the No Drapery type shown above.

    With Arrows Type

    1854 Half Dime All.jpg

    The discovery of gold in California upset the balance between the prices for gold and silver. As a result, all of the silver coins which were then in circulation, except for the tiny Silver Three Cent Piece, melted for more than their face value. Congress lowered the weight of all the silver coins except for the dollar. The change was indicated by arrows at the date from 1853 to 1855.

    Legend Obverse

    1860 Half Dime All.jpg

    In 1860 the stars were replaced by the legend "United States of America" which was moved from the reverse. This was the last half dime type. The coin was discontinued in 1873. The nickel five cent piece was larger and easier to use.

     
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  3. Evan Saltis

    Evan Saltis OWNER - EBS Numis LLC Supporter

    Wow, love your Liberty seated with no stars! Really nice set. and the 1792 half disme! really adore it. Thank you for sharing :D
     
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  4. GoldFinger1969

    GoldFinger1969 Well-Known Member

    Beautiful coins, not that knowledgeable about the series, but I can tell they are nice and great strikes.
     
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  5. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    What a spectacular collection. Thank you, John for sharing it. I could look at this all day.
     
  6. medoraman

    medoraman Supporter! Supporter

    Holy crud man. Spectacular coins. Almost enough to get me back into US coins again. I especially love the first one. I am getting into US colonial history some, buying Colonial paper money, especially the Franklin, Revere, and Rittenhouse pieces.
     
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  7. Publius2

    Publius2 Well-Known Member

    As we've come to expect, @johnmilton, your coins are spectacular for eye appeal. I saw your early half dime collection on display at the 2020 FUN Show and loved it. I think I told you that while we shared a brief lunch. I keep your standards in mind as I work on my collections, that's an aspiration I can scarce expect to meet.
     
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  8. yakpoo

    yakpoo Member

    Gorgeous!!! I love the Disco Duck on the Half Disme.

     
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  9. AuldFartte

    AuldFartte Well-Known Member

    Beautiful set, John! That half-disme is amazing! :jawdrop:
     
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  10. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    You have a great eye, wonderful set. Congrats.
     
    johnmilton likes this.
  11. ksparrow

    ksparrow Coin Hoarder Supporter

    Thanks for a succinct summary of the half dime type. Your coins all look great, I'm partial to your '37 no stars.
     
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  12. LRC-Tom

    LRC-Tom Been around the block...

    I had an opportunity to buy a 1792 half disme at a relatively small local auction of a coin estate. Not as nice as yours, but it was a VG-F, perfect for the grade, wonderful color, problem-free. It sold for 20K, which seemed cheap to me, but I just was not in that league, financially. If it happened now, I'd consider selling my Porsche....
     
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  13. ilmcoins

    ilmcoins Well-Known Member

    Just curious, what is the 1792 graded?
     
  14. potty dollar 1878

    potty dollar 1878 Well-Known Member

    just curious why was a chicken on one of our first official coins rather than a turkey;)
     
  15. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    NGC VF-30
     
  16. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    If it wasn’t damaged, and most of them are, that was pretty cheap.
     
  17. serdogthehound

    serdogthehound Well-Known Member

    The 1792 Half Disme is one coin I would without question buy as a details coins
     
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  18. fiddlehead

    fiddlehead Well-Known Member

    Spectacular collection. And the dedication to collect and study coins as small as these is something special in itself. Really nice and very interesting.
     
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  19. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    Here is "details coin" of all details coins for the 1792 half disme.

    1792 Half Disme hole O.jpg 1792 Half Disme hole R.jpg
     
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  20. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    Great set! Thanks for sharing this.
     
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