1857 Half Dime w/Grease fill, odd strike & weird edge!

I just picked this ol' gal up at auction last week and can't quite figure out what is going on! There is a scratch in the middle on her leg (which is why I had it for a good price), but there are a few oddities here. First I'll point out what I believe is a grease filled die that nearly blocks out the "F" in OF on the reverse. Second item in question are the denticles, which are almost concave from the 6 O'clock position to the 8 O'clock position on the obverse flanked by a really sharp (almost off-center?) edge. Last but not least is likely post mint damage going along the reeded edge. But it looks so perfect.....like two pieces sandwiched together from one angle! Am I just whistling dixie? Don't know a whole lot about errors so if anyone has any ideas they would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

 

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Very cool !!!!! I'll wait till the error guys chime in .

 

Nice 1857 Half Dime+ High grade to!!!
1 of the smallest coins USA minted,a lot have some type of striking error I think it was size and workers hope had a hard time striking the coins.what that error is unsure?
Thank for sharing this 1 with us.

 

I've seen that with the denticals on a lot of seated half dimes and dimes, especially in the 1850's. I don't know what causes it but it is "normal". The edge looks like it might be a tilted partial collar strike.

 

Seated Half dimes were a hard coin to maintain dies being so small.
Plus reworking dies being so small they were often overlooked when die was worn. Finding near MS coin with rim oddly struck is semi rare in this grade.
I agree 100% with statement above.

 

It looks like the coin is from clashed dies which I believe is fairely common on the half dimes

 

Very interesting information! Thank you all so much, I like this coin even more now, especially knowing that the missing reeding isn't just damage is pretty neat! It's one of the few 19th century coins in my collection with any detectable abnormalities, so I'm very pleased to have it, thank you all!

 

Not ment to change subject!!!!!
Gerry from seated liberty die variety site told me there not a variety site for Half dimes . This just ment to save one search ,there could be somewhere online that could have information .

 

I'm thinking the collector base for Half Dimes must not be very big. I've only ever collected them as type coins and never even thought about embarking on a date and/or mint set.....unlike practically every other series.....unfortunately! LOL

Anyone who wants to become the next Van Allan & Millis, or Overton, this set is for you!

 

Yes could have opportunity
1837-1838 type 1
1839-1853 type 2
1853-1855 type 3 (weight change) then 1855-1859 weight change back to weight Back#2
1860-1873 type 4
Small set date length and mint marks P S O
but design changes. Obv &Rev and mint marks location variety .
Yes could have a opportunity for a book or websites .
No I do not own 1870-S
Not set that will be a large amount of silver and whole set has no Carson City mint mark. But design changes makes it a fun set to ensemble .

 

I have 2 half dimes a Bust half dime and a Seated , the seated has strong clash marks and incomplete dentils . Jello I think you're right about the dies being too small to polish out clashes and also about the difficulty in striking nice coins .

 

Tool were not easy to get or make for reworking dies this small .

 

While metal detecting recently at an old house site in Maryland, I recovered a similar 1857 half dime. The "F ", is faintly there, as in your photo. The edge on my coin also looks similar.
I was surprised when your post came up on a general web search, so I am writing to you to see if you have gotten anymore information on this apparent error.
Thanks.

 

The member you are referring to hasn't been on in almost a month I can't say if its an error or not but nice find.

 

Not a "site" but the images of the Steven Crain collection are on the NNP, but frankly they are not good enough in my opinion for variety identification and the variety identification features are not listed. So it it not of much use.

At one time there was a capped bust half dime site online but I don't believe it exists anymore.

Looked and did I did find an attribution site (capped Bust)
https://patriotnumismatics.com/cbhd-attribution-step1

There is a "work in progress" attribution website for the seated half dimes but it has a way to go.
https://sites.google.com/view/clintcummins/half-dime-attribution-guide

 

Jello hasn't been on in over a year also just saying.

 

Yes, I was just adding information that others could use and quoted Jello to give context to the information.

 

But I can still find my way back to the boards from time to time ;-)

Sorry to say that post was from about 7 years ago, and I had absolutely no recollection of even owning that coin, but it's starting to come back to me. Probably sold it a week or 2 later.

Now with a few more years under my belt, looking at the photos, I'd say the missing reeds were post mint damage. We've all seen those magic coins with 2 heads or 2 tails. Someone may have started on this coin & realized it wouldn't survive the cut. The dented denticles (couldn't help myself) may also be the result of too much grease on the die. Everything else is pretty straight forward

 

I wouldn't use those gloves to handle a coin

 

Good for you