1800 Half Dime

This is another of the early American coins which I bought when I first started collecting U.S issues in the mid 80's. I remember I was very happy to find her.

Would very much appreciate your opinions based on these new photos.

Thanks!

 

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VF20, but just barely. Great coin!

 

You have a spectacular collection. Some of the pieces you have shared here would be a fine collection in and of themselves. Yet another piece that is just eye popping. I love it.

 

VF-20 was my knee-jerk reaction as well

 

Very nice, Edward!

 

Silly question, I don't know anything about these, but i see they have no denomination, so wouldn't they be considered medals? How did people know what these were?

 

Wow that is awesome. I didn't realize they went back that far.
Nice coin.
I'll be the lowball. F-15
I have heard of the half disme, but I thought that was more of a test piece.

 

Marvelous coin Edward. LM-1?

 

Size was the indicator of the denomination, they were (are) smaller in diameter and thickness than dimes. Half dimes were actually the first coins minted by the United States Mint under the Coinage Act of 1792.

 

And the first off the press were actually made from Thomas Jefferson's personal silver. He then carried and spent them on a trip to Monticello, giving away many as tips at places he stayed, in an effort to advertise the new coins. Edit for clarification...the 1792 half disme, not the 1800.

 

That is a cool piece of American history I would not have known about had I not been a CT member. This is the kind of stuff I love about collecting. Thanks for this.

 

I thought that was the 1792 half disme story? Or was that Washington's silver?

 

Size? Dimes are smaller than nickels now, and even then cents were larger than these.

Did they have posters with what coins they should accept? Including the 8 Reales? How many of these tiny ones for a 8 Reales, 20?

 

Dimes are smaller due to the remnant size relationship of silver content.
The cents were larger but made of copper. The size was related to the silver content, thus the value of the coin.

 

Nickel interests were instrumental in the introduction of the nickel 5 cent coin.

 

Yes, that's correct. I did not mean to imply the Op's coin.

 

I agree with LM-1. I love the crudeness of the 8 in the date. It reminds me of the second 8 on the 1808 half cent that was constructed with the 0 punch used for the 1/200 on the reverse.

 

Thank you all very much for your comments. I really appreciate it.

Yes, this is an LM-1, most common of the three 1800 H10C varieties.
LM-3 is the well known "LIBEKTY", and LM-2 is I think an extremely rare variety of which just a handful of examples are known.

I love early American coinage! in fact, anything connected to the early history of the United States. There are probably very few dedicated early U.S coin collectors in Europe (maybe UK excluded?)
(It does get a little lonely over here sometimes in this respect - if it weren't for forums like this one).

 

Eduard:
Is that damage on the reverse, between "STATES" and "OF"?
Possible hole plugged.

Obverse: between star 1 and hair curl

 

Tres, no, that is a darkened area. The opposite area is the tip of the bust.