Can anyone tell me about the date on this , why does it have a 2 that was used on the early 1828 ,or is it a 2 over something else , and does the 8 look like an 8 over ??????
I don't have an Overton book, but what I do have does not list that variety for that date. Wait and see what the BH collectors have to say. But I do not think it is an overdate.
Greetings, There is an over date variety, but it's an 1827 over 1829. The eight (8) your looking at is pretty normal for the year. Remember these dies were hand carved (at a time when even having a vise and magnifying glass were luxuries) and sometimes by apprentices, so curved and other complex die features may have caused them problems. An example is the 1823 with three varieties of threes... In short the obverse looks normal to me. I'd need to see the reverse to get an accurate attribution, because what's the side I use most when I'm determining varieties, LOL... Thanks for posting Ben
Hi Ben, I notice you use the Overton varietys alot in your explanations about this series of coins. Can you please tell me what book you are referring to that gives these examples of varietys ? I would like to learn more about these types of variety. Bruce.
Hello Bruce, I use the (United States Early Half Dollar Die Varieties 1794-1836) It's written by Donald Parsley and is a Fourth edition, First Printing. http://www.amazon.com/United-States...ef=sr_1_1/105-3489014-5985245?ie=UTF8&s=books Take Care Ben
Ben, Thank you for your fast response I will look in to this reference book now that I am working on my type set this will be a good guide to use thanks again. Bruce.
I wish there was a Bust Half attribution resourse online, but I haven't located a viable one yet Recently, I was high-n-dry as far as IDing coins for a while. The dealer in town had it for about 4 months, LOL... Ben
Ben: There is a (supposed) computer program to help with the id'ing. I think occassionally available on eBay. (I say supposed because I have never used it, so I will not judge.) But, you really should pick up "The Ultimate Guide to Attributing Bust Half Dollars" by Glenn R. Peterson. from 1807 to 1836. It shows clear pictures of the important pick up points for the Overton numbers. A really good second resource. Also, I don't know about you, but I was kinda disappointed in Parsley's book. Two reasons: the paper is very cheap. The older editions (third especially) had paper that was nice and glossy and thicker; and 2) in the third edition, your could use a magnifier on the picture to see details of the coins. Now, all that you get are pixels.
Here are my resources. The 1st , 2nd, and 4th editions of Overton's and Parsley's books along with data from the BHNC. And yes, the quality of the 4rh edition has much to be desired. Take care Ben
It looks (to me) like the picture provided in the book for the O-112 or the O-112a, however there is no (2 serif) diagnostic mentioned in either write up. I simply went by the positioning of the (obv) star 7 and the top curl, (rev) the D and E, the T and I, and the Last A and the Arrow. The large C in 50 C. is an indicator too. Take Care Ben
Doug, it's a curl base two, like all the 1829s have. There are no square base two 1829 Capped Bust Halves? Take Care Ben
