Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
US Coins Forum
>
1836 Half Dollar with Reeded Edge
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="Eduard, post: 543211, member: 8959"]The 1836 half dollar with reeded edge marked the transition in half dollar coinage from use of a lettered edge, over to a design with a conventional reeded edge, as already in use in the smaller denomination silver coinage. </p><p>First mintage of the new half dollar design was fleeting - only an estimated 1200+ pieces (+ 20 proofs) are recorded as being minted that year. Although sometimes described as patterns, the issue obviously entered circulation, as evidence by this example in my collection.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Here some more details on this coinage, as well as the historical context surrounding it (as extracted from the Web - CoinResource):</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Capped Bust Reeded Edge Half Dollars 1836-39</p><p><br /></p><p>" Across the Atlantic, the Victorian Age was about to dawn in England. Out west, the Alamo fell to a Mexican army led by General Santa Ana. Then, less than seven weeks later, the Mexican commander himself was vanquished at the Battle of San Jacinto, leading to the establishment of the new Republic of Texas. The year was 1836, and though world events moved at a slower pace than they do today, it was nonetheless a time of major developments both globally and domestically".</p><p><br /></p><p>"The Mint struck 1,200+ half dollars on its new steam press in 1836, and these are among the first U.S. coins made for circulation in this fashion. These half dollars, plus an additional 8,747,792 minted from 1837 to 1839, carried a modified version of the Capped Bust design used on the fifty-cent piece since 1807. However, they are distinguishable at once, for whereas the earlier issues had lettering on the edges bearing their statement of value, the new coins had reeded edges like the smaller silver coins".</p><p> </p><p>The first reeded-edge half dollars were very close in appearance to the Capped Bust halves that preceded them. The portrait of Liberty on the obverse and the eagle figure on the reverse were basically the same as those fashioned three decades earlier by engraver John Reich, but both sides also revealed subtle refinements by a new Mint engraver, Christian Gobrecht. Among other things, the thirteen stars on the obverse were reduced in size, Liberty was slenderized, E PLURIBUS UNUM was removed, and the statement of value was modified: Instead of saying 50 C. like its predecessor, the new coin read 50 CENTS in 1836 and 1837 and HALF DOL. thereafter. In 1838, Gobrecht made other changes, using larger and heavier lettering and tinkering with details like the eagle's talons and feathers.</p><p><br /></p><p>"Strictly speaking, the reeded-edge half dollars dated 1836 are patterns, since the legislation authorizing this coinage didn't win passage until January 18, 1837. They're widely viewed as regular issues, though, since most of them were placed in circulation. Shortly thereafter, the very first branch-mint half dollars came into being at New Orleans and promptly joined the roster of great U.S. rarities. Just twenty pieces, all proofs, were struck early in 1839 bearing the date 1838; they carry an "O" mintmark above the date. These are the only proofs in this short series. New Orleans made halves again dated 1839, this time in numbers approaching 179,000. Output at the main mint in Philadelphia was in the millions annually from 1837 through 1839".</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Your comments and opinions as always are very much appreciated.</p><p><br /></p><p>regards</p><p><br /></p><p>Eduard[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Eduard, post: 543211, member: 8959"]The 1836 half dollar with reeded edge marked the transition in half dollar coinage from use of a lettered edge, over to a design with a conventional reeded edge, as already in use in the smaller denomination silver coinage. First mintage of the new half dollar design was fleeting - only an estimated 1200+ pieces (+ 20 proofs) are recorded as being minted that year. Although sometimes described as patterns, the issue obviously entered circulation, as evidence by this example in my collection. Here some more details on this coinage, as well as the historical context surrounding it (as extracted from the Web - CoinResource): Capped Bust Reeded Edge Half Dollars 1836-39 " Across the Atlantic, the Victorian Age was about to dawn in England. Out west, the Alamo fell to a Mexican army led by General Santa Ana. Then, less than seven weeks later, the Mexican commander himself was vanquished at the Battle of San Jacinto, leading to the establishment of the new Republic of Texas. The year was 1836, and though world events moved at a slower pace than they do today, it was nonetheless a time of major developments both globally and domestically". "The Mint struck 1,200+ half dollars on its new steam press in 1836, and these are among the first U.S. coins made for circulation in this fashion. These half dollars, plus an additional 8,747,792 minted from 1837 to 1839, carried a modified version of the Capped Bust design used on the fifty-cent piece since 1807. However, they are distinguishable at once, for whereas the earlier issues had lettering on the edges bearing their statement of value, the new coins had reeded edges like the smaller silver coins". The first reeded-edge half dollars were very close in appearance to the Capped Bust halves that preceded them. The portrait of Liberty on the obverse and the eagle figure on the reverse were basically the same as those fashioned three decades earlier by engraver John Reich, but both sides also revealed subtle refinements by a new Mint engraver, Christian Gobrecht. Among other things, the thirteen stars on the obverse were reduced in size, Liberty was slenderized, E PLURIBUS UNUM was removed, and the statement of value was modified: Instead of saying 50 C. like its predecessor, the new coin read 50 CENTS in 1836 and 1837 and HALF DOL. thereafter. In 1838, Gobrecht made other changes, using larger and heavier lettering and tinkering with details like the eagle's talons and feathers. "Strictly speaking, the reeded-edge half dollars dated 1836 are patterns, since the legislation authorizing this coinage didn't win passage until January 18, 1837. They're widely viewed as regular issues, though, since most of them were placed in circulation. Shortly thereafter, the very first branch-mint half dollars came into being at New Orleans and promptly joined the roster of great U.S. rarities. Just twenty pieces, all proofs, were struck early in 1839 bearing the date 1838; they carry an "O" mintmark above the date. These are the only proofs in this short series. New Orleans made halves again dated 1839, this time in numbers approaching 179,000. Output at the main mint in Philadelphia was in the millions annually from 1837 through 1839". Your comments and opinions as always are very much appreciated. regards Eduard[/QUOTE]
Your name or email address:
Do you already have an account?
No, create an account now.
Yes, my password is:
Forgot your password?
Stay logged in
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
US Coins Forum
>
1836 Half Dollar with Reeded Edge
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...