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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Paddy54, post: 8002504, member: 19250&quot;]Ok let me try this again...First of all I love the old green PCI slab...It is one of the old slabs that I would look at if found at a show. I&#039;m not sure what generation it from as I know that if the digits 6 and 9 that have straight tails not curved like this 6 are the oldest or first generation of PCI slabs.</p><p><br /></p><p>Next I agree 100% that the die was lapped ,and in my opinion it was done quite nicely, as the lines are in 1 direction not all over the place.</p><p>To some who not know about lap lines&nbsp; on a coin ,might think the specimen was cleaned. </p><p>I also agree that the die lapping was done right before this specimen was struck.</p><p>The details of the inverted date look like the person was definitely trying to remove the artifacts as much as possible, without removing other devices or details.</p><p>I am going to take an educated guess as to the number of dies used for the 1858 mintages.</p><p>As the number of dies used for this year are unknown. With the mintage of 3,500,000 my guess somewhere in the low 20&#039;s of both obv. &amp; rev. dies made ,and used in 1858.</p><p>Another factor that stands out is pre civil war time period ,and the hoarding of coins. As well the security of the New Orleans mint to produce coinage.</p><p>Back to your coin ,I see a specimen that to my eye is better than Au.</p><p>I do not see any wear...I see loss of luster&quot; or no luster present&quot; due to a die with heavy polishing lines...I say its MS coin in the 61/62 range. Personally I would not crack it out ,as I like the old slab and would judge this coin as well others&nbsp; as to what I see as the correct grade....not what is on the slab.</p><p><br /></p><p>Talking about the heavy clashes on most h 10&#039;s as well three cent NC coins&nbsp; goes with the high mintages.&nbsp; Example of the 1865 NC three cent coins ,I&#039;ve have seldom seen a specimen&nbsp; that isn&#039;t clashed. To the point where you can actually read the date on either side of the coin.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>My question is was there just 1 die with the inverted date punched,or more than 1 obv. die mis-punched? With the mints records incomplete with the numbers of dies used.</p><p>What is surprising is that the New Orleans mint has better records of the dies that were used than Philadelphia mint. </p><p>There&#039;s 19 years of recorded die use for New Orleans, and only 8 known for Philly. For the entire seated half dime series.</p><p>Lastly your coin is very cool example of the RPD&nbsp; #002&nbsp; inverted date 1858 half dime. </p><p>When I see your specimen as well others varties on other series that have artifacts as such it drives me nuts wondering&nbsp; the how and why&#039;s they came to be?</p><p>So many factors come to mind....as possible answers, but truth be told we will never know the truth.</p><p>The one factor that is known is collector&#039;s like us sure are drawn to such items on our money.</p><p>Be they done on porpose, were they done by a I don&#039;t give a damn mint worker? Or and unskilled worker,or done in haste to keep production up,and running from the pressure of your supervisor?</p><p>IDK...but again it does make coin collecting interesting.&nbsp; Lastly I do enjoy the unknown factors as they&nbsp; fuel the passion within us.</p><p>Sweet specimen Larry.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; @Idhair[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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