Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Paddy54, post: 3010217, member: 19250&quot;]I Picked up 4 more half dimes today posted them ,but wanted to share a little more then an photo.</p><p>The first was another 1838 for my collection ,the second year of the seated series . A new variety. The series evevolution moved along with quite a few changes from 1837 to 1873.</p><p>The 1838 was one of those transitions...mintaged was up there 1,992,500,that broke down to small stars,large stars,partial drapery. The first specimen is an example of the 1838 small star half dime...it is an Valentine #2 ,and a DDO for having repunched stars. The 1838 is also known for being struck with really bad rusted dies. I will always be in the market for a coin in a transition year even if I have that date....reason well diferent die marriages and perhaps a new variety find.</p><p>There&#039;s 9 DDO&#039;s known for the 1838 h-10 , all offer something different to the variety collectors interest....</p><p>[ATTACH=full]746455[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Next up is the 1840 O</p><p>This date and&nbsp; mm has 1 known variety the 1840 o rpd 1840/840.</p><p>It is also known to have an&nbsp; no drapery variety. As the Philly&nbsp; int has strikes with both drapery variety and a no drapery variety. The mintage of the New Orleans mint was 1,175,000 sort of high when you consider the Philly mintages with no drapery at 981,500,and with at 377,500.</p><p>So again&nbsp; the seated&nbsp; half dime just a few years into production and yet more design changes to the series.</p><p>Makes one wonder if the public ever&nbsp; noticed the changes...I would guess the everyday citizens did not.... but consider this the half dime had the buying power of $1.26 in 2018 money! Now by todays standards that doesn&#039;t sound like a lot....but link that with wages the average Joe did not make $1,26 @ week! Or month!!&nbsp; Tnis specimen is a Valentine # 5 and quess what? Again a transition die with some drapery shown!</p><p>[ATTACH=full]746448[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The next is an 1857 O no variety known except for mm size all but 1 die marriage were medium o&#039;s the Valentine #3&nbsp; has the Large O. So this was quite easy to determine the die marriage.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]746451[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Next up the 1872 S near the end of the series life span,however still changing in many ways.</p><p>There&#039;s several varieties known this one a rarer S&nbsp; mm above the wreath and one below.</p><p>There are mpd known as well as doubled dies for this date. This example is an Valentine #1 large mm above ...however there&#039;s a small s above,and both a small and large below the wreath mm varieties.</p><p>So maybe one can under stand the variety hunter snatching up different varieties in hopes to complete all the different die marrages.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]746454[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>A stock image showing a 1872 S below wreath reverse so one can see the difference.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]746456[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Well the set is coming together as the numbers of needs get lower the difficulty as well cost grows.... at some point some tough decisions will be made trying to nail down those low mintages as well hard to find die marrages and varieties......the hunt continues...[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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