A high grade 1837 half dollar

Here is another close collar coin from the 1830s that is in high grade.

In 1836, the Philadelphia Mint introduced the Reeded Edge Half Dollar. The coin preplaced the Bust Half Dollars which had lettered edges. Like its predecessors, much of mintage was stored in bank vaults. Over the years, I have seen very few of these coins that have seen a lot of circulation and resulting wear.

This one is fairly well struck, especially on the obverse. The reverse shows some of the typical weakness. This explains why the type was changed the following year. We can play a little “guess the grade” with this piece as well.

You fellows who don't like toning will not like this one, but the color is stable. I have owned this piece for several years. My guess is this piece was dipped and the toning you see is from re-toning.

 

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I'm at 65 here. A few tics, but very pretty.

 

I agree, a gem!

 

Very nice indeed. Love it!

 

That is a beautiful coin.

 

@johnmilton

I've heard that the reeded edge was incorporated into the design of silver and/or gold coins to thwart ne'er-do-wells who attempted to shave precious metal from the edge of coins. Was that true for both precious metals or just gold or just silver? Do you know?

Chris

 

Yes, the reeded and shaved edges were placed there to discourage shaving metal from the coin. The reeded edges on the clad coinage are throw backs to the days where they were made of silver.

 

Yes, I am in the "not a fan of toning" camp, but that one is really nice; I would have it!

 

The lettered edges of the open-collar coins (1794-1836) were also there for the same reason.

This is particularly evident if you look at hammered coinage of England - many of the irregular shapes and small planchets (often missing much of the outside lettering) was because they were clipped or shaved. At the time, there was no edge devices, and were thus easy to pass.

 

I'll say MS65/66
Nice, clean coin. I don't mind the brownish toning at all. It's the black extremely dark toning that I don't care for.
Another awesome coin. Thanks for posting.

 

I'd say that's an easy 65. Your pictures don't show luster well, but I'd say if the luster is there it could even be 66.

 

Thanks, Jason!

Chris

 

NGC graded this one MS-64, which on the conservative side IMO.

 

I just bought an 1836 which did not specify reeded or written edge (unfortunately it was the written edge...sigh ) but I thought I read something about the mint going to different presses.

 

The belief is that the 1836 and later receded edge half dollars were struck on steam driven presses. The previous lettered edge coins were struck on screw presses.

 

I thought the 1836 written edge was struck with a screw press...no?

 

Yes, the 1836 Lettered Edge half dollars were struck on a screw press like all of the previous issues.

 

@Kentucky , the obverse design is different on the lettered edge 1836 vs the reeded edge 1836 bust half. See John Milton's? That's the same portrait a reeded edge 1836 bust half would have. Much different style than the lettered edge.

 

That’s a really pretty coin. I like everything about it. My guess was 65

 

My guess was MS 65 before the reveal....any info on when this coin was slabbed?
Beautiful coin!