Went to a very small local coin show this morning - they do mostly stamps and postcards: It is usually a waste of time, but I thought I would give it a try. As usual, there were very few sellers with coins, only about 6 or so, but one seller I had never seen there before had this little half dime which caught my eye. I did not have any reference material with me, and I don't focus on later U.S coinage, but it was very reasonably priced (50 euros - about 65 $), nicely toned, and does have a early date. Also, it has an 'O' mintmark and that is always interesting, so I bought it. Back home now, and checking in my Red Book I see that New Orleans minted 2 types of Half dimes in 1840: with and w/o drapery. Well this is the with drapery type, and it appears to be the scarcer of the two. The condition is not so bad either. Quite happy with it. What do you guys think?
Eduard, I'm not seeing a mint mark on this coin. Did you post the wrong pic perhaps ? edit - with or without the mm, I'd say you did quite well.
Looks like a nice coin. Definitely not a unit mark there. I'd say that is a nice type coin--may have been dipped previously, and looks like it is re-toning.
I need better photos to grade...but I give it a conservative XF-40. Possibly AU...but need better photos.
My redbook shows the 1840 w/drapery as being the rarest of the varieties, And it does not show a 40-O w/drapery variety. So yes you did get lucky.
GD, Conder, all, thank you for your comments. Now I know why I think I had an 'O' mint - it's because in fact I do have one, and somehow confused it with the coin I found today (which is a Philadelphia mint coin). Sorry for the confusion, guys. Anyway, just to be complete here is the 1840-O half dime with drapery. Eduard
Conder, did you say the Red Book does not list an 1840-O with drapery? my (2012) edition does list both the 1840 and 1840-O as being with and without drapery.
Must be a misprint then. The '40-O with drapery definitely exist, there are quite a few in the Heritage archives. And even one of my older Red Books (2003) has the variety.
Helps if I look at HALF DIMES instead of dimes. Where's that foot in mouth icon. What is really embarrassing is I collect these seated half dimes and I still blew it. (The 40-O with drapery IS still the best of the group so you still did well.)
