In These Troubled Times...Bring a Smile to Your Face and Post Your Best Cherry Pick, EVER!

Unlike John, above, I would bet that this is the XXX edge. The reverse die crack is there, but I don't see any sign of the obverse die cracks that would indicate that it is the true "a" die state. There are actually a handful of 102a's that still have the XXX edge.

 

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I bought this 'problem' coin 42 years ago. It is a 1839 proof dime with a few flaws, but spectacular in appearance (not that you can discern from my images) as the mirror fields are shinny and reflective. I had Breen's brand new Encyclopedia of Proof Coins (1977) where he listed but two known examples. I thought for sure this was B2, the 'impaired' one. In my excitement, I wrote to Kam Ahwash who promptly called me on the phone. This opened for me a new door, as we became friends and I later sought his help and counsel and he provided me with superior findings during the next few years. But, he did not agree with me about the dime. Breen stated B1 "date not recut" and I had told him I saw something under the 9. Sight unseen, he never considered this coin. After he died in 1983, I sold all but the dime, still feeling unvindicated and went about life.

I got old and retired. In moving I found the old zippered bag and looked again, after decades, on her dark toning and raised image and did a search to see if anything was new. I found there were now five known examples and that Fortin had discovered a second set of proof dies had been used! I sent him images and he confirmed it was the F 105 die. In person, he also concluded it was a proof coin.

Now, I wanted to again confirm it was the B2 coin and found another new tool, the Newman Portal, and found the original 1956 catalog, with plate, notes on the buyer and the wonderful lineage the coin had. From vest pocket dealer Jim MacAllister (died 1945), to legend TJ Clarke (died 1952), through the hands of Wayte Raymond, JJ Ford and cataloger Breen, it was purchased by Aber Kreisberg, who sold it on in 1958. Heady company. I still yearn to find where MacAllister acquired it from, so the work continues. My image below shows the various documents that prove provenance. Note, the ding on the reverse and the pock on Liberty's right arm which are the main identification marks.


My first post - sorry for the length.

rick

 

1982 P ZNC DDR FS-1801

 

Thanks for your comment. Now I am really thinking about cracking it out :-D

...but if I remember correctly, all the die cracks were there, just barely visible under magnification. The pics don’t show them at all.

 

These were great. Sold them to LCD here.

 

If the obverse cracks are there then it is almost assuredly the plain edge. I might still crack it out though and resubmit as VF 35 is IMO too low a grade.

 

I know too little about CBH's but your example seems to have been a major Cherry Pick (R5+?).

 

Amazing! for slightly over melt? fantastic, you must have been really pleased!

 

No longer 5+, just a 5 (and on its way down to 5- as more are discovered)...but as a Red Book variety it carries a major premium over normal 1812s. Somewhere in the 40X to 50X range is typical.

 

Very Interesting! I learnt a lot.

If I understand you correctly, it is the die crack which makes this particular 1887 S so special?

Regarding your comment about deciding to let it go. I agree that the thrill of the hunt is perhaps the most rewarding.

In my case, however, I don't ever see myself letting the Pitt Farthing go. (My wife has actually taken a personal interest in the coin due to its history and relation to the American Revolution.)

 

Paddy, which of the Valentine varieties is this one: V-2, V-3 or V-5?
(H10C's are not my area - as I understand it, though, there are three 3/3 varieties for 1834 H10C's).

 

$75 in 1957 would be $695.00 +/- in 2020 money
So that said be realistic....not many collectors had deep pockets enough to afford $75. In 1957

 

Shoot what happen to everythinghalfdimes.com web site?

 

It is beautiful I've never seen one before but sure would not mind seeing one again and knowing all about it! I'm pleased your happy.

 

All true, but in reading the ledgers and accounts of this little group in NYC, on 46th and Madison, with adjacent offices, it appears they were doing more among themselves than in Main Street, USA. MacAllister was cataloging for Chapman and then Morganthau. Raymond and the others had been selling to Col. Green and King Farouk. They cornered the market on Stellas and 1795 silver by sharing the load at thousands a pop. Breen was hired, as a kid, on request by Stuart Mosher who was then head of the Smithsonian Cabinet.

 

No longer in my collection, but picked this up in a lot for under $30 if I recall correctly.

 

Wow. That's a rare one.