Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
US Coins Forum
>
Where I refuse to go.
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="johnmilton, post: 3703658, member: 101855"]I have had a fascination with the early half dimes since I was in high school. I could not get over the fact that the same beautiful Draped Bust design that appeared on the Bust Dollar was also on such a tiny coin. The trouble these coins are so scarce, as a group, that I didn’t see my first one until I was a junior in college. A coin dealer, who had a shop in northern Delaware had an 1800, the most common Draped Bust, Large Eagle date, in what I remember to be VF. The asked price was $300. I added up all the money I had, as a college student, and could have bought it … if I decided that I didn’t want to eat.</p><p><br /></p><p>After I graduated from college and landed my first job, I got my first early half dime, an 1800 “LIBEKTY.” This <u>Red Book</u> variety was created when Robert Scott, who probably made the dies, used a broken letter punch for the "R" in "LIBERTY" that had an open spot at the top. It is moderately scarce with perhaps 275 to 325 examples known. Here it is.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]992811[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]992812[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>And here is a close-up of the "LIBEKTY"</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]992813[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The flat spot to the left of the eagle's beak is a die injury, not a defect on the coin. There are two "LIBEKTY" varieties. The other one does not have that injury, but since there are only 10 or so known, I'll pass. At any rate I am only collecting by <u>Red Book</u> vareity, so I don't need it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Over the years, I have collected all of the <u>Red Book</u> varieties except one, the 1802 half dime. This is a classic rarity that had been a collectors' treasure for over 150 years. The coin has always been out of my reach although I have seen seven or eight of the estimated 35 to 40 survivors.</p><p><br /></p><p>Heritage just auctioned one. It might be the worst known. Back in the mid 1970s I saw one like this at a coin show in Nutley, New Jersey. The asking price was $850, and it might have been this one, for all I know. At any rate, here it is.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]992816[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]992817[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I would love to complete my set, but I could never bring myself to buy something like this.</p><p><br /></p><p>When I saw it in the auction, I speculated that someone would pay $10,000 for it, which seemed crazy to me. It reached that in the priliminary bidding before it got to the auction block. The selling price was $18,000. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie9" alt=":eek:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Oh well, I guess that will always be a hole in my set. It goes to show how far some collectors will go to fill a hole in a set.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="johnmilton, post: 3703658, member: 101855"]I have had a fascination with the early half dimes since I was in high school. I could not get over the fact that the same beautiful Draped Bust design that appeared on the Bust Dollar was also on such a tiny coin. The trouble these coins are so scarce, as a group, that I didn’t see my first one until I was a junior in college. A coin dealer, who had a shop in northern Delaware had an 1800, the most common Draped Bust, Large Eagle date, in what I remember to be VF. The asked price was $300. I added up all the money I had, as a college student, and could have bought it … if I decided that I didn’t want to eat. After I graduated from college and landed my first job, I got my first early half dime, an 1800 “LIBEKTY.” This [U]Red Book[/U] variety was created when Robert Scott, who probably made the dies, used a broken letter punch for the "R" in "LIBERTY" that had an open spot at the top. It is moderately scarce with perhaps 275 to 325 examples known. Here it is. [ATTACH=full]992811[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]992812[/ATTACH] And here is a close-up of the "LIBEKTY" [ATTACH=full]992813[/ATTACH] The flat spot to the left of the eagle's beak is a die injury, not a defect on the coin. There are two "LIBEKTY" varieties. The other one does not have that injury, but since there are only 10 or so known, I'll pass. At any rate I am only collecting by [U]Red Book[/U] vareity, so I don't need it. Over the years, I have collected all of the [U]Red Book[/U] varieties except one, the 1802 half dime. This is a classic rarity that had been a collectors' treasure for over 150 years. The coin has always been out of my reach although I have seen seven or eight of the estimated 35 to 40 survivors. Heritage just auctioned one. It might be the worst known. Back in the mid 1970s I saw one like this at a coin show in Nutley, New Jersey. The asking price was $850, and it might have been this one, for all I know. At any rate, here it is. [ATTACH=full]992816[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]992817[/ATTACH] I would love to complete my set, but I could never bring myself to buy something like this. When I saw it in the auction, I speculated that someone would pay $10,000 for it, which seemed crazy to me. It reached that in the priliminary bidding before it got to the auction block. The selling price was $18,000. :eek: Oh well, I guess that will always be a hole in my set. It goes to show how far some collectors will go to fill a hole in a set.[/QUOTE]
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
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
US Coins Forum
>
Where I refuse to go.
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...