1850 half dime attribution guide (for EF and higher grade coins) by Clint Cummins draft

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1 1850 half dime attribution guide (for EF and higher grade coins) by Clint Cummins draft This guide was constructed by exhaustively checking images of 1850 half dimes from Heritage Auctions 2009 to 2017 (ha.com), Stacks-Bowers Auctions, PCGS Registry Sets / TrueView / CoinFacts, David Lawrence Rare Coins and a few other sources. Most coins were unattributed. However, all the quality photos help to make this attribution guide possible. A short procedure was developed for accurately classifying them, and photos of key markers for each die pair and significant die states were selected. The procedure identifies the most common varieties first, so the number of steps should be minimal. After presenting the procedure, we describe each die pair in detail, including rosters of the highest grade attributed examples. Attribution Procedure 1. Obverse file marks and gouges / lumps / die chips. V-1 has closely spaced diagonal file marks under the date, then more widely spaced to K3. V-2 has no file marks under the date and stronger widely spaced file marks from under toe to K3. V-3 has gouges / lumps above star 8 and the cap, and file marks left of stars 1 to 3, plus chips at the edges of most stars (especially star 1). V-3a has an additional pointed die chip above Liberty s head. V-3 has reverse die lines near DS and U Left stem. V-4 has a gouge / lump on Liberty s thigh, just right of the shield corner. V-8u has parallel lines in the skirt right of the shield. Photos pages Reverse cracks. V-1 has a light crack at tops of TES, while V-1a has a heavy die break from rims to tops of TES. V-2a has cracks at D STA left wreath right wreath, and light cracks at A2 and L stem L ribbon. V-5a has cracks at ED. V-8u has heavier versions of the V-2a cracks plus late die state cracks at RIC. Photos pages Horizontal and vertical date positions. For horizontal, use the position of the 5 relative to the skirt pendant or bulla (vertical black line on each photo). See the Attribution methods used PDF linked on the last page. Horizontal position distinguishes between V-1 and V-2. V-3 has a downhill date, while V-4 is only slightly downhill. V-5 and V-8u (same obverse) have low, level dates. Photos page The Die Pair Table on page 9 helps summarize the key identifying obverse and reverse features of the 6 die marriages, plus several distinct and collectible die states. However, it is not a good starting point unless you can already identify some of the above features. 1

2 Obverse Date Positions photo array (zoom in high resolution) 2

3 Feature Photos file marks, cracks, chips/lumps, lines 3

4 4

5 5

6 6

7 7

8 8

9 Die Pair Table (zoom in) The following pages have further details on each of the 6 known die marriages. The counts for examples, appearances, and the roster of highest grade examples are based on images downloaded from websites in 2017 which were of sufficiently high grade and high resolution (500 x 500 when cropped to the coin) for me to attribute them. Rarity & Attraction Summary V-1 Proof R-6 File marks K3-K6 V-1 R-4 File marks K3-K6 V-1a R-6 Heavy rev. break rims to tops of TES V-2 Proof R-7 File marks K3-K5 V-2 R-4 File marks K3-K5 V-2a R-5 Rev. cracks D STA, A2, L stem L ribbon V-3 R-4 File marks L of S1-S3, lumps above S8 & cap V-3a R-5 Pointed chip above head V-4 R-5 Lump on thigh right of shield corner V-5 R-4 Low, level date, no cracks V-5a R-5 Rev. crack at ED V-8u R-5 Diagonal lines in skirt, rev. cracks D STA, A2, RIC 9

10 V-1 Proof Obverse 1.1 file marks K3-K6 Reverse A.1 no cracks Obv. 1.1: - Date high all digits touch base or are very close - Date left pendant above right edge of lower curve of 5, photo page 2 - Date level - File marks K3-K6, diagonal and closely spaced under date, more widely spaced right of date and toe, photos page 3 Rev. A.1: - No cracks References: - Heritage auction description, The present coin is a match to Breen's second proof variety, unlisted in Valentine -- the heavy die lines along the right-hand border are not present, but light die lines below the date are; the date is also minutely further left than on the V-2 obverse. - Breen s Proof Encyclopedia, Not in V. Fairly high date, 1 about touches base, 8 almost touches it, 50 free but close. The heavy parallel die file marks slant up to left of 1; skirt pendant minutely r. of tip of 5, left base of 1 about over r. edge of dentil; rather delicate letters and stars. Virgil Brand estate, Landau: R-6, 3 examples, 3 appearances. See the Possible future research section on page 17 for possible additional appearances or examples in earlier auctions with plates. 1 PR Stack s $57,500 NGC 2 PR Heritage $9,400 NGC listed: not V-2 plate above 3 PR-? Stack s $3,960 10

11 V-1 Business Strike Obverse 1.1 file marks K3-K6 Reverse A.1 light crack TES Obv. 1.1: - Date high all digits touch base or are very close, date level - Date left pendant above right edge of lower curve of 5, photo page 2 - File marks K3-K6, diagonal and closely spaced under date, more widely spaced right of date and toe Rev. A.1: - Light crack, tops of TES, photo page 3 References: - Valentine: Numerals touch base. - R-4, 14 examples, 23 appearances 1 MS PCGS CoinFacts PCGS Heritage $12,925 PCGS Gardner listed: V-1? plate above MS Heritage $9,200 NGC MS Stack s Bowers $1,293 PCGS CAC MS PCGS CoinFacts PCGS MS Stack s Bowers $1,293 ICG MS Great Collections $1,100 ICG MS Heritage $969 PCGS Heritage $999 PCGS Heritage $1,116 PCGS MS David Lawrence $1,047 PCGS CAC MS ex./ 2 app., MS-64 1/1, MS-63 3/3, MS-62 2/2, AU-58 1/1, AU-55 1/1, AU det 1/1, EF-40 1/1 11

12 V-1a Obverse 1.1 file marks K3-K6 Reverse A.2 heavy break TES Obv. 1.1: - Date high all digits touch base or are very close, date level - Date left pendant above right edge of lower curve of 5, photo page 2 - File marks K3-K6, diagonal and closely spaced under date, more widely spaced right of date and toe Rev. A.2: - Heavy die break, rims to tops of TES, photo page 3 References: B-6, V-6 - Breen (1958), B-6. Obv. V-1; Rev. V-2, with the crack through TES fround on some V-2 proofs. Eliasberg Coll. - Perhaps Breen was describing the regular V-1 with light crack at TES (the MS-68 example has prooflike fields). The V-2a crack at TES has a different shape. The B-6 / V-6 reference is retained here, as some people may have been using it to indicate the heavy die break at TES. - The V-1a as intended in this guide has a heavy die break, rims to tops of TES. - R-6, 2 examples, 2 appearances 1 MS Heritage $2,350 PCGS MS Heritage $764 NGC CAC Newman plate above 12

13 V-2 Proof Obverse 2 file marks K3-K5 Reverse B.1 no cracks Obv. 2: - Date high all digits touch base or are very close, date level - Date right pendant above middle of lower curve of 5, photo page 2 - File marks K3-K5, widely spaced, photos page 3 Rev. B.1: - No cracks References: - Breen (1958), V-2 appears to come only in proof (R-7). Blythe (1992) modified this statement as if it was a fact, and it has since appeared in several auction descriptions. Apparently Breen saw several V-2 proofs, but many V-2 business strikes exist as well see the next two pages. - R-7, 1 example, 6 appearances. See the Heritage Auction descriptions for additional examples of 1850 proofs, some of which are likely V-2 (also see V-1 Proof). 1 PR PCGS CoinFacts PCGS Hansen registry set PR Legend passed PCGS PR ebay NGC seller: rarecoinwholesalersca Heritage $22,325 NGC Gardner listed: V Heritage $35,250 NGC Heritage $57,500 NGC Kaufman plate above PR David Akers $33,000 Pittman David Bullowa 13

14 V-2 Business Strike Obverse 2 file marks K3-K5 Reverse B.1 no cracks Obv. 2: - Date high all digits touch base or are very close, date level - Date right pendant above middle of lower curve of 5, photo page 2 - File marks K3-K5, widely spaced, photos page 3 Rev. B.1: - No cracks. Some are rotated 5-9 degrees CCW. References: - Valentine: The 18 and 5 touch base. Note: it is difficult to tell from photos if the 0 touches the base, so it is best to use the horizontal date position and the file mark pattern to distinguish V-1 from V-2. - R-4, 18 examples, 21 appearances. 1 MS Great Collections $4,456 PCGS CAC Stack s Bowers $3,819 PCGS CAC 2 MS Heritage $4,888 PCGS MS Heritage $1,293 NGC plate above 4 MS Heritage $805 NGC MS Stack s Bowers $531 NGC MS PCGS CoinFacts PCGS MS Lyn Knight $705 NGC 8 MS Heritage $401 NGC MS Heritage $470 PCGS and MS-64 3 ex./5 app., MS-det 1/1, AU-55 3/3, AU-50 2/2. 14

15 V-2a Obverse 2 file marks K3-K5 Reverse B.2 cracks D ST, A2 Obv. 2: - Date high all digits touch base or are very close, date level - Date right pendant above middle of lower curve of 5, photo page 2 - File marks K3-K5, widely spaced, photos page 3 Rev. B.2: (See V-8u for Rev. B.3) - Crack D dentils STA left wreath right wreath, A2, photos page 4 - Light cracks Left stem Left ribbon; these are heavier on V-8u Rev. B.3 References: - The author noticed this previously unpublished late die state reverse in , when investigating the question of what reverse was used for the newly published V-8u. - R-5, 5 examples, 5 appearances 1 MS PCGS CoinFacts PCGS Simpson registy set plate above 2 MS PCGS CoinFacts PCGS MS Heritage $518 PCGS MS Heritage $188 NGC AU Heritage $138 ANACS

16 V-3 Obverse 3.1 die gouges S8, cap Reverse C lines D S, U left stem Obv. 3.1: (see V-3a for obv. 3.2 with pointed die chip above head) - Date high 1 touches base, downhill - Date right pendant above middle of lower curve of 5, photo page 2 - Die gouges above Star 8, cap, in dentils at K1:30, photo page 5. Mentioned in some auction details. - File marks left of Stars 1-3, small die chips at edges of most stars, photo page 6 Rev. C: - Die lines: K10 to wreath near D S, K8 to K6:30 near U and left stem, photos page 6 References: - Valentine, 1 touches base. 850 are close. - Breen (1958), Straight scratch in die from border between D S to leaf, almost touching berry under D. - R-4, 13 examples, 24 appearances 1 MS Heritage $7,050 PCGS CAC Gardner listed: V-3 2 MS Heritage $4,600 PCGS CAC plate above 3 MS Great Collections $2,915 NGC Stack s Bowers passed NGC Heritage $3,220 NGC ex-eliasberg 4 MS Heritage $999 PCGS CAC listed: V-3 5 MS Heritage $1,204 PCGS CAC (total 8 appearances for this coin) Heritage $999 PCGS CAC Heritage passed PCGS , earlier CAC, CAC and MS-66 1 ex./2 app., MS-65 3/3, MS-64 2/3, MS-63 1/1, AU-58 1/1. 16

17 V-3a Obverse 3.2 point above head Reverse C lines D S, U left stem Obv. 3.2: - Date high 1 touches base, downhill - Date right pendant above middle of lower curve of 5, photo page 2 - Pointed die chip above head, photo page 5 - Die gouges above Star 8, cap, in dentils at K1:30, photo page 5 - File marks left of Stars 1-3, small die chips at edges of most stars, photo page 6 Rev. C: - Die lines: K10 to wreath near D S, K8 to K6:30 near U and left stem, photos page 6 References: - The author noticed this late die state obverse when preparing this guide. - R-5, 5 examples, 8 appearances 1 MS Heritage $1,058 PCGS Stack s Bowers $1,116 NGC CAC plate above 2 MS Heritage $881 PCGS MS Heritage $475 PCGS CAC Heritage $423 PCGS CAC Stack s Bowers $497 PCGS 4 AU Heritage $188 PCGS AU Heritage $120 PCGS

18 V-4 Obverse 4 lump on thigh Reverse D.1 no cracks Obv. 4: - Date high distance from 1 to base is much less than half the distance from 1 to dentils - Date left pendant above right edge of lower curve of 5, photo page 2 - Date slightly downhill - Lump on thigh, right of shield corner, photo page 7 Rev. D.1: - No cracks - Could be any uncracked reverse, like B.1, or a different reverse. Assigned to D.1 for now. References: - Valentine, Date close to base. The 1 almost touches. - R-5, 7 examples, 9 appearances 1 MS PCGS CoinFacts PCGS plate above 2 MS PCGS CoinFacts PCGS MS PCGS CoinFacts PCGS MS Stack s Bowers $690 NGC Heritage $546 NGC MS det Heritage $143 NGC AU Heritage $200 PCGS Heritage $200 PCGS AU det Heritage $79 ANACS

19 V-5 Obverse 5.1 date low, left Reverse D.1 no cracks Obv. 5.1: (see V-8u for Obv. 5.2) - Date low distance from 1 to base is almost twice the distance from 1 to dentils - Date left pendant above right edge of lower curve of 5, photo page 2 - Date level - Skirt right of shield has no parallel lines (see V-8u) Rev. D.1: (See V-5a for Rev. D.2 with crack at ED) - No cracks - Could be any uncracked reverse, like B.1, or a different reverse. Assigned to D.1 for now. References: B-7 - Valentine, Date does not touch base. Compass point shows. (I have not seen the compass point). - Breen (1958), B-7. Obv. V-5. Rev. No cracks; H joined to leaf. I use V-5 for this; V-5a for cracked. - R-4, 12 examples, 19 appearances 1 MS Heritage $1,469 PCGS MS Stack s Bowers $881 PCGS CAC plate above MS Heritage $852 PCGS MS Heritage $489 NGC Reiver 2 MS Heritage $1,880 PCGS CAC 3 MS Heritage $1,234 NGC MS Heritage $676 PCGS Heritage $600 PCGS , earlier and MS-65 2 ex./4 app., MS-63 1/1, AU-58 2/2, AU-53 1/1, AU det 1/1, EF-40 1/1, EF det 1/1. 19

20 V-5a Obverse 5.1 date low, left Reverse D.2 crack K9 ED Obv. 5.1: (see V-8u for Obv. 5.2) - Date low distance from 1 to base is almost twice the distance from 1 to dentils - Date left pendant above right edge of lower curve of 5, photo page 2 - Date level - Skirt right of shield has no parallel lines (see V-8u) Rev. D.2: (see V-8u for Obv. 5 with a different cracked reverse D ST, TES, A2, R, C, L ribbon L stem) - Crack from rim at K9 to ED to wreath, photo page 7 References: - Valentine, Cracks starting at E and D of UNITED, run into wreath. Note: Valentine called this plain V-5; I separated it into V-5 uncracked reverse and V-5a this cracked reverse. - R-5, 4 examples, 5 appearances. 1 MS David Lawrence $1,250 PCGS CAC MS Stack s Bowers $911 PCGS MS Heritage $494 PCGS plate above 3 EF Heritage $306 NGC CAC Newman 4 EF Heritage $69 NGC

21 V-8u Obverse 5.2 skirt parallel lines Reverse B.3 cracks D ST, A2, C Obv. 5.2: (see V-5 for Obv. 5.1) - Date low distance from 1 to base is almost twice the distance from 1 to dentils - Date left pendant above right edge of lower curve of 5, photo page 2 - Date level - Many parallel lines in skirt right of shield, photo page 7 Rev. B.3: (see V-5a for Obv. 5 with a different cracked reverse K9 through ED) - Crack at D dentils STA right wreath left wreath (different from V-5a), A2, photos pages 4, 8 - Two cracks at tops of TES (different from V-1a), crack K6 L ribbon L stem, photos page 3, 8 - Late Die State: cracks at RIC, photo page 8 References: - Seholm, Gobrecht Journal #130 (2017). He linked the obverse to V-5, but did not attribute the reverse. I linked the reverse to a late die state of the V-2 reverse (B.3) with supporting details in this guide. - R-5, 7 examples, 8 appearances. 1 MS Stack s Bowers $4,113 NGC CAC 2 MS Heritage $432 PCGS MS Heritage $441 NGC MS Heritage $353 PCGS MS PCGS CoinFacts PCGS discovery coin plate above MS Heritage $353 NGC AU Heritage $138 NGC AU Heritage $299 PCGS CAC 21

22 New and/or previously unpublished results in this study 1. Date positions specified for all obverses. 2. Widely spaced file marks at K3-K5 identify V-2, V-2a. 3. Reverse cracks at D STA wreath, A2, left stem left ribbon help identify V-2a or V-8u. 4. File marks left of S1-S3 and die chips at most stars help identify V-3, V-3a. Note: the die gouges above S8 and the cap are the key markers and have been previously mentioned in some auction lot descriptions. 5. Pointed die chip above head identifies V-3a. 6. A second reverse die line, K8 to K6:30 near U and left stem, helps identify V-3, V-3a. 7. Lump on thigh right of shield corner helps identify V The reverse for V-8u is a later die state of the reverse for V-2a. Obsolete V- numbers 1. V-6. Now V-1a. This is simply V-1 with a late die state reverse. 2. V-7. Now V-5. This is just an early die state of what Valentine called V-5, with no reverse cracks. Note: I looked at H joined to leaf. This appears to occur on all reverse dies, as a thin line. Perhaps Breen meant something different. Discussion The goal of this attribution guide is to assemble the die marriage info that I have gathered into a single place with good photos, to make attribution easier. The only glaring error in previous publications is the notion that V-2 is a Proof only die marriage Breen (1958) presented it as a tentative observation, and Blythe (1992) rephrased it as if it was a fact has quite a few interesting die marriages / states with different die crack patterns and other features, instead of being purely distinguished by date position. Possible future research - The relative rarity of the V-1 and V-2 proofs could be investigated by linking earlier auction records for individual specimens. I looked at 2 earlier Stack s auctions with scanned plates ( Garrett, ) and I was not sure of their date positions. The Stack s plates (ex-brand) were not available online. - Are there any die markers which link the uncracked V-2, V-4 or V-5 reverses? - Has anyone confirmed the presence of the compass point on the V-5 obverse? - Are there additional die markers besides date position which link the V-5 and V-8u obverses? - On V-8u, what caused the 11 mostly parallel lines on the skirt right of the shield? Was it contact with a file? (The left sides of the lines have a slight curve). - Clashes could be noted and tracked. Often they are helpful for determining die states. 22

23 Links PCGS Auction Prices Realized PCGS Set Registry PCGS CoinFacts Heritage Auctions Stack s Bowers Galleries David Lawrence Rare Coins Liberty Seated Collectors Club Liberty Seated Half Dime Forum Gobrecht Journal archive Gobrecht Journal index and LSCC links Attribution methods used Location of this guide This guide is freely available for non-commercial distribution. Permission has been obtained from PCGS, Heritage Auctions, Stack s Bowers Galleries, David Lawrence Rare Coins to reproduce their images. Portions of this guide may be submitted for possible publication in the Gobrecht Journal. Please send any questions, comments or corrections to me at: clint@stanford.edu. 23

1850-O half dime attribution guide (for EF and higher grade coins) by Clint Cummins draft

1850-O half dime attribution guide (for EF and higher grade coins) by Clint Cummins draft 2017-12-1 This guide was constructed by exhaustively checking images of 1850-O half dimes from Heritage Auctions