Anyone else get the email about Mr. Half Dime.....
DIMEMAN
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I was sorry to read that Steven is in poor health and in a Nursing Home. His vast collection of Half Dimes will be sold thru David Perkins starting sometime this summer if I understood it correctly,
So sad to hear this.
6
Comments
Ran that in the JR Newsletter today too...
From David Perkins:
Stephen Crain Half Dime Reference Collection to be Sold
Many JR Newsletter readers and JRCS members know Stephen Crain, known to many of us as “Mr. Half Dime.” I’ve known him for at least 25 years and served for many years on the JRCS Board of Directors with Stephen. Stephen spent over 40 years putting together his Capped Bust and Liberty Seated Half Dime Reference Collection. He was an author of the JRCS Early Half Dime Census along with Richard Meaney. Steve assembled an amazing collection of half dimes, from Flowing Hair to Draped Bust to Capped Bust to Seated. Stephen did sell his Flowing Hair and Draped Bust Half Dimes years ago.
I regret to inform you that Stephen’s health has declined over the last year and he was moved to a nursing home late last year. I did have an enjoyable conversation with him a few weeks ago in Maine while picking up the collection, with many great stories recalled.
I would like to announce that W. David Perkins Numismatics has been selected to offer nearly all of Stephen’s Reference Collection of Capped Bust and Seated Half Dimes. Richard Meaney, a noted Capped Bust Half Dime specialist will be working with me on the sale of the collection. We will also be offering his Liberty Seated Half Dime Collection of around 1,000 half dimes – all dates, most types, most Valentine Numbers, and many die marriages not recorded by Valentine.
Please e-mail me at wdperki@attglobal.net if you would like to be added to the Capped Bust Half Dime Distribution List, the (new) Seated Half Dime list, or both. A note was sent to those names on the Capped Bust Half Dime list last night – if you didn’t receive the announcement last night you are not yet on the list – again, e-mail me if you’d like to be added or want to confirm you are on the list. You are also welcome to forward this announcement to your half dime collecting friends.
The Stephen Crain Capped Bust Half Dime Reference Collection was complete with all 92 known die marriages, all dates and types, and more than 45 remarriages. There were over 200 Capped Bust Half Dimes in the collection, with many die states including retained and full cuds, and a plate coin or two from the Logan-McCloskey book. The majority of the half dimes are “raw.” Some will be sold raw, others will be sent to PCGS for photos, grading, and crossover. Many are off to PCGS at this time.
Richard and I are targeting the August ANA Convention for Part I of a Fixed Price List and Sealed Bid Auction Sale.
David Perkins
Very unfortunate. Nursing home is never a good place to end up in.
So sorry to learn this. I live only 10 minutes or so from Steve but hadn't heard from him in a while. I wondered what was up.
I will keep trying to reach him.
That's sad news. I never met him, but always liked his posts. His half-dime set sounds like quite an accomplishment.
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Sad news indeed. I am glad however to see his magnificent collection receiving the attention it deserves and by the experts it warrants, Richard and David. Thank you to the both of you for seeing this through. I'm sure having you two on this project is a comfort to Steve.
That is sad to hear. Steve gave many educational posts on this forum.
Sorry to hear about @MrHalfDime. I hope he's in comfort. Does anyone know if Internet access is available to him?
He is a great member of these forums and it' sounds like he built up quite an impressive collection. it would be great if everything was cataloged in a PDF or something.
Sorry to hear about Steven. I knew something was up last fall when I emailed him, and he did not respond. I was hoping to meet up with him at the Manchester Coin Expo now that I live close enough to travel to NH.
Very sad to hear the news. Hope his collection does well. Wish him the best!
Dave
That is sad news all the best to him
It would be nice if someone could provide an address of
the nursing home so at least we could send Mr. Crain a
card of appreciation for his involvement with this forum.
He deserves recognition !
R.I.P. Bear
Very sorry to hear this. I was wondering why he had not posted in such a long time. He is a valuable member of this forum and a wealth of information on half dimes. I wish him the best.
Very, very sad...He was a great contributor with a vast collection.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
That is hard to hear. Best wishes Steve
m
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I am very sorry to hear this. He is a great numismatist and a very kind gentleman.
Sorry to hear. I know he can't pursue his passion but I hope he remains happy and comfortable.
Very sorry to hear this... He has been a valuable and respected member here for many years. I wish him well.... Cheers, RickO
Heard this from Dave Perkins at a coin club meeting a week and a half ago. The prognosis is grim. We are about to lose a great numismatist.
Steve Crain has always been a great numismatist as well as a great friend to many of us, including me. We have all missed seeing him at the shows. We all send our best wishes to Steve, and we thank him for his great friendship. Best wishes, Steve!
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
It is sad news. @CaptHenway and I had noticed that he had not visited the forums since last August.
He has been an inspiration to me, with all his generous sharing of his knowledge on the forums.
His Liberty Seated Half Dime reference collection is being photographed and the 1837-1843 photos and notes are already available at the Newman Numismatic Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/imagecollection/514182
I've probably seen him at big shows, maybe even at your table, and didn't even know it.
Very sad it’s to bad the collection can’t stay together it sounds most impressive
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/publishedset/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/album/209923
Very, very sad. He added a lot to the forums.
I'm so glad to see the photos at the Newman Portal. Steve has often joked that he hadn't photographed his half dimes because he "couldn't find any digital film." Ha! He is old school for sure, and one of the best. A true collector and numismatist to the core.
I recall the first time he showed me his reference collection. We'd been talking coins at his house, and he asked me if I'd like to see some of his half dimes. Of course I would!
We ended up talking coins for hours. Truly a great evening.
Hang in there Steve. I'm thinking of you.
Mike
Steve could talk half dimes for hours, and every word of it was entertaining. He knew his varieties and was the go-to expert for Liberty Seated half dimes. He did not attend all the major shows and it was a treat whenever he was in attendance. Here's hoping he stabilizes and remains with us for a long time.
As successful as we measure Steve here via his numismatic knowledge and willingness to share the same, his greatest success (in my opinion) came as a father. He raised some amazing kids, who turned out to be awesome adults, who are also wonderful at parenting too.
This particular comment of his on the "How they came up with Numismatist term" thread made me laugh ...... I was only a lurker then
I hope they keep him comfortable in peaceful environment. He'll be in my thoughts & prayers
Thanks for noting that. To me, THAT is true success.
MrHalfDime was a very nice, congenial, forumite, in my limited experience with him. Someone whose threads I would gladly open and read, even though it wasn't "my area". I enjoyed his posts and noticed his lack of posting but didn't know him well enough to hazard any thoughts on it.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Yes, very upsetting to hear this. A very respected and knowledgeable numismatist. I wish he and his family all the best.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Sad to hear this. A true old school numismatist. I wish him all the best.
Never good to hear of such learned experts suffering in this manner.
Prayers
I will pass on to the Crain family everyone 's thoughtful words to or about Stephen. "Mr. Half Dime" I'm sure would also want to thank every one.
Thanks everyone!
W. David Perkins
W. David Perkins Numismatics - http://www.davidperkinsrarecoins.com/ - 25+ Years ANA, ANS, NLG, NBS, LM JRCS, LSCC, EAC, TAMS, LM CWTS, CSNS, FUN
Calling MrHalfDime!
We miss you Steve.
First met Steve around 2010, when I was in high school and popped into the Gorham Coin Club regularly. I viewed him as an "ultimate" collector. He knew everything there was to know about half dimes, and was more than generous with his knowledge. I remember his database he created, with custom graphics and exquisite layout, on his laptop where he cataloged every coin he had, an amazing collection in quality and scale. Despite his love for coins, his love for the Patriots would keep him home from coin club whenever there was a game on! I haven't talked to Steve in many years, since moving to Florida for school, but am very saddened to hear this, and am grateful for his inspiration in the past.
I've got some photos of his coins. Will post them in separate thread