Home U.S. Coin Forum

1839-O Half Dime, Large O / FS-501

ms70ms70 Posts: 13,946 ✭✭✭✭✭

Interesting variety as apparently a reverse "O" die that was used for 1838 remained in service into early 1839.

Special thanks to Gerry Fortin for helping me acquire it and absolutely fabulous service! :)

G06

Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

Comments

  • mannie graymannie gray Posts: 7,259 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Cool variety and a great-looking coin too! B)

  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,946 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @yosclimber said:
    My 1839-o guide should be coming out in the next few weeks. I just have to add a few more detail photos to it.

    I'll be very much looking forward to seeing it!

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • yosclimberyosclimber Posts: 4,572 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 29, 2020 11:18PM


    Here's a comparison of the mint mark positions and nearby die cracks on the Large O reverses in 1838, 1839, and 1840.
    I left out 1838-O V-2, which is an earlier die state of the 1838-O V-1 reverse, and 1840-O V-11 which we are studying.
    It should be fairly clear that there are 3 reverse dies here, with the 2 middle coins sharing the same reverse die.

  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,946 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Great diagram. So it's actually (at this point) a reverse die that remained in service from '39 into '40. The die crack is working as a great diagnostic being it appears right at the "O".

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • BarndogBarndog Posts: 20,454 ✭✭✭✭✭

    MrHalfDime and I had a discussion about me potentially expanding from just the capped bust series to the seated series. I knew I would not be able to afford collecting the way he did ("Collect Them All"), and thought maybe owning one coin would be a good way to do it. Steve told me that if I was going to own one Seated Liberty Half Dime, the 1839-O V-1 would be the one he would choose.

  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Barndog said:
    MrHalfDime and I had a discussion about me potentially expanding from just the capped bust series to the seated series. I knew I would not be able to afford collecting the way he did ("Collect Them All"), and thought maybe owning one coin would be a good way to do it. Steve told me that if I was going to own one Seated Liberty Half Dime, the 1839-O V-1 would be the one he would choose.

    You could never own just one. :o

  • yosclimberyosclimber Posts: 4,572 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 1, 2020 7:20PM

    @Barndog said:
    ... Steve told me that if I was going to own one Seated Liberty Half Dime, the 1839-O V-1 would be the one he would choose.

    After owning a G-4 and a G-6, @MrHalfDime bought Bill Harmon's EF-40 after the 2005 Heritage auction.
    It was the second finest known at that time.
    In his database Note, he wrote:

    ex: William A. Harmon. Bought from Dick Osburn after Harmon sale. Dick paid $4700. Traded coin #843 (valued @$800) plus $5700 cash.

    That had to be a big commitment while building a reference collection of every different die marriage / die state Liberty Seated and Bust Half Dime he could find. So he really wanted that coin very much.

  • BarndogBarndog Posts: 20,454 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @yosclimber said:

    @Barndog said:
    ... Steve told me that if I was going to own one Seated Liberty Half Dime, the 1839-O V-1 would be the one he would choose.

    After owning a G-4 and a G-6, @MrHalfDime bought Bill Harmon's EF-40 after the 2005 Heritage auction.
    It was the second finest known at that time.
    In his database Note, he wrote:

    ex: William A. Harmon. Bought from Dick Osburn after Harmon sale. Dick paid $4700. Traded coin #843 (valued @$800) plus $5700 cash.

    That had to be a big commitment while building a reference collection of every Liberty Seated and Bust Half Dime he could find. So he really wanted that coin very much.

    that reminds me! The story is even better. I am pretty sure how it went down:

    Dick AND Steve were bidding on that coin at the Harmon auction. Somehow, either through an intermediary or Steve (from Maine) calling Dick (on his cell phone at the auction on the floor) and Dick told Steve to stop bidding ...Dick was bidding for the purpose of selling the coin to Steve! At least that's how I remember it. So Steve instantly stopped bidding and awaited a call from Dick once he won the coin. Steve cost himself a little bit of money since he did not realize that Dick was there doing a (secret) favor for Steve. I think I have this right, someone else can correct me if it was different from my memories.

  • yosclimberyosclimber Posts: 4,572 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @yosclimber said:
    My 1839-o guide should be coming out in the next few weeks. I just have to add a few more detail photos to it.

    @ms70 said:
    I'll be very much looking forward to seeing it!

    It's up on my page now:
    https://sites.google.com/view/clintcummins/half-dime-attribution-guide

    There is a "Top 100" list there now, too.

  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,946 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That's a huge amount of information! I'm going to have to put aside some time to really enjoy taking it in. Thank you Clint!

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file