1840 (O) Reverse of 1838 Half Dollar
stman
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Picked this up months ago from David Kahn. I might be one of the only ones that finds it interesting.
No O mint mark and the reverse came from a 1838 Bust Half.
I liked the look of the coin, and good thing it has a sticker on this one. Heh
Feel free to post any here. 
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Slabbed, authenticated and stickered.... What's not to like?? Cheers, RickO
Even though not my series, I have Randy Wiley and Bill Bugert's book on this series and find not only interesting that it is a reverse of 38, but also that there is a missing mint mark of O for New Orleans. After reading the design section I found that all New Orleans mint half dollars for 1840 were smaller in diameter than Philadelphia Half Dollars. Never heard of that happening, but does explain how they knew it to be an O mint without the O. Thank you for sharing, made me think and read. Always a good day to find out something new in the coin world.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
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It's such an underated redbook variety. I handled the Eliasberg coin a few years ago. PCGS MS-64 CAC .
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I think it's really interesting. I believe Crypto has one as well. That Eliasberg coin is exceptional!
I like the issue, as well, and like your coin quite a bit.
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You're not the only one who finds that interesting at all 🙂
One of the coolest seated coin varieties imo. Nice example.
Here's one I cherrypicked 2 years ago on ebay.
Great looking coin , just perfect. I have had a few myself of both varieties. If your looking for the match you shouldn’t have to look far. 😉 Yours is a WB-4 which is an R3. The other is a WB-12 which is an R6.
The first use of a different obverse die. The second and last use of the reverse die. The die was polished more.
Nice job love the coin 👍🏻
The smaller diameter was conclusive evidence, but it was not the source of the idea, or the only evidence.
I read through Bill Bugert's 1987 article in Gobrecht Journal #38.
https://archive.org/details/gobrechtjournalfn038libe/page/3/mode/1up
The 1840 reverse of 1838 had been known for awhile, but in a mint record book The Registry of Dies,
Bugert noticed that there was a leftover unused 1839 reverse die at New Orleans,
which the New Orleans Mint Superintendent stated was "reserved for use in 1840".
So this was the genesis of the idea that the 1840 reverse of 1838 half dollar could be from New Orleans.
Proof?
1. The reduced diameter.
2. This reverse was actually paired with 2 different 1840 obverse dies. Both these obverse dies are linked with other reverses with the O mint mark.
The two 1840 (O) reverse of 38/39 die pairs are WB-4 and WB-12 (numbering system used in Bill Bugert's current books).
Bill Bugert's current books are available as free PDF downloads:
lsccweb.org/BillBugertBooks/BillBugertBooks.php
All the photos posted above are examples of the WB-4.
It has the date centered vertically, and the 8 is repunched, with the under digit visible on the lower left side of the upper loop of the 8. The repunching is visible in the photo of the Eliasberg coin posted by @UltraHighRelief .
WB-12 has the date high, and the 1 is repunched, with the under digit visible under the flag.
Posted previously in another thread... WB-12.
Note the heavily polished feathers on the lowest arrow (almost polished off) as well as loaded with wonderful die breaks.
Thanks for everyone’s insights, and posting images.
Nice coin!
That's really cool!
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@stman Very cool, thanks for sharing.