Collecting Dahlonega Varieties - 1840-D Small D Half Eagle
Winchester1873
Posts: 201 ✭✭✭✭
The Dahlonega Half Eagle series contains several dates that have a variety of die combinations resulting in different mint mark sizes and placement. I collect all of the Dahlonega denominations and try to include the recognized die varieties. Some of the varieties are acknowledged by the third party grading companies, some are yet to be officially recognized. One of the more interesting dates is the 1860-D $5.
In 1860, 14,635 half eagles were produced in Dahlonega. From that year, there are three die varieties. The following are the coins I’ve included in my own collection:
1860-D$5 Medium D (Winter 46-GG)
(Photo from Winter, Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint, 1838-1861, 3d ed.)
(Photo of 1860-D $5 Medium D PCGS AU58 (CAC) purchased from Doug Winter.)
According to Doug Winter, this is the most common variety for the date.
1860-D $5 Large D (Winter 46-FF)
(Photo from Winter)
(1860-D $5 Large D AU58)
According to Winter, this is a rare variety and distinguished by its taller, proportionally more narrow mint mark that is closer to the branch stem and arrow feather tip.
1860-D $5 Large D (Winter 46-EE)
(Photo from Winter)
(1860-D $5 Large D AU55+)
According to Winter, this particular variety is the rarest of the three. It is distinguished from Variety 46-FF by the more distant placement of the D from the branch and feather tip. The mint mark also appears to tilt slightly down toward the right.
Adding the varieties aspect to my Dahlonega collection has certainly increased the challenge and expense to my search for nice coins. Some of these varieties are very rare and come at a premium above the more common issues. I hope to discuss more of the varieties added to my collection in this thread in the future.
Comments
Good luck in the quest. When I was doing No Motto $5’s I would try to add the more difficult die varieties when purchasing coins if at all possible but wouldn’t go out of my way to buy a tough variety of marginal quality.
My advice, make sure that the coin is all there first and buy the variety as a nice to have.
Latin American Collection
Chasing Dahlonega gold is tricky enough, adding varieties makes it even more challenging. Cheers, RickO
Good luck with your quest. Nice coins!
That is a great challenge!
Interesting thread and I look forward to your updates here as you obtain varieties! This thread can turn into a great informative thread of the long gone branch mint. I hope other forum members have some Dahlonega varieties to share.
I have only one Dahlonega piece that is an RPM which I recently posted about, but for the purpose of discussion I'll put it here:
AU53 D over D
Right click then click "view image" to get full size.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
thanks for sharing. Great information. Good luck with your quest !!
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
that's gonna be a nice set all the way around id be proud of that as well
You had me at gold
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
Winchester, do you have a full list of the recognized / unrecognized? How many?
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Check out Doug Winters book. CoinFacts notes then in the text.
Without checking, about 38-61 so 23 years on minting and 2-4 die varieties per year. Approx guess 65 varieties.
Latin American Collection
Sound challenging. Good luck.
The PCGS Registry Set, Dahlonega Complete Set with Major Varieties lists a total of 70, https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/branch-mint-gold/dahlonega-gold-set-major-varieties-circulation-strikes-1838-1861/601.
But, you can go crazy with minor varieties like the 1839-D $5 ‘D Over 3’, 1839-D $2.50 ‘Complete Branch’, 1841-D $2.50 ‘Fraction Bar Bisecting D’, 1855-D $1 ‘Full Date’ (which may not be a true ‘variety’, rather a strike quality), etc, etc ...
@Boosibri is correct that Doug Winter’s book is the most complete authority on the subject.
I have one 1860-D HE. I'm going to guess that it's the medium "D" variety?
Not a recognized variety yet, but this 54-D three has a good strike with full denticles. Usually the denticles can only be seen from 3-8 on the coin.
Overland Trail Collection Showcase
Dahlonega Type Set-2008 PCGS Best Exhibited Set
Wonderful coin @mrcommem
Latin American Collection
@Winchester1873 wow...that large D! amazing appeal!
The 1839-D $5 is a coin with multiple levels of demand since it is a first and only year type Liberty Head Half Eagle with an obverse mint mark. There are two varieties for the 1839-D Half Eagle. Variety 1-A is referred to as the ‘D Over 3’ variety, because, well, the obverse mint mark is centered above the 3 in the date.
This is the TrueView of the 1839-D $5, Variety 1-A in my collection. (PCGS AU55 CAC)
Variety 2-A has the obverse mint mark positioned above and between the 3 and 9 of the date. Photo below is from CoinFacts (AU58).
Doug Winter writes that Variety 1-A is the rarer of the two varieties for the year. A perusal of auction results and photos in CoinFacts confirms this statement.
Fantastic coin. Looks very nice
Latin American Collection
That's a gorgeous piece.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Will you include the weak D coins on the 50 and 51 HE’s as they are considered not as desirable to many? Your collecting goals are lofty indeed.
I did include an NGC 1851-D (Weak D) $5 in my collection. I posted a photo in an older discussion on the topic, https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1017132/weak-mint-marks-low-value-issues-or-desirable-variety#latest.
I know I am in the minority for seeing the desirability and value in the ‘weak’ D varieties. I believe they are necessary if completeness is the goal.
Do you have all the varieties for the 1850-D? Would love to see them if so.
I have just one of the three varieties, the 28-U.
Your challenge will be the 48-D/D. I have seen three in 15 years.
Latin American Collection
Would you be interested to know if there is another Dahlonega issue with a re-punched or over-struck mintmark in addition to the 1846-D/D $2.50, 1846-D/D $5, and 1848-D/D $5, which is not currently listed in the PCGS varieties?
Yes very interested! It must not be reported in DW's book.
Latin American Collection
The 1843-D $2.50 is noted to have four varieties, to include three varieties with a small mint mark (Winter Varieties 4-F, 4-G, and 4-H) and one listed as having a Large D (Variety 4-I.) Photos are from Doug Winter, Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint: 1838-1861, 3d Ed. Winter calls the Large D variety a “naked eye” variety because it can be distinguished without magnification.
1843-D $2.50 Small D, Variety 4-F
1843-D $2.50 Small D, Variety 4-G
1843-D $2.50 Small D, Variety 4-H
1843-D $2.50 Large D, Variety 4-I
In his book, The United States Branch Mint at Dahlonega, Georgia, Clair Birdsall writes that 3,537 Dahlonega Quarter Eagles in 1843 were minted with large mint marks on October 7, with a new tail die that was sent from Philadelphia in July of that year, after the fourth tail die of that year broke. There is a table on Page 57 illustrating the dates and description of each tail die.
PCGS recently recognized a new variety of the 1843-D $2.50 Large D, with a re-punched mint mark. This particular variety differs from Variety 4-I in that the upper serif of the mintmark is farther from the eagle’s talon. A prior mintmark can be clearly seen below the prominent ‘D’.
PCGS has designated the coin number as “V97730.” The photos below are of the 1843-D $2.50 (Large D with Re-punched Mint Mark) PCGS AU53 (CAC) from my own collection.
To date, PCGS recognizes just three Dahlonega gold issues as having doubled mint marks, the rare 1846-D/D $2.50, 1846-D/D $5, and the very rare 1848-D/D $5. Should this new ‘minor’ variety of 1843-D $2.50 actually be designated as 1843-Large D/D $2.50?
So is this a 4-H? Only a 12
@Smudge , that appears to be a 4-F due the placement of the 3 in the date and location of the mint mark relative to the top of the 1 (above and farther to right.)
Steve
Ok, I thought it was that if not 4-H.
At the risk of sounding completely esoteric, the 1839-D $2.50 has what I consider one of the more interesting die varieties. The date itself is interesting because the Dahlonega Mint produced only 13,674 Quarter Eagles that year. This was the first year for that denomination at Dahlonega and the only year it produced Quarter Eagles with the mint mark on the obverse.
There are two recognized reverse dies for 1839. The first (Winter 1-A) has a weak branch stem. Mint records reflect that approximately 8,000 coins were produced with this reverse.
PCGS CoinFacts
The second variety (Winter 1-B) includes the same obverse as 1-A, but has a stronger, more complete branch stem.
Dahlonega Mint records show that approximately 5,500 of this variety were produced in 1839.
1839-D $2.50 (Winter 1-B) PCGS AU55, from my own collection. Photos by DWN.
Quite a set you are building there
Latin American Collection
Congratulations on your successful sale!!!
Another ‘naked eye’ Dahlonega Half Eagle variety is the 1840-D $5 Small D. The variety is distinguished by a smaller mint mark, obviously, but also by a die crack on the reverse that appears to bisect the mint mark. This variety is distinguished from the ‘Tall D’ variety of the same year. The Small D variety is considered rare by Doug Winter.
The photo below is a 1840-D Small D $5, PCGS AU53 CAC, from my now-retired Indian Rocks Beach Collection.
Example of the 1840-D Tall D $5
1840-D Tall D $5 PCGS AU55 CAC also from my collection.
Very tough variety. I cherry picked one several years ago
Latin American Collection
Curious folks thoughts on the “9”
Of this coin
Looks to me like an 1839-D $2.50:
"The obverse has the mintmark located below the bust and over the 3 in the date. The 3 is doubled inside the upper loop while the 9 touches the curl and is far from the denticles. The digit was improperly cut and it looks as if the date were 1839/8. This is incorrect and this has been improperly labeled as an “1839/8” overdate for many years."
Here is my addition to the thread. An 1852D AU53 CAC. I am new to Dahlonega mint coins and all of the varities but believe this is variety 33-V. According to Doug Winter it is very scarce.
Successful BST with BustDMs , Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino (CBH's - 35 Die Marriage's)
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
Great thread!
My YouTube Channel