39o half...or is it?
jayPem
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jayPem
Posts: 4,081 ✭✭✭✭✭
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The giant O variety?
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It is.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Tom, no talking during the quiz 😅
Yes, unique as well
Obviously there are enough diagnostics here to determine this... but I realized that I don't know how many marriages there where for the 39o?
Are there any shared reverses between the 38 and 39 mintage?
I assume that the reverse cracks would be enough to attribute, but are there any diagnostics on the obverse that seal the deal?
Re-engraved O
Personally I do not rely on die cracks as a diagnostic test, as you arent always sure of die state of the specimen. Yes true some are and stand out, however how many times have you attributed a coin only to get to the point where all the pups are there but no cracks.
I would use other known diagnostics as key points than cracks that may or may not be present.
"That's why I wander and follow La Vie Dansante"
The 39-O had five die marriages using three obverses and three reverses. It's estimated that 95% of 39-O's are GR-1's, which shared its reverse with the 38-O only (i.e., no other die marriages).
The OP coin's reverse has diagnostic cracks to prove it is a 39-O GR-1. Obverse diagnostics are unnecessary but the slightly higher and tilted-left 9 is evident.
Lance.
39 OH!!!
Just 1 DM for the 38o?
Are there early die states for the 39o GR-1 without the heavy reverse crack, or was it already there?
How about on the 38o?
Cracked reverse or no?
Just one DM for the 38-O. Dick Graham's treatise on Reeded Edge Half Dollars says all examples have some degree of reverse die cracks. So its second use on the 39-O GR-1 would also have them.
There's a lot of fun intrigue about the minting of 38-O bust halves. Some 20 or so were produced in two batches over several months, IIRC. I think fewer than a dozen are known to exist.
@tomb, who was heavily involved with the content and publication of Dick's book, has better information, I'm sure.
Lance.
Fascinating! Thanks Lance 👍
I find it interesting that Overton studied the FH and DB halves but not the Reeded edge series..
Must of considered himself to be strictly a screw press man 😅